Vinicius José Paixo de Oliveira Junior, also known as Vinicius Junior or Vini Jr, is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays as a winger for Real Madrid in La Liga and for the Brazil national team.
He is regarded as one of the best players in the world and is known for his dribbling abilities, high pace, and playmaking.
Early life and Education
Vinicius Junior was born on July 12, 2000, in the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to his father, Vinicius José Paixo de Oliveira, and his mother, Tatiana Vinicius.
Vini Jr, like any other Brazilian child, began school at the age of 6 in 2006.
He started his education at one of Flamengo’s 125 Brazilian schools.
His parents waited till he was seven years old after registering for school before allowing him to begin his success story.
Vinicius joined Futsal at Canto do Rio, a well-known team in Niteroi, south of Sao Gonçalo, that same year.
Read Also: The Biography of Ezekiel Elliott: Early life and education, age, career & personal life
Career
Club Career (Real Madrid & Flamengo)
Vinicius Junior’s football career began in 2006 when his father took him to the Flamengo branch office in the Mutuá area of São Gonçalo, where he lived.
His club record described him as a left-back.
Between 2007 and 2010, Vincius attended futsal classes at Flamengo’s school at So Gonçalo in the Canto do Rio, a well-known club in Niterói’s center.
Vinicius took a futsal tryout for Flamengo in 2009, when he was nine years old.
The club recognized his potential, but due to his age, he was asked to return the next year.
Unfortunately, he decided he preferred football to futsal and did not return.
Vinicius made his Flamengo debut on 13 May 2017 as an 82nd-minute substitute in a 1-1 Brazilian Série A draw against Atlético Mineiro.
On May 23, 2017, Real Madrid signed a contract to sign Vinicius, who will turn 18 on July 12, 2018. He was signed for a reported fee of €46 million.
He was officially presented as a Real Madrid player and assigned squad number 28 on July 20, 2018.
On September 29, he made his debut, coming on as an 87th-minute substitute in a goalless draw against Atlético Madrid.
International career (Brazil)
Vinicius Junior was called up to Brazil by coach Guilherme Dalla Déa for the South American U-15 Championship on October 30, 2015.
He and Brazil won the U-15 title, and he finished as the tournament’s second-leading scorer with seven goals.
Vinicius was named the tournament’s best player and top goal-scorer after leading Brazil to the South American U-17 Championship.
Vinicius was called up to the Brazilian national team for the first time on February 28, 2019, for friendlies against Panama and the Czech Republic.
However, he was injured while playing for Real Madrid.
He made his senior international debut on September 10, 2019, as a 72nd-minute substitute in Brazil’s 1-0 loss to Peru.
Vinicius made his national team debut on March 24, 2022, in a 4-0 home win over Chile in a 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification match at the Maracan Stadium.
Personal Life
Vini Junior has been in a relationship with Maria Jlia Mazalli. Maria, unlike Vini, was born into a wealthy family and had a pleasant childhood.
Vinicius Junior is noted for his cheerful and affable nature off the field. He is an enthusiastic social media user who frequently shares photographs and videos of his personal life with his admirers.
He is also active in various charitable projects in Brazil, including a foundation that assists impoverished youngsters with education and athletic training.
