Vinicius Junior doesn’t hold back. When it comes to addressing sensitive issues like racism, the Real Madrid forward doesn’t mince his words.
Vinicius Junior is an attacker on the field, but in social life, he knows perfectly well how to defend himself when attacked. Some supporters in La Liga know this well and are not ready to try again. The football world still remembers the Brazilian’s tears on 25 March last year when he was at a press conference on the eve of the international friendly match between Spain and Brazil in Madrid. It was with deep emotion that Vinicius Junior addressed the thorny issue of racism.
Vinicius Junior’s war against racism
Often targeted by opposing supporters who criticise his on-field behaviour, Vinicius Junior does not intend to give in to those who hurl racist insults at him. The Brazilian, who joined Spain and Real Madrid in July 2018 from Flamengo, has taken on a new dimension in recent years, tormenting opposing defences and thus attracting hatred from some fans ready to do anything to destabilise him mentally. The 24-year-old player still indicates that Spain is not “a racist country,” but “there are many racists, a large part of them in the stadiums.”
“Since the first time I complained about racism in Spain,” he continues, “the situation has only worsened… They insult me because of the colour of my skin to make me play worse on the field,” he lamented. In response, Vinicius Junior plans to stay in Spain for a long time to lead the fight against racism. “I never thought about leaving Real, because that would be giving in to the racists.”
Vinicius’s strong speech
Vinicius Junior’s cries for help have started to elicit positive reactions. Indeed, on 10 June 2024, the site lemonde.fr reported that 3 Valencia CF supporters had been sentenced to eight months in prison and a 2-year stadium ban for directing racist chants and insults at the player born in the state of Rio de Janeiro. A significant victory for Vinicius Junior in his fight for racial equality.
The conviction of his aggressors marks an important step in Vinicius’s fight against racism. The Real Madrid player took the opportunity to call on all black people who suffer injustices because of their skin colour. “In the last three months, we have already managed to put four people in prison and make them pay for the crime they committed. We are on the right track,” Vinicius first said from Brazil, where he is participating in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
“I play in Spain, where I have suffered a lot and still sometimes suffer. But of course, there is the help of all the clubs, of all the people who do their best to fight against racism,” he added before concluding. “I cannot fight alone against everything that all black people have suffered. But I know my importance, I know the strength I have, my speech, and I can speak for all those who have no strength, or who are afraid, or who go through a lot.”
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