Vini Jr vents after taking The Best: ‘It seemed impossible to get here’

More than an award, a fight for recognition. This was the tone of the speech by striker Vinícius Jr who, this Tuesday (17), was elected the best player in the world in FIFA The Best, in a ceremony held in Doha, Qatar. A constant target of racist insults at Real Madrid games, the athlete born in São Gonçalo, a municipality located in the metropolitan region of Rio, took advantage of the spotlight to vent.

“I don’t know where to start, because it was so far away that it seemed impossible to get here. I was a kid who played football barefoot, close to poverty and crime. I’m doing this for the many kids who can get here. I thank everyone who voted It’s something very important to me. I thank my family for having stopped living their dream to live my dream. I want to stay at Real Madrid for a long time, but I can’t stop thanking Flamengo, for being the club that put me in field”, said the Brazilian.

In addition to the emotional tone at the ceremony, the short-dribble striker used social media to express his feelings. The trophy won in Doha came into his hands less than two months after losing the Ballon d’Or to Spaniard Rodri. “Today I write to that boy who saw so many idols lift this trophy… His time has come. Or rather, my time has come to say… yes, I am the best player in the world and I fought hard for it”, he says post text.

The space was also used for him to comment on topics outside of football. Using racism as a target, the 24-year-old player tried to value his achievement with a wide smile. “They tried and are trying to invalidate me, to diminish me. But they are not prepared. No one will tell me who I should fight for, how I should behave. When I was in São Gonçalo, the system didn’t care about me. I was almost swallowed”, wrote the athlete who, finally, gave a special thank you to conclude his message. “I won for myself, for my family. With a lot of support along the way: Flamengo, Real Madrid, the Brazilian team, my hundreds of teammates over the years… the people who accompany me daily in my routine, who admire me”, posted the athlete .

This Wednesday (18), Vini Jr has the chance to shine again in the setting he likes most: the pitch. Real Madrid faces Pachuca in the semi-finals of the Intercontinental Cup, at the Lusail stadium. The meeting is scheduled for 2pm (Brasília time).