For the first time in his career, the Real Madrid star is recognized in the traditional contest involving the best Brazilians in international football, with a trophy created in 2008.
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Previously, Vinicius Junior’s best performance at Samba Gold had taken place in 2021, when the striker trained by Flamengo finished in second place — at that time, behind the winner Neymar.
But this time it was Neymar who came in second place. The Al Hilal super star finished the voting ahead of defender Marquinhos, his former Paris Saint-Germain teammate, in third place.
The year 2023 had few collective trophies. Vinicius Junior helped Real Madrid win Spain’s Copa del Rey, in a victory over Osasuna in the final match. However, the 23-year-old Brazilian established himself as the main player in the most successful club in world football, especially after the departure of Frenchman Karim Benzema to the Saudi league.
However, football aside, Vinicius Junior stood out globally this year in his stance against racism. The match against Valencia in May in the Spanish league marked the culmination of this struggle. In social activities, the Brazilian player was also recognized at the recent Ballon D’Or ceremony, winning the Sócrates Award due to his work leading the Vinicius Junior Institute, which helps poor students in Rio de Janeiro.
