| Age | 25 years |
| Date of Birth | 12 July 2000 |
| Height, Weight | 176 cm, 73 kg |
| Born | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil |
| Nationality | Brazil |
| Position | Left Winger / Forward |
| Club | Real Madrid |
| Number | 7 |
| In Team Since | July 2018 (transfer to Real) |
| Contract Until | 30 June 2027 |
| Contract Extensions | 31 October 2023 |
| Market Value | €150-170 million |
| Eye Color | Black |
| Strong Foot | Right |
| Agent | Roc Nation Sports |
Biography of Vinicius Junior
Vinicius José Paixão de Oliveira Júnior was born on 12 July 2000 in São Gonçalo. His football journey began in 2006 when his father took him to the Flamengo branch in the Mutuá district. In club documents, young Vinicius was registered as a left-back.
He grew up in a modest Catholic family and moved to live with his uncle in the Abolição district to be closer to Flamengo's training base - Ninho do Urubu. The club provided financial support to the family, and Vinicius went through futsal before fully choosing big football. By 2010, he was invited to join Flamengo's full football academy.
Flamengo
On 13 May 2017, Vinicius made his debut for the first team in a Serie A match against Atlético Mineiro. A few days later, he extended his contract, and in August he scored his first professional goal in the Copa Sudamericana. Soon, he began regularly scoring in the Brazilian Championship.
Before turning 18, Vinicius became the subject of a high-profile transfer: in May 2017, Real Madrid agreed to acquire him for around €46 million - at the time, one of the largest transfers in Brazilian football history for a player of his age. The transfer took effect in summer 2018.
Real Madrid: Development
Vinicius was officially presented by Real Madrid in July 2018. The first seasons were a period of adaptation: he debuted in La Liga in autumn 2018, recorded his first assists in the Copa del Rey, and gradually began to establish himself in the starting lineup. By 2019/20, he scored in El Clasico and won his first Spanish league title.
In the 2020/21 season, he scored a brace against Liverpool in the Champions League, and his breakthrough came in the 2021/22 campaign. Vinicius sharply improved his scoring, formed a strong partnership with Karim Benzema, and finished the season with 22 goals in all competitions. He scored the winning goal in the Champions League final against Liverpool, bringing Real their 14th title.
Team Leader and New Heights
In the 2022/23 season, Vinicius won the Club World Cup and received the iconic number 7 - previously worn by Raul and Cristiano Ronaldo. He continued to be a key figure in the team's attack.
The 2023/24 season solidified his status as a leader:
- extended his contract until 2027;
- scored a hat-trick in the Spanish Super Cup final against Barcelona;
- scored in the 2024 Champions League final against Borussia Dortmund;
- became the youngest player in history to score in two Champions League finals;
- was named Champions League Player of the Season 2023/24.
In 2024, Vinicius was included in the FIFPRO World XI, named The Best FIFA Men's Player 2024, and finished second in the Ballon d'Or voting.
In January 2025, he reached 100 goals for Real Madrid, becoming the 23rd player in the club's history to achieve this. In February 2025, he captained the team for the first time.
Brazil National Team
For Brazil's youth teams, Vinicius won the South American U-15 and U-17 championships, becoming the best player and top scorer of the U-17 tournament.
He debuted for the senior national team in 2019 and scored his first goal in the 2022 World Cup qualifiers against Chile. At the World Cup in Qatar, he scored in the Round of 16 match against South Korea and helped the team reach the quarterfinals.
In 2024, he captained Brazil for the first time in a friendly match against Spain.
Today, Vinicius Júnior is one of the brightest forwards in modern football, combining speed, technique, dribbling, and the ability to decide crucial matches.
Personal life of Vinicius Junior
Vinicius Júnior is a practicing Catholic and often speaks about faith as an important part of his life.
In 2021, he founded Instituto Vini Jr. - a charitable organization in Rio de Janeiro helping children from disadvantaged areas access education through sports and technology. The project aims to reduce educational inequality in Brazil.
In 2024, UNESCO appointed Vinicius as a goodwill ambassador for the “Education for All” program - he became the second footballer after Pelé to receive this status.
In November 2024, Vinicius underwent genetic research, showing that his maternal line comes from the Tikar people of Cameroon. The Brazilian Football Federation officially presented him with the corresponding certificate at the stadium in front of fans.
Besides football, Vinicius is a co-owner of Portuguese club F.C. Alverca, competing in the Primeira Liga.
In 2025, Netflix released a documentary film "Vini Jr." about his life, career, and fight against racism both on and off the field.
Interesting facts about Vinicius Junior
- Started as a left-back. In Flamengo academy documents, young Vinicius was registered in this position before becoming one of the world's most dangerous wingers.
- Almost stayed in futsal. From 2007 to 2010, he played futsal at Flamengo school and only later fully chose big football.
- Listed among the best U-21 players before moving to Europe. In 2017, The Telegraph included him in the top 40 U-21 players in the world - at the time, the only one playing in South America.
- The youngest goal scorer in 21st-century El Clasico. In October 2024, he set an age record at Santiago Bernabeu.
- The youngest player to score in two Champions League finals. Goals in decisive matches in 2022 and 2024 allowed him to surpass Lionel Messi's previous record.
- Brazil captain at Bernabeu. In March 2024, he captained Brazil for the first time at his club's stadium.
- Face of the fight against racism in football. Following incidents in Spain, he became a symbol of the international anti-racism campaign, and FIFA included him in a special committee.
- Laws passed in his honor. In Rio de Janeiro and Rio Grande do Sul, “Vini Júnior laws” were adopted allowing matches to be suspended in case of racist incidents.
- Sócrates Award winner. He received an award for humanitarian work and contributions to social initiatives at the Ballon d'Or ceremony.
- Hero of Netflix documentary. In 2025, the film "Vini Jr." was released, highlighting his career and public stance.
Vinicius Junior's statistics
Club Statistics
As of 25 February 2026
| Competition | Club | League | Season | Games (League) | Goals (League) | Games (Cup) | Goals (Cup) | Games (Continental[a]) | Goals (Continental[a]) | Games (Other[b]) | Goals (Other[b]) | Total Games | Total Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flamengo | Flamengo | Serie A | 2017 | 25 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 37 | 4 |
| Flamengo | Flamengo | Serie A | 2018 | 12 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 2 | - | - | 32 | 10 |
| Total Flamengo | - | - | 37 | 7 | 6 | 0 | 12 | 3 | 14 | 4 | 69 | 14 | |
| Real Madrid Castilla | Real Madrid Castilla | Segunda B | 2018/19 | 5 | 4 | - | - | - | - | - | - | 5 | 4 |
| Total Real Madrid Castilla | - | - | 5 | 4 | - | - | - | - | - | - | 5 | 4 | |
| Real Madrid | Real Madrid | La Liga | 2018/19 | 18 | 2 | 8 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 31 | 4 |
| Real Madrid | Real Madrid | La Liga | 2019/20 | 29 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 38 | 5 |
| Real Madrid | Real Madrid | La Liga | 2020/21 | 35 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 12 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 49 | 6 |
| Real Madrid | Real Madrid | La Liga | 2021/22 | 35 | 17 | 2 | 0 | 13 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 52 | 22 |
| Real Madrid | Real Madrid | La Liga | 2022/23 | 33 | 10 | 5 | 3 | 12 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 55 | 23 |
| Real Madrid | Real Madrid | La Liga | 2023/24 | 26 | 15 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 39 | 24 |
| Real Madrid | Real Madrid | La Liga | 2024/25 | 30 | 11 | 6 | 1 | 12 | 8 | 10 | 2 | 58 | 22 |
| Real Madrid | Real Madrid | La Liga | 2025/26 | 24 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 37 | 13 |
| Total Real Madrid | - | - | 230 | 70 | 27 | 7 | 78 | 32 | 24 | 10 | 359 | 119 | |
| Total Career | - | - | 272 | 81 | 33 | 7 | 90 | 35 | 38 | 14 | 433 | 137 | |
[a] South American Cup, Copa Libertadores, UEFA Champions League
[b] Other official matches
National Team Statistics
As of 12 September 2024
| National Team | Year | World Cup Qualifiers | Goals | World Cup Finals | Goals | Continental Finals | Goals | Friendlies | Goals | Total Games | Total Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brazil | 2019 | - | - | - | - | - | - | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Brazil | 2021 | 4 | 0 | - | - | 4 | 0 | - | - | 8 | 0 |
| Brazil | 2022 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 1 | - | - | 4 | 0 | 11 | 2 |
| Brazil | 2023 | 3 | 0 | - | - | - | - | 3 | 1 | 6 | 1 |
| Brazil | 2024 | 2 | 0 | - | - | 3 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 9 | 2 |
| Total Career | - | 12 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 7 | 2 | 12 | 1 | 35 | 5 |
Scandals with Vinicius Junior
Vinicius Júnior has faced numerous incidents of racial discrimination and abuse throughout his career. In Spain's La Liga, he has repeatedly been targeted with racist chants and gestures from fans in stadiums. Several times, clubs have been fined, and matches were paused to address the incidents.
In 2022, after a particularly shocking incident during a match against Valencia, Vinicius spoke publicly about the need to fight racism in football, leading to new campaigns in La Liga and UEFA promoting equality and zero tolerance toward discrimination.
Despite these challenges, Vinicius has consistently responded with professionalism on the pitch, earning respect for both his football and social activism.
