Meet Vini Jr., the Brazilian forward that starred against Liverpool

Vinícius Júnior scored two goals for Real Madrid in the Champions League on Tuesday and is a name to watch for the future.

Meet Vini Jr., the Brazilian forward that starred against Liverpool
© Getty Images
Meet Vini Jr., the Brazilian forward that starred against Liverpool

In the 26th minute, Toni Kroos received the ball inside his half and spotted a white jersey sporting Vini Jr. and the number 20 on the back, darting towards goal.

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The German international pinged the ball over the Liverpool defenders, where Vinícius Júnior took a touch with his chest and shot it low past goalkeeper Alisson.

The Brazilian eventually scored a second goal, leading Real Madrid to a 3-1 victory at home over Liverpool in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final tie.

Who is Vini Jr.

Vinícius José Paixão de Oliveira Júnior, commonly known as Vinícius Júnior or Vini Jr., was born on July 12, 2000 in the São Gonçalo municipality of Rio de Janeiro.

He spent his entire youth career at the famous club Flamengo, beginning in 2005. He made his first-team debut in 2017, and went on to score seven goals in 37 games.

This caught the attention of Real, and Los Blancos signed the Brazilian left-winger in 2018 for a reported €45 million transfer fee. His arrival coincided with the departure of club legend Cristiano Ronaldo, with fans hoping he would become a like-for-like replacement.

Since his signing, the 20-year old has failed to meet these lofty expectations, and has only scored 14 goals and assisted 22 others in 106 appearances.

However, many pundits in the football world are calling the performance by Vinícius Júnior last night his best so far in a Madrid shirt. He has the chance to shine further this weekend against Barcelona in El Clasico and again versus Liverpool in the second leg next week.

A star on and off the pitch

Vinícius Júnior also enjoys the spotlight off the pitch. He has a Youtube channel with 1.3 million subscribers, where he posts videos of him gaming, eating Chinese food, and even getting a tattoo.

As well, his Instagram page, with a bio that reads 'Black Lives Matter,' has 10.9 million followers. He recently posted a ten-part documentary series to his account detailing his life from child in Brazil to playing in Madrid.

This Former Brazilian Football Star Is Now Leading A Very Different Life This Former Brazilian Football Star Is Now Leading A Very Different Life