For his last match of the year with Brazil, Vinicius Junior received some incredible news from the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) regarding his origins. A star in Real Madrid’s attack alongside Kylian Mbappé, the 24-year-old Brazilian talent has now learned about his African roots.
Recently missing out on the Ballon d’Or, Vinicius Junior was honoured by his compatriots last night. Supported by Brazil, which cried scandal after this 68th edition of the Ballon d’Or France Football, which has been losing credibility in recent months, the Real Madrid player had the chance to feel the love of his people this November. After missing the national team selection in October due to injury, Vini has just completed the last FIFA international break of 2024 with his national team.
The Brazilian Federation surprises Vinicius
Back at Fonte Nova in Salvador, Brazil, to play the 2026 World Cup qualifier against Uruguay, Vinicius Junior received unprecedented honours from the CBF. Indeed, before the kick-off of the match, which ended in a 1-1 draw, the 2024 Ballon d’Or runner-up received a certificate attesting to his origins, presented by the Brazilian Football Confederation. After undergoing DNA tests to discover his ancestral links, the result was clear: Vinicius is of Cameroonian descent.
As indicated by the official document presented in the presence of his father and the president of the Brazilian Football Federation, Ednaldo Rodrigues, Vini has ancestors from Cameroon, specifically from the Tikar ethnic group. This unprecedented initiative, revealing that the Brazilian international has ties to Cameroon, is part of the “Raízes de Ouro” campaign, aimed at strengthening commitment to an inclusive society in Brazil and global football.
“Celebrating Vini Jr. is celebrating the success of all Brazilians. By knowing his origins, we reaffirm our commitment to an inclusive society, recognising the fundamental role of Afro-Brazilian culture in our identity and success in global football,” said the CBF president after presenting the unique certificate. While the news is sparking debates everywhere, the Brazilian press is amused by this revelation.
Real Madrid’s “Cameroonian” attack
As several observers point out, discovering that Vinicius Junior, who is very committed to fighting racism in Spain and worldwide, is Cameroonian, is a curious coincidence for Florentino Pérez’s club. Indeed, with Kylian Mbappé, who was born to a Cameroonian father, Wilfried Mbappé, Real Madrid’s dynamic duo thus have roots in the same African country.
In any case, the news is quite interesting, as now the two star players of the Madrid club know they have common origins. We will see if these ties will further strengthen their bond.
Both called to compete for the best individual major trophies in their careers, KM9 and Vini will have to compete healthily for the good of the Madrid club. We eagerly await the return of the Brazilian star to Madrid to reunite with his French attacking partner of Cameroonian origin and see if a significant bond between them develops.
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