The Remarkable Rise of Vinicius Jr.: From Rio’s Hardships to Real Madrid’s Stardom

Since moving to the Bernabeu in 2018, Vinicius Jr. has won two La Liga titles and the 2022 Champions League.

 

It wasn’t a terrible way for Vinicius Jr. to close the 2021-22 season—scoring in the Champions League final and being hailed as the greatest in the world—by his childhood idol.

 

The Real Madrid forward scored in the second half of the Champions League final in Paris against Liverpool, giving him his first European trophy, in addition to winning his second La Liga title.

 

In addition to being named to the Champions League and La Liga teams of the season, he was also named the league’s young player of the season.

 

Not content to stop there, Vinicius’s Brazil teammate and Paris Saint-Germain forward Neymar went on to say that the 21-year-old was the best player in the world last season, according to TNT Sports Brazilexternal-link.

 

While Vinicius’s success this year is due in large part to his efforts, it would be unfair to his earlier seasons to label it a breakout year. Real Madrid broke the record for a player under the age of 19 when they signed him for £38.7 million. Many had recognized his brilliance when he was little.

 

But he hasn’t had it easy in Spain or anywhere else since he was a kid in the Sao Goncalo neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro.

 

A quiet, bashful young man who is lightning quick on the field. “On the field, he was free,” remarks Carlos Eduardo Abrantes, who didn’t mention how little he spoke.

 

‘Cacau’ Abrantes is the director of the Escolinha de Flamengo in Brazil’s Mutua neighborhood, where Vinicius refined his football and academic skills. The school is one of many owned by the top-tier club around the country.

 

Many people believe Cacau found Vinicius, and he himself stated, “There is a lot of poverty” in an interview with AS:external-link. This city is in dire need of public funding, but unfortunately, it does not receive nearly enough.

 

At the age of six, he enrolled in our school. People took notice of him at his first training sessions, when he trained with men much older than himself. He was playing quite well against nine-year-olds when he was just seven years old.

 

He was showered with gifts from his parents. In his professional life, they are crucial.

 

The life of Vinicius Jr., who was born to Fernanda and Vinicius Sr., has been anything but ordinary. ‘Vini’ had grand plans to pursue futsal when he was nine years old, but after a failed trial, Flamengo advised him to come back the following year.

 

He tried out for Flamengo’s youth team that year, and he made it—because he loved football more than futsal.

 

In order to support his family, Vinicius Sr. would have to find work in Sao Paulo. Fernanda, meantime, would accompany Vinicius on the 70-kilometer trek from their neighborhood to Flamengo’s training site, Ninho do Urubu, sometimes called the Wolf’s Nest.

 

Vinicius finally made his Flamengo debut against Atletico Mineiro after relocating closer to the training site with a cousin.

 

“He still had the look of a ball boy who had wandered on to the field in those 10 minutes in the Maracana,” commented Tim Vickery, an authority on South American football, after having watched the game.

 

But Real Madrid had seen enough, and they signed Vinicius following Brazil’s astonishing Under-17 South American Championship victory, in which he was named the tournament’s best player and top scorer.

 

He was 16 years old and had played just 17 minutes of senior football when the trade was agreed upon, a full year before his July 2018 unveiling.

 

Vinicius was unveiled as Real Madrid’s first summer acquisition four days after the club won La Liga for the first time in five years, adding even more pressure to signing with Los Blancos. He was also the club’s first signing when the transfer embargo was lifted.

 

It was already a seismic event when Cristiano Ronaldo left the Bernabeu for Juventus after nine years, but by the time Vinicius was part of Real’s setup a year later, he had already replaced Ronaldo.

 

Vinicius was an illuminating figure throughout the period of change following manager Zinedine Zidane’s initial resignation.

 

In 2018, Spanish football expert Guillem Balague stated BBC Radio 5 Live that “he has brought to the side an electricity, a sharpness and bravery they did not have.”

 

“In my eyes he has got a bit of both Ronaldos.”

 

Real Madrid striker Vinicius was named the best in the world last season by his Brazil teammate Neymar (center-right).

 

However, his debut season was not without its setbacks. He helped Barcelona win the league with 31 appearances, four goals, and eight assists.

 

With 38 appearances across all competitions, Vinicius overcame this challenge and contributed to Madrid’s La Liga victory the next season.

 

Footballer Dani Alves of Brazil spoke to Business Insider and said:outside reference Without a doubt, he is one of those athletes who possesses innate potential. As a member of the Brazilian national team, I got to see him play up close. I have no doubt that we will learn a great deal more about him in the near future.

 

But Vinicius’ stay in Madrid has not been without its challenges. Although Madrid were down 1-0 at halftime of their Champions League group stage match against Borussia Monchengladbach in October 2020, video footage shows striker Karim Benzema yelling at teammate Ferland Mendy, “he is playing against us” and refusing to send the ball to Vinicius.

 

However, Vinicius was unfazed by the event and went on to excel for the club under new manager Carlo Ancelotti, winning the league title for the second year in a row and the Champions League to exact revenge for Madrid’s semi-final loss the year before.

 

Vinicius played in 52 games for Real last season and finished with 22 goals and 16 assists, contributing to an incredible campaign overall and especially in Europe.

 

In May, during the Champions League final versus Liverpool, Vinicius scored in the 59th minute to seal the deal.

 

A lot of people were happy for the victor.

 

Vini is shown his maturity away from the field, despite winning La Liga twice and the Champions League once as a 22-year-old.

 

“The happiness of a victorious black Brazilian in Europe bothers them much more.”

 

Vinicius made this and other highly worded remarks the night before his team’s match against Atletico Madrid, a rival from his hometown.