Vinícius Júnior, a Brazilian footballer, boasts an impressive net worth of $50 million. He plays for the renowned La Liga team, Real Madrid, and the Brazilian national team. Since joining Real Madrid, Júnior has helped the team win multiple La Liga titles, including in 2020, 2022, and 2024, as well as UEFA Champions League victories in 2022 and 2024. At the youth level, Júnior contributed to Brazil’s triumph in the 2015 South American Under-15 Championship and the 2017 South American Under-17 Championship.
Vinícius Júnior’s current contract, signed in 2022 and lasting until 2027, is worth approximately €20 million annually.
Early Life
Born on July 12, 2000, in São Gonçalo, Brazil, Vinícius Júnior grew up in a humble Catholic family. He began his football journey at just six years old, joining Flamengo’s youth system. Between 2007 and 2010, he took futsal classes at Flamengo’s school in São Gonçalo, refining his skills.
Vinícius Júnior’s professional career began in May 2017 with Flamengo’s senior team. Over his time with Flamengo, from 2017 to mid-2018, he made 50 appearances and netted 11 goals, establishing himself as one of Brazil’s rising stars.
Real Madrid
In the summer of 2018, Júnior made the move to Spanish football by joining Real Madrid. His first season was notable, with a FIFA Club World Cup victory before a serious ligament injury cut it short in March 2019. The following year, he scored three goals in 29 appearances, helping Real Madrid claim the La Liga title. In the 2020-21 season, Real Madrid made it to the semifinals of the UEFA Champions League.
Vinícius had a breakout campaign in 2021-22, marking his first hat-trick for Real Madrid and contributing to both La Liga and Champions League victories. Real Madrid also secured the Supercopa de España that season. Júnior finished as the team’s second-highest scorer with 22 goals across all competitions.
In the 2022-23 season, Júnior continued his excellent form, contributing to another FIFA Club World Cup win and receiving the Golden Ball as the tournament’s best player. The 2023-24 season saw Júnior at his best, including a remarkable goal-scoring streak in March, where he scored six goals in just four matches. This led Real Madrid to win both the La Liga and Champions League titles, as well as the Supercopa de España. Júnior was named the UEFA Champions League Player of the Season.
In the 2024-25 season, he added the inaugural FIFA Intercontinental Cup to his collection and was honored as the Best FIFA Men’s Player. He also won the Golden Ball and Player of the Tournament accolades. By early 2025, Júnior reached a career milestone, scoring his 100th and 101st goals for Real Madrid in a Champions League match against Red Bull Salzburg.
International Career
Júnior’s international journey began at the youth level with Brazil’s under-15 team, where he played a pivotal role in their victory at the 2015 South American Under-15 Championship. He went on to lead Brazil’s under-17 team to victory in the 2017 South American Under-17 Championship, earning the title of best player of the tournament.
Júnior made his senior debut for Brazil in 2019 and later helped the team secure second place in the 2021 Copa América. In 2022, he scored his first goal for the senior national team in a World Cup qualifier against Chile. That year, he also played in the 2022 FIFA World Cup, where Brazil reached the quarterfinals.
Activism
Off the field, Vinícius Júnior is deeply engaged in activism, especially against racism. In 2023, he became a vocal advocate for anti-racism after enduring multiple instances of racial abuse. He condemned La Liga for failing to adequately address the issue and called for tougher measures to combat racial discrimination in the sport. His efforts gained widespread support from both sports and political figures, leading to the passage of a law in Rio de Janeiro that would halt sporting events where racist behavior is present.
Additionally, Júnior has championed education initiatives in Brazil. He founded Instituto Vini Jr., an organization aimed at providing disadvantaged children in Brazil with better access to education, further solidifying his impact off the field.
