VinÃcius Júnior has become one of the best players in the world, and at 24 years old, he has managed to fulfill almost all of his dreams. The Brazilian was the big favorite to win the 2024 Ballon d'Or, but in a script twist unprecedented in the history of the award, Rodri was proclaimed the winner against all odds. The Rio star arrived in Spain in 2018, and after overcoming all kinds of criticism and adversity, he suffered a new setback in his career for being the fifth Brazilian to win the Ballon d'Or
The Beginnings
VinÃcius Junior he was born on July 12, 2000, in São Gonçalo, one of the poorest towns in Rio de Janeiro. Son of Fernanda and VinÃcius Senior, Vini Júnior grew up in a neighborhood with great crime and grew up with his two brothers in a small house that belonged to his grandmother. Since he was little, he dedicated himself to playing soccer, and his talent with the ball gave him the opportunity to get away from bad company and build a promising future.
The Pearl of Flamengo
Until 2010, he played in the youth ranks of São Gonçalo, where he developed his skills playing futsal. But the track became too small for him, and at the age of 10, he was recruited by the flamengo Quarry. There, he progressed as a footballer, and by 2016, he became one of the greatest promises of Brazilian football. In 2015, he was proclaimed champion of the South American U-15 tournament held in Colombia, where he stood out by scoring six goals. His great performance in the tournament aroused the interest of several European clubs, and at the age of 16, he signed his first professional contract. His debut with the first team came in May 2017, and his push for stardom came after winning the South American U-17, where he established himself as the best player of the tournament.
Signing for Real Madrid (2018)
The best clubs in Europe wanted to sign VinÃcius, but Flamengo gave him a price of 45 million euros. Teams like Barcelona, City, or Chelsea were willing to pay that money, although the player was clear about where he wanted to play. Real Madrid opted for him, and Juni Calafat was in charge of managing one of the most risky signings in the history of the merengue club. VinÃcius was only 17 years old and was already among the 10 most expensive transfers in the history of the white team.
The law prevented the player from reaching Spain until he was 18, so Vini developed as a footballer in Brazil. In 2017 he scored his first goal for Flamengo, while in 2018 he established himself as a starter and finished the season scoring 10 goals and giving 3 assists in the 32 games he played with the Rio club.
Landing in Europe
When he came of age, VinÃcius flew to Spain and was presented as the promise that could make us forget the Legend of Cristiano Ronaldo. However, the beginnings were not easy for the Brazilian winger, who did not have the confidence of his coach. Although Lopetegui made him debut in a derby, Vini alternated his calls with the first team with those of Castilla, where he began to demonstrate his talent and suffer harassment from his markers
VinÃcius' adaptation was not easy, and the white team's departure was not helped either. Madrid's poor results ended with the dismissal of Lopetegui and the arrival of Solari it allowed the Brazilian to enjoy more opportunities. With the Argentine coach, Vini became an undisputed starter and began to show the potential he had. His plays on the wing were incredible, but his definition in front of goal was below expectations. The truth is that Madrid's season ended blank, and Vini finished the season injured. The Brazilian played 31 games and scored 3 goals in his first season in Europe.
In the 19-20 academic year Zidane, he took charge of the Madrid bench and Hazard he landed as a great signing. The arrival of the Belgian winger limited VinÃcius' minutes, who with the French coach was once again bench meat. Despite Hazard's continuous injuries, Vini failed to establish himself as the undisputed starter. Zidane asked for more sacrifice in defense, and his mistake in front of goal continued to be worrying. Despite everything, VinÃcius won his first titles as a Real Madrid player, winning the Spanish Super Cup and the Pandemic League.
Turning Point (2021)
The 2020/2021 season marked a turning point in VinÃcius' career. Although his numbers did not yet reflect his full potential, his influence on Real Madrid's game was increasingly evident. Despite the criticism, Vini focused on day-to-day work and improved his physique and aim. His growth as a player earned him a starting position in the Champions League qualifiers, and against Liverpool, he showed what he was capable of. The Brazilian unleashed two decisive goals in the Valdebebas match and his first magical night with Real Madrid. That season, he ended up without titles, but it gave him the confidence to believe in himself.
Consoidation and Explosion (2022)
With the departure of Zidane and the arrival of Carlo Ancelotti, VinÃcius saw an opportunity to establish himself in the team. Hazard and Bale did not measure up, and the Brazilian took advantage of his opportunities to make a difference. In the first two days, he acted as a substitute but scored three goals coming off the bench. Vini's highest scoring version had just exploded, and the winger claimed to be one of Real Madrid's offensive leaders. Your understanding with Karim Benzema it was lethal, and the Brazilian was decisive in the three titles won by the Madridistas; the Spanish Super Cup, the League, and the Champions League.
VinÃcius scored 22 goals and gave 16 assists during the course and was decisive in conquering the Fourteenth. The Brazilian scored the winning goal against Liverpool in the final in Paris and wrote his name in the Real Madrid Legend.
Overcoming Obstacles: Racism and Provocation
Since that campaign, Vinicius' growth has been exponential. His consistency and ability to decide important matches put him at the center of attention and made him rebel against injustice. His constant protests do not sit well with his critics and have made him a permanent nuisance to his rivals. It is true that he has carried out controversial gestures and has reacted to provocations in a questionable way, but he has known how to overcome the fiercest criticism and racist insults. His celebrations and style of play have put him in the spotlight of Spanish football, although VinÃcius has always defended his right to express himself and play with joy.
In the following seasons VinÃcius has not stopped improving his numbers. The Brazilian scored 23 goals and gave 19 assists in 22-23 and took the team's offensive lead. He responded to Benzema's departure by increasing his scoring records and, in 2024, confirmed his evolution to become the best player in the world.
Ballon d'Or 2024
Despite playing 16 fewer games than the previous year, Vini managed to score 24 goals and provide 10 assists with Real Madrid in the 23-24. The Rio star stood out in almost all the decisive matches and was key for Madrid to win the League and the European Cup. In fact, VinÃcius was designated as Champions League MVP, scoring another goal in the Wembley final and starring in a memorable tie against Bayern. His two goals in Munich and his overflows at the Bernabéu placed him as the undisputed favorite to win the Ballon d'Or.
Although Brazil's performance in the Copa América was disappointing, VinÃcius was the big favorite to win the Ballon d'Or, but received the biggest disappointment of his career. Despite not being decorated as he dreamed, Vini has made history with Real Madrid and the Brazilian team, so it would not be surprising if in the coming years he continues to improve himself and ends up collecting the trophy that the voters of France Football have denied him in 2024.