Vinícius Júnior is a Brazilian footballer who plays as a forward for Real Madrid and the Brazil national team. He was born in São Gonçalo and started his career at Flamengo, making his senior debut at just 16. Soon after, Real Madrid signed him for a big fee. And he joined them officially in 2018.
At Real Madrid, Vini Jr. became a key player. He helped the team win La Liga and the UEFA Champions League multiple times. He scored in the finals in 2022 (winning goal) and 2024. He has won major awards, including The Best FIFA Men’s Player in 2024 and was named Champions League Player of the Season in 2024.
Vinícius Júnior Achievements
Vinicius Junior has won many trophies with club and country. With Real Madrid CF, he has won La Liga three times. These came in 2019–20, 2021–22, and 2023–24.
He won the Copa del Rey in 2022–23. He also reached the final in 2024–25. He has won the Supercopa de España three times. These were in 2020, 2022, and 2024. He finished runner-up in 2025.
In Europe, Vinicius has won the UEFA Champions League twice. These came in 2021–22 and 2023–24. He also won the UEFA Super Cup in 2022 and 2024.
At global level, he won the FIFA Club World Cup in 2018 and 2022. He also won the FIFA Intercontinental Cup in 2024. With the senior Brazil national football team, he finished runner-up in the Copa América in 2021.
Vinícius Júnior Career Stats
Vinicius Junior started at CR Flamengo. In 2017, he played 25 games with 3 goals and 1 assist. In 2018, he played 12 games with 4 goals and 3 assists.
He then moved to Real Madrid CF. His early seasons were quiet. In 2018–19, he had 18 games with 2 goals. In 2019–20, he had 29 games with 3 goals. In 2020–21, he played 35 games with 3 goals and 3 assists.
From 2021–22, things changed. He played 35 games and scored 17 goals with 10 assists. In 2022–23, he had 33 games with 10 goals and 10 assists.
In 2023–24, he played 23 games and scored 15 goals. In 2024–25, he had 28 games with 11 goals and 8 assists. In 2025–26, he played 35 league matches. He scored 15 goals and gave 5 assists.
| Season | Club | League | Appearances | Goals | Assists |
| 2025–26 | Real Madrid | La Liga | 35 | 15 | 5 |
| 2024–25 | Real Madrid | La Liga | 28 | 11 | 8 |
| 2023–24 | Real Madrid | La Liga | 23 | 15 | 5 |
| 2022–23 | Real Madrid | La Liga | 33 | 10 | 10 |
| 2021–22 | Real Madrid | La Liga | 35 | 17 | 10 |
| 2020–21 | Real Madrid | La Liga | 35 | 3 | 3 |
| 2019–20 | Real Madrid | La Liga | 29 | 3 | 1 |
| 2018–19 | Real Madrid | La Liga | 18 | 2 | 0 |
| 2018 | Flamengo | Série A | 12 | 4 | 3 |
| 2017 | Flamengo | Série A | 25 | 3 | 1 |
Vinícius Júnior Personal Life
Vinicius Junior grew up in a simple area in São Gonçalo, near Rio de Janeiro. Life was not easy, but his family stayed close and supported him. His father worked in construction. His mother took care of the home and children. He has siblings, and they all grew up together in a tight family.
He started football very young. He trained at a small local school linked to CR Flamengo. The place was basic, but full of passion. Coaches and locals still remember him as a happy kid who loved to play and enjoy the game.
Money was sometimes a problem. People helped him with things like boots. His parents made big efforts to take him to training. Long trips and long days were normal.
He moved closer to training as he got older to save travel time. That helped him focus more on football. Coaches and people from his past say he still treats everyone with respect and keeps in touch. He is also involved in helping others. He runs a project called Instituto Vini Jr. It uses football and tech to help kids with education.
He still stays close to his family. They support him and even live with him at times. That strong base helps him deal with pressure. For many kids in his hometown, he is more than a player. He is proof that someone from a small place can reach the top.
Vinícius Júnior Contract
Vinicius Junior is in a contract situation with Real Madrid CF. His current deal runs until June 2027. There is still no new agreement. Talks started earlier, but nothing big has changed. Both sides want him to stay. But money is the main issue.
Right now, he earns about €17 million per year. The club has offered around €20 million. His side wants close to €30 million with bonuses. That gap is the reason things are slow.
Madrid do not want to break their wage rules. They are careful about giving very high deals. They fear it can affect the whole team structure. The club still feels confident he will renew. There is also a good bond between him and club president Florentino Perez.
This season has been mixed for him. Some fans have even booed him during matches. He once scored and then showed a small apology to the crowd. There were also issues with former coach Xabi Alonso. Their relationship was not smooth. That created tension during the season.
FAQs
Q. Where did Vinícius Júnior start his career?
A. Vinícius Júnior started at Flamengo. He made his senior debut at 16.
Q. When did Vinícius Júnior join Real Madrid?
A. Vinícius Júnior officially joined Real Madrid in 2018.
Q. What individual awards has Vinícius Júnior won?
A. Vinícius Júnior won The Best FIFA Men’s Player in 2024. He was named Champions League Player of the Season in 2024.
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