It has been five years since Vinicius Junior left the Brazilian powerhouse Flamengo to join the Spanish giants, Real Madrid. In this half-decade span, the young winger is believed to have altered the football landscape on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean.
The impact he has had in Europe is undeniable. With 59 goals and 64 assists in 225 matches to date, Vinicius has firmly established himself as one of the most formidable attacking forces in the world. His remarkable combination of blistering pace, intelligent changes of rhythm, and an ever-improving end product, both in crosses and goals, makes him a nightmare for defenders. He famously overturned the balance for Real in the 2022 Champions League final, netting the goal that secured victory against Liverpool.
Looking back, his transfer fee is a bargain. Following his success, European clubs are increasingly eager to acquire prospects from South America as early as possible.
Flamengo appears to be on its way to becoming a global powerhouse outside of Europe, largely attributed to Vinicius. His transfer, along with those of others like Lucas Paqueta, provided the financial resources to invest in players who might not have met European expectations but thrived in the Brazilian context.
Vinicius resonates with a sense of connection. During the summer break, he was spotted at Rio de Janeiro’s Maracana Stadium, cheering for his former club. Watching Flamengo surely brought back memories, not all of which were entirely positive. Brazilian football can be harsh on its own. Part of the local culture involves building stars only to tear them down. The transfer fee and the hype surrounding Vinicius – before he had a chance to make a significant impact at the elite level – evidently stirred reactions.
During his time with Flamengo and before proving himself at Real Madrid, Vinicius was often compared to Negueba, a Brazilian player once deemed disappointing. Negueba began his senior career with Flamengo in 2010, playing nearly 100 matches before moving on to other clubs and eventually South Korea. Negueba was seen by some as a lightweight winger with limited productivity.
Even if Vinicius never kicks another ball, he has played an incredibly significant role both on and off the field. Yet, he still has much playing time ahead, and this stage may offer even more captivating challenges. Now, he will don the number 7 jersey for Madrid – a badge of added responsibility that he must shoulder. He has already established himself as a supporting act to Karim Benzema in the attacking partnership – the same number that Benzema wore. The Frenchman has moved on, and Vinicius is following in his footsteps.
