Who is Vinicius Junior, winner of 2023 Socrates Award?

Vinicius Júnior has won the Socrates Award for fighting against racism and his hard work in education in Brazil.

The Brazilian invested almost €4m until now for his Vini Jr. Institute.

Who is Vinicius Junior?

Vinicius Junior, whose full name is Vinicius José Paixão de Oliveira Júnior, is a Brazilian professional footballer known for his incredible speed, dribbling skills, and youthful exuberance. Born on July 12, 2000, in São Gonçalo, Brazil, he has quickly risen to prominence as one of the most exciting young talents in the world of football.

Also Read: Ballon d’Or 2023: Vinicius Junior wins the Socrates Award for humanitarian work

Vinicius Junior began his football journey at a young age, playing for the Brazilian club Flamengo’s youth academy. His exceptional skills did not go unnoticed, and he made his first-team debut for Flamengo in 2017 at the age of just 16. This marked the start of an impressive career that would soon take him to the biggest stages of world football.

In 2018, Vinicius Junior made a high-profile move to Spanish giants Real Madrid, signing a contract that would keep him with the club until 2025. The transfer fee was substantial, reflecting the high expectations that surrounded this young talent.

As a winger, Vinicius Junior is known for his ability to take on defenders with his quick dribbling and close ball control. He is equally comfortable on either flank and is often used as a wide forward, capable of cutting inside to create scoring opportunities. His style of play draws parallels to another Brazilian legend, Neymar, who is renowned for his flair and creativity.

Also Read: Real Madrid deletes racist handle tweet on Vinicius Jnr’s Champions League-winning goal after backlash

Vinicius Junior has not only made his mark at the club level but has also represented the Brazilian national team. He was part of the Brazilian squad that won the gold medal in men’s football at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, an achievement that added to his growing list of accolades.