Vinicius Jr’s UEFA Champions League Man of the Match award against Chelsea cemented his place as one of the best attackers in the game.
Vinicius was scouted by Real Madrid as a 16-year-old, playing for Flamengo. Madrid decided to make the winger the second most expensive teenager in history behind fellow Brazilian Neymar, signing him for 45 million Euros in 2016.
He only joined Madrid in 2018, on the day of his 18th birthday, due international transfer regulations. It took time to settle, with the youngster struggling to make an impact while being hampered with injuries.
Vinicius Jr plays football today. https://t.co/l9nOO26fnq
— TC (@totalcristiano) April 12, 2023
Vinicius had his breakthrough season last year, scoring 22 goals and providing 20 assists in all competitions, with his most notable contribution scoring the winning goal against Liverpool in the UEFA Champions League final to secure Los Blancos’ 14th European title.
🇧🇷 Vinícius Jr. (22) among all 1,917 players from last two editions of the Champions League:
• 1st in assists (10)
• 1st in decisive passes (47)
• 1st in accurate dribbling (68)
• 1st in duels won (141)
• 1st in fouls suffered (43)
• 3rd in G/A (20)⭐️ Superstar, @vinijr pic.twitter.com/t3yLlQtg35
— Madrid Zone (@theMadridZone) April 13, 2023
This season, the Brazilian star has pushed on, scoring 21 goals and providing 17 assists in just 45 appearances. This season’s Champions League campaign is where Vini has been most lethal, providing ten goal contributions in just nine appearances. The numbers may be impressive, but it is the manner in which Vinicius Jr has played which has elevated his standing.
Vinicius JR vs Reece James & Wesley Fofana https://t.co/te3TqlQg1o
— WolfRMFC (@WolfRMFC) April 13, 2023
The chemistry between Real Madrid’s frontline is spectacular, with much of their success down to the influence of Karim Benzema’s and Vinicius Jr’s telepathic relationship.
Benzema will look to play Vinicius into space where the Brazilian will use his explosive pace and world class technical ability to beat any player in front of him.
Just this season alone, Vini has ruined the nights of Achraf Hakimi, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Ronald Araujo and Reece James, with the latter labelled the best fullback in the world by Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand.
The victims of Vinicius Jr. pic.twitter.com/byLwABVLQY
— Troll Football (@TrollFootball) April 12, 2023
He has the ability to finish with a composure beyond his years while he also has the vision to look up and assist a forward across goal, usually Karim Benzema.
Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland are the faces of the post Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo era, but if Vinicius Jr continues his rise in consistency and success, he is surely to be mentioned in the same bracket soon.
Struggles at the start have been left in the past, with Madrid’s patience bearing fruit. A young prospect has developed into their central attacking threat.
Vinicius Jr has evolved from a rough diamond into arguably their most important Galactico.
Photo: Twitter@vini_ball