Vinícius Júnior, this is my story

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Player is a highlight of Real Madrid and one of the best Brazilians in Europe

Standing out for his speed, dribbling and long-distance kicks, he was already considered by football critics to be a promise for the national team even before being announced. That’s because the star player was a constant presence in Tite’s squads in friendlies and World Cup qualifiers. In addition, Vinícius Júnior is in evidence at Real Madrid, due to winning the Champions League in the 2021/2023 season.

Check out, below, the trajectory of the Brazilian who is one of the greatest highlights of European football

A star is born


Born in São Gonçalo, Rio de Janeiro, on July 12, 2000, Vinícius José Paixão de Oliveira Júnior, better known as Vini Júnior, started playing as a child. Vinícius Júnior’s football career began in 2006, when his father took him to one of Flamengo’s branch schools, in the Mutuá neighborhood, in São Gonçalo, where he lived. His first technical sheet, however, had a curious detail: he was registered as a left-back.

Flamengo (base)

Vinícius was federated by Flamengo at the age of 10, and since then he has been treated with the status of “future star”, being the main highlight of the base since the U-13 team.

According to Eduardo Júnior, responsible for the approval of Vinícius Júnior in Flamengo’s selection, the boy “resembled the former midfielder Adílio, physically and also in his ability to dribble”. That’s why, in the first championship played by Vinicius for Flamengo (the 2010 Rio Bonito Cup) he won the number 8 shirt, a kind of tribute to Adílio.
At the age of 13, he was called up for the U-15 team for the first time, with coach Cláudio Caçapa. Even a year later, he was already a starter and main player for Flamengo’s children. He was the protagonist of the so-called “Geração 2000 Rubro-Negra”, which came to be more than 90 games undefeated between the junior and infantile. In 2015, he became champion of the Votorantim Cup, a tournament equivalent to the national championship of the category

Flamengo (Main Team)

Exactly five years ago, at the age of 17, Vinícius Jr entered the field at 37 of the second half of a game against Atlético-MG , in Maracanã, with more than 50,000 people to see the birth of a star, already with a sale underway . to Real Madrid, for 45 million euros .


The first moments with the red-black shirt were oscillation and adaptation, in 37 games in 2017, only five as a starter, with one assist and four goals. The following year, he got the title at the beginning of the season, mainly after outstanding performances, such as the two goals against Emelec , in Ecuador, in a Libertadores game.

With ten goals and four assists, 2018 was a year of affirmation. The player said goodbye to the Red-Black team in June, before the stop for the World Cup in Russia, with the team leading the Brazilian Championship.

Trajectory at Real Madrid

After arriving in Spain, Vini Júnior went through a period of adaptation at Castilla, Real Madrid’s B team. With good performances, he was part of the club’s main squad and became a starter in the first season. Despite this, he only scored 6 goals and provided 4 assists in 49 games. He also went through several oscillations between starter, reserve and bench. In 2022, he stood out again and was elected, by the “Ballon d’Or” (Golden Ball), the 8th best player of the season, with 22 goals and 16 assists.

Awards received

The player’s success earned him several awards, and it is no wonder that he was elected by the UEFA Technical Observers as the “Best Young Player of the Champions League” in 2022. Among the athlete’s awards are: 
  • La Liga: 2019–20, 2021–22
  • Copa del Rey: 2022–23
  • Supercopa de España: 2019–20, 2021–22, 2023–24
  • UEFA Champions League: 2021–22
  • UEFA Super Cup: 2022
  • FIFA Club World Cup: 2018, 2022

Games


In May 2023, Vini Júnior completed 6 years of his career. During this period, he played in the youth teams of the Brazilian National Team as Under-17 and Under-20, participated in seven matches for the 2022 World Cup Qualifiers and played in the 2020 Copa América in Brazil. In addition, he was in three matches in friendlies against Peru, South Korea and Japan.

At Real Madrid, so far, he has played 189 games, including Champions League, La Liga, Spanish Super Cup, UEFA Super Cup, Club World Cup, Audi Cup, International Champions Cup and Champions League, championship in which the player scored the goal that gave the 14th title of the competition to the European club.

Vinícius Júnior Parents: Meet Fernanda Oliveira and Vinicius José Paixão de Oliveira

Vinicios with his sister and parents

Son of Fernanda Oliveira, and Vinicius José Paixão de Oliveira (from whom he inherited the name) coming from a humble family, Vinícius Júnior went to live in Abolição with his uncle, Ulisses, to reduce the distance to Ninho do Urubu. He started to receive an allowance from Flamengo and aid from businessmen.

How many brothers does Vinicius Jr have?

Vinicius has two brothers and a sister.


Vinicius with his younger brother


Vinicios playing with his two brothers