Vinícius Júnior

Vinícius Júnior is the best left winger in world football and, after [Karim Benzema](/players)'s departure, the primary attacking reference for Real Madrid. He was the runner-up for the 2024 Ballon d'Or in one of the most controversial votes in recent memory, and he remains the player Real Madrid build their transitions around alongside [Kylian Mbappé](/players/kylian-mbappe) and [Jude Bellingham](/players/jude-bellingham).

Biography

Vinícius was born in São Gonçalo, in the state of Rio de Janeiro, in 2000. He rose through the Flamengo academy and became the youngest debutant in the club's Série A history. Real Madrid signed him in 2017 for a reported €45m — a record for a South American teenager — and loaned him back to Flamengo until his eighteenth birthday.

Career evolution

His first three seasons at Real Madrid were difficult. He created chances but finished poorly, and by 2020 there were serious questions inside the club about whether he would ever become a top-line forward. Under Carlo Ancelotti from 2021 he transformed: his finishing improved dramatically, he became a genuine goal threat, and he scored the winning goal in the 2022 Champions League final against Liverpool.

Tactical role changes

Under Zinedine Zidane he was a wide-left winger who stayed on the touchline. Under Ancelotti in 2021-22 he began drifting inside on the underlap alongside Karim Benzema. With Mbappé arriving in 2024, Ancelotti pushed him back to the left touchline as a pure winger, letting Mbappé take the central role — a shift that halved his xG but doubled his assists in the first half of 2024-25.

Signature performances

The winning goal against Liverpool in the 2022 [Champions League](/guides/uefa-champions-league-complete-guide) final. A goal and two assists in the 2022 Champions League semi-final second leg against Manchester City. A hat-trick against Barcelona in the 2024 Spanish Supercopa. A commanding Copa América 2024 group-stage performance despite Brazil's overall struggles.

Playing style

Elite acceleration, exceptional one-versus-one dribbling from the touchline, and — since 2021 — a much more reliable left-footed finish. He is best in transition and against a set defence when he can face a single fullback. His crossing and set-piece delivery are average by elite standards, and his end product has swung season to season based on his finishing streaks.

Impact on club and country

He is the primary reason Real Madrid became the best transition team in Europe under Ancelotti. For Brazil, he has been the most consistent creative threat since Neymar's decline, though the national team's structural problems have limited his output. He is expected to be the face of Brazil's [2026 World Cup](/fifa-world-cup-2026) campaign.

Records and milestones

Ballon d'Or runner-up in 2024. FIFA Best Men's Player winner in 2024. Champions League winner in 2022 and 2024. La Liga champion twice. Copa del Rey and FIFA Club World Cup winner. Youngest Real Madrid player to score in a Champions League final.

Legacy and influence

Vinícius has become the most visible active anti-racism campaigner in football. His public stance — including refusing to normalise abuse in Spanish stadiums — forced La Liga to introduce new sanctioning protocols and Spanish courts to convict individual fans for racism at matches, an unprecedented outcome in European football.

Common misconceptions

He is not "chasing" the Ballon d'Or narrative — the FIFA Best award in 2024 was voted by national team coaches and captains, an independent vote from the Ballon d'Or. He is also not a purely counterattacking player: his numbers against low blocks have been in the elite winger tier for three consecutive seasons.

FAQs

**What position does Vinícius Júnior play?** Left winger, cutting inside onto his right foot but capable with either.

**Did Vinícius deserve the 2024 Ballon d'Or?** By club and international honours (La Liga and Champions League double, plus FIFA Best), a majority of analysts believed he did. [Rodri](/players/rodri) won on the strength of Manchester City's Premier League and Spain's Euros.

**How much did Real Madrid pay for Vinícius?** Around €45m from Flamengo in 2017, agreed a year before he moved to Madrid.

**Is Vinícius the best Brazilian player right now?** Yes, by consensus among European club coaches and the FIFA Best voting panel.

**How old is Vinícius?** Born 12 July 2000.

**Where can I watch Vinícius play?** Real Madrid matches in La Liga and the Champions League, and Brazil internationals.

Related: [Kylian Mbappé](/players/kylian-mbappe), [Jude Bellingham](/players/jude-bellingham), [Lamine Yamal](/players/lamine-yamal), [La Liga guide](/guides/la-liga-complete-guide).

By the numbers

Ballon d'Or runner-up 2024. FIFA Best Men's Player 2024. Two Champions League titles (2022, 2024). Two La Liga titles. Copa del Rey, Spanish Supercopa and FIFA Club World Cup winner. Youngest Real Madrid player to score in a Champions League final. Top scorer for Real Madrid in the 2023-24 season with 24 La Liga goals.

Off the pitch

Vinícius launched the Instituto Vini Jr in 2021, funding public school education for children in Brazil through a scholarship and technology programme. His public campaigning against racism in Spanish football has become a case study taught in European sports governance and law faculties, and it materially shifted LaLiga's sanctioning framework from 2023 onward.