Vinícius Júnior, known as “Vini” Junior, was once a student at a small, crowded, and disorderly primary school where he was regarded as a hero by his fellow students. Every time a goal was scored, the twelve boys playing a quick-fire game of foosball at recess would scream out the name of a member of the national soccer squad. Without question, Vinícius Júnior was the favorite among the 11-year-old students. Da Silva, a student between rounds, exclaimed, “He worked to get where he got, and he went to school here.”
At the FIFA World Cup in Qatar, the 22-year-old forward for Brazil and Spanish club Real Madrid has impressed spectators by scoring the tournament’s opening goal against South Korea on Monday. Fans are expecting him to continue his performance when Brazil plays Croatia on Friday.
Vinícius Júnior took a proactive approach to give back to his former primary school. Through his foundation, the Vini Jr. Institute, he had a group create a learning application that incorporates soccer terminology to teach fundamental skills. As a result, his foundation provided his former school with ten brand-new smartphones pre-loaded with the educational app. This initiative aimed to enhance the learning experience for the students, combining their love for soccer with essential educational content.
Vinícius Júnior expresses that he found school to be monotonous and wants to make it more exciting. In a video produced by his charity, he is heard saying, “The institute helps me get closer to the people who helped me back there when I was 16, 15 years old, and repay the affection they all have for me.” His statement reflects his gratitude towards those who supported him during his younger years and his desire to give back to the community that shaped him. Through the Vini Jr. Institute, he aims to make a positive impact on education and provide opportunities for students to engage in a more exciting and fulfilling learning experience.
In the past, it was uncommon for institutions to be named after soccer players.
The trend of Brazilian soccer stars founding nonprofits is relatively new. According to Marcos Uchôa, a seasoned correspondent for Brazilian Broadcaster Globo TV, this is primarily because big money is a recent phenomenon in football. Therefore, instead of donating to charity due to the players’ impoverished backgrounds, “the majority of the money would go to help their families and their futures.” This suggests that the focus of the players’ efforts was initially on securing a better future for themselves and their loved ones rather than establishing charitable institutions.
Vinicius Junior made a significant impact by scoring the game-winning goal in the Champions League championship game in May, securing Real Madrid’s club-record 14th triumph.
However, his joyful dancing during the celebration attracted attention, and unfortunately, several viewers reacted negatively. They even threw objects at him and subjected him to racial comments. A Spanish agency, in a misguided attempt at humor, advised him to stop “monkeying around.” The agent later expressed regret for their statement.
In response to the incident, Vinicius Junior showed remarkable composure and maturity in a video message on Twitter, which is commendable for a player of his age and status. He wryly smiled at the camera and commented, “They believe happiness can disturb some. It probably bothers me more when a Black Brazilian wins in Europe.”
Despite the negative response, Vinicius Junior remains adamant that he will continue dancing. He refuses to let the criticism diminish his joy and self-expression on the field.
