The name Vinicius sparked major discussions on social media after his performance in the Champions League final against Dortmund. The Real Madrid star terrorized the German club’s defense and sealed his team’s victory with the second goal of the match.
His performance led fans and experts to consider the Brazilian as the next Ballon d’Or favorite.
Here are 8 key facts about Vinicius:
Who is Vinicius?
Vinícius José Paixão de Oliveira Júnior, also known as Vinícius Júnior or Vini Jr., is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays as a winger for the Brazil national team and Real Madrid in La Liga.
He is regarded as one of the best left wingers in the world due to his rapid pace and dribbling abilities.
In just 3 years, he has gained popularity among supporters and is considered the favorite for the 2024 Ballon d’Or.
Vinicius Jr.’s Age
He was born on July 12, 2000, in São Gonçalo, a municipality in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in the Southwest region.
Family Background of the Star
The footballer was born into the family of Tatiana Vinicius and José Paixao de Oliveira, who are his parents. His mother is of Congolese descent, while his father was born in Brazil.
Alessandra and Netinho are Vinicius’s siblings. Their father is a computer technician working in São Paulo.
Vinicius’s Girlfriend
The Real Madrid winger is currently dating Instagram model and reality TV star Maria Julia Mazalli.
In early 2019, Vini and Maria made their relationship public and were revealed by the Brazilian newspaper Lance despite denying rumors that the two were dating.
It all started when followers saw selfies that both had posted on social media and began to wonder what was going on between them.
Fans quickly discovered that the selfies were taken in the same bathrooms in Madrid, and shortly after, the truth came out.
They never revealed how they first met or whether they were friends before they started dating.
Club Career
Flamengo
In 2006, Vinicius Jr. started playing football after his father took him to Flamengo’s branch in the Mutuá neighborhood of São Gonçalo.
The Brazilian international was initially described as a left-back when documented by his club for Flamengo.
He moved in with his uncle Ulisses in Abolição to be closer to Ninho do Urubu, Flamengo’s training ground.
The forward studied futsal at the Flamengo school in São Gonçalo between 2007 and 2010 at the famous Canto do Rio club, located in the heart of Niterói.
Vinicius left after deciding he preferred playing football over futsal and passed Flamengo’s football exam in August 2010.
He made his debut for Flamengo in 2017. Two days later, he signed a contract extension that would run from 2019 to 2022, with a significant salary increase and a buyout clause that increased from 30 million euros to 45 million euros.
According to some reports, this contract renewal was part of Vinícius’s transfer to Real Madrid. Both teams agreed to sell the young player in July 2018 during their meeting at Gávea.
In the second round of the Copa Sudamericana against Palestino, he scored his first goal as a professional footballer.
Real Madrid
In 2017, Vinícius and the La Liga team Real Madrid signed a deal that would take effect in July 2018, after his 18th birthday.
He moved for an estimated transfer fee of 46 million euros, which at the time was the second-highest player sale in Brazilian football history, surpassed only by Neymar.
However, he did not immediately join the Spanish giants but returned to Brazil on loan to finish the season.
He was given the number 28 shirt and was officially unveiled as a Real Madrid player before making his debut against Atlético Madrid, coming on as a substitute in a goalless draw.
Vinicius scored his first goal for Real Madrid against Real Valladolid just 10 minutes after coming on as a substitute.
Since then, he has become a regular starter and the most influential player in the Real Madrid squad.
International Career
The footballer was called up from Brazil by coach Guilherme for the South American U-15 Championship in 2015.
The Madrid star finished second in the competition with 7 goals and helped Brazil win the U-15 title.
He was then called up to the U-17 team and made his debut in the South American U-17 Championship and scored in Brazil’s victory over Peru.
Vinicius’s performance led to his first call-up to the Brazil national team for friendly matches against Panama and the Czech Republic.
However, he was excluded from the team due to injury and was not invited by the manager for the 2019 Copa America.
He later made his senior international debut, coming on as a substitute in Brazil’s defeat to Peru.
He also went to the FIFA World Cup 2023, where he helped Brazil qualify for the quarter-finals before being eliminated by Croatia.
Playing Style of the Star
Vinicius is a versatile player who can play anywhere in the front line; he has also been used in the center and on the right, but his preferred position is on the left flank.
Despite his small stature, he possesses physical strength, trickery with the ball, as well as explosive acceleration, pace, agility, balance, technique, flair, and close control at speed.
When in possession of the ball, his movement, vigor, and ability to rush at defenders, change direction quickly, and surpass opponents one-on-one are widely acknowledged.
With a low center of gravity, excellent passing, and great awareness, as well as a low center of gravity, he is considered a dynamic, intelligent, diligent, and agile winger.
Furthermore, he is known for his acute game sense and for aiding his teammates, making him a potent facilitator.
Vinicius’s Net Worth
The player’s net worth significantly increased following his journey from Flamengo to Real Madrid; in 2023, it stood at an incredible £18 million, as reported by One Football.
His contract with Real Madrid expires on June 30, 2027, and he currently earns €400,577 per week, which is approximately €20.83 million annually.
He is expected to earn a substantial amount of money after the expiration of his current contract, potentially earning £35 million.
Moreover, to deter potential suitors, his contract features an astonishing release clause of £858 million.
Like many other footballers, Vinicius has secured sponsorship deals with the renowned sports company Nike.
He has secured sponsorship deals with TCL Mobile and Red Bull and has taken advantage of the opportunity to build his personal brand and diversify his business ventures.
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