This Wednesday is the 23rd birthday of Vinicius Junior, one of the most prominent stars in Brazilian football. He has won almost every title possible despite his young age and conquered everything by putting a lot of work, but also suffering abuse from those who could see him succeed.
Vini’s importance in and out of the football field can not be measured. He was a teenager when the first racist abuses against him started, while playing for Flamengo. They erupted in the recent seasons in Spain because of his great performances at Real Madrid.
I have talked twice with Vini and I can guarantee that he will be one of the most important Brazilian footballers of all time. I can still remember our first talk, back in 2020 for The Guardian, when he was playing with the ball just before I could great him. He was laughing with his friends and the interview could not be different. He told me funny stories about his life, but also how much he was preparing to achieve greatness with training routines, qualified professionals and the will to win.
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I already knew that Vini was going to use his voice against racism. I could not imagine he would be such a victim of it years later. I asked him that time how did he feel about it and what he would do with his platform, probably the biggest in the world.
“There is more interest in supporting our cause, with important guys such as LeBron James and Lewis Hamilton, my idols, leading it. That moment when the NBA players refused to go on to the court was very strong. It makes people see how much we care. It makes me happy and sad at the same time, because we are in 2020 and we still have to fight against racism and other stuff that is used to divide us.”
The moment I knew he was a special kid, however, came just after that. I asked him what was his biggest goal in football.
“I don’t like to think of these bad moments in my career, but I surely hope that I can make every Brazilian cheer for me one day.”
Time passed on and he might have already achieved that. Vini, I think, can be the most important player in reuniting Brazilian fans and the Brazilian National Team, but also be the bringer of joy anywhere he is. He is a man that knows how to laugh and bring the best.
The second time I talked to him, in 2021 and again for The Guardian, he told me that he was launching an app to help the students of Rio de Janeiro, which would make things easier for them to learn. Instituto Vini Jr. has grown ever since by paving the way for these kids. Of course be a footballer is the ultimate dream of almost every children in Brazil, but that’s not how things go.
“My first concern was to help these young kids to achieve more via education,” said Vinícius. “Football is a dream, but isn’t it wonderful if we can help kids to get out of poverty by studying? My goal is to make it happen in the medium and long term. We need to have more doctors, lawyers, engineers coming out of the favelas. We intend to give opportunities to them.”
I do have high hopes for Vini. And I do believe that he will achieve anything he sets his mind into.
I will be cheering.
