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Tag: Vinicius Jr

  • Vinicius Jr apologises to Real Madrid fans

    Vinicius Jr apologises to Real Madrid fans

    Real Madrid winger Vinicius Jr has apologised to supporters for his reaction to being substituted in Sunday’s fiery El Clasico win against Barcelona.

    Vinicius was taken off in the 72nd minute and expressed his frustration by going straight down the tunnel.

    The Brazilian later returned to the bench and, after his side’s 2-1 win, tried to confront Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal during unsavoury post-match scenes.

    “Today I want to apologise to all the Madridistas for my reaction when I was substituted in the Clasico,” Vinicius posted on X.

    “Just as I have already done in person during today’s training, I also want to apologise again to my team-mates, the club, and the president.

    Read Also: Critics continue to belittle me, says Vinicius Jr

    “Sometimes passion gets the better of me because I always want to win and help my team. My competitive character stems from the love I feel for this club and everything it represents.”

    Vinicius joined Real from Flamengo in 2018 for £38.7m and has scored 111 goals in 335 appearances.

    But his future in the Spanish capital is far from certain with reports in recent months stating that Real would consider letting the 25-year-old leave if they were to receive a suitable offer.

    When Vinicius was substituted on Sunday, cameras from broadcaster Dazn picked him up saying: “Always me! I’m leaving the team! It’s better if I leave, I’m leaving.”

    In his latest statement on X, Vinicius said: “I promise to keep fighting every second for the good of Real Madrid, as I have done since the first day.”

    BBC

  • Four ‘jailed’ over Vinicius Jr’s effigy

    Four ‘jailed’ over Vinicius Jr’s effigy

    Four people have been given suspended jail sentences by a Madrid Court after being found guilty of a hate crime related to an effigy of Real Madrid forward Vinicius Jr, Spain’s LaLiga said.

    They were all involved in hanging a banner reading “Madrid hates Real” and an inflatable black effigy in a replica of the Brazilian’s No. 20 shirt on a bridge before a Copa del Rey match against Atletico Madrid in January 2023.

    According to the ruling, one defendant was sentenced to 15 months in prison for a hate crime and an additional seven months for making threats, having distributed images of the act online. The other three were sentenced to seven months in prison for hate crimes and seven months for threats.

    They will not serve prison time, however, after all four signed a letter of apology to Vinicius, Real Madrid, LaLiga and the Spanish soccer federation (RFEF).

    “The defendant who posted the video online received a special disqualification from working in education, sports, or recreational youth settings for four years and three months, while the others received three years and seven months,” LaLiga said in a statement.

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    The first defendant was fined 1,084 euros ($1,250) and the other three 720 euros, with additional punishments including a 1,000-meter restraining order from Vinicius, his home and workplace, and a ban on approaching soccer stadiums during LaLiga or RFEF matches.

    They will all be required to participate in an educational programme on equal treatment and non-discrimination in order for the prison sentences imposed to be suspended.

    Real Madrid said 14 individuals have now been criminally convicted for racist attacks against their players and that they will continue working to eradicate racism from the sport.

    “This criminal conviction adds to several others handed down in recent months for the racist abuse directed at Real Madrid players at the Zorrilla (Valladolid), Mestalla (Valencia), Son Moix (Palma de Mallorca), and Vallecas (Madrid) stadiums, as well as on online platforms,” Real said in a statement.

    The 24-year-old Vinicius has been subjected to racial abuse on several occasions in Spain.

    He said last year after finishing second in the voting for the Ballon D’Or that he will keep on fighting racism even if his activism is what led to him not winning the prestigious individual award.

  • ‘Tired’ Vinicius available for Villarreal – Ancelotti

    ‘Tired’ Vinicius available for Villarreal – Ancelotti

    Real Madrid forward Vinicius Jr is tired but will be available for their LaLiga match at Villarreal today, coach Carlo Ancelotti said after the Brazilian missed team training having been given an extra rest day.

    Real beat Atletico Madrid 4-2 on penalties after the second leg of their Champions League last-16 tie on Wednesday, after a punishing 30 minutes of extra time.

    Vinicius did not train with the team on Friday, their final session ahead of their league fixture, remaining inside the club’s facilities instead, local media reported.

    “We have given him an extra day’s rest because he is still very tired,” Ancelotti told a press conference.

    “Tomorrow he will be available and at full strength to help us. He doesn’t have any problems, just a bit of tiredness.”

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    The Italian coach backed the 24-year-old, who missed a late second-half penalty against Atletico.

    “For us, for me, Vinicius is an indisputable player,” Ancelotti added. “He may have better or worse games, moments. But I don’t dispute that.

    “Even if sometimes he doesn’t play well, even if he fails, he has been so important for this club that I can’t argue with that.”

    Real have had some bumps on the road in their LaLiga title defence where they sit second in the table, having won two of their last six games.

  • Vinicius Jr, Bonmati rule FIFA Best awards 

    Vinicius Jr, Bonmati rule FIFA Best awards 

    Brazil and Real Madrid forward Vinicius Jr was named FIFA men’s player of the year in Doha on Tuesday, with Spain and Barcelona midfielder Aitana Bonmati winning the women’s award for the second year in a row.

    Vinicius scored 24 goals in 39 appearances across all competitions to help Real Madrid clinch the LaLiga and Champions League double, and he also netted in their Champions League final win over Borussia Dortmund.

    The Brazilian won the award ahead of Spain and Manchester City midfielder Rodri and his teammate at Real, England’s Jude Bellingham.

    The 24-year-old, who narrowly missed out on the Ballon d’Or to Rodri in October, was in Doha to collect the award, with Real in Qatar for Wednesday’s FIFA Intercontinental Cup final against Mexico’s Pachuca.

    “It seemed impossible when I played barefoot in the streets of Sao Goncalo and now I’m here,” Vinicius said.

    Bonmati retained the FIFA women’s player of the year award ahead of Zambia’s Barbra Banda and Norway’s Caroline Graham Hansen, having also won the women’s Ballon d’Or for the second consecutive year in October.

    Read Also: FIFA congratulates Sanusi on re-appointment at NFF

    The 26-year-old helped her club to a domestic treble last season in a campaign in which Barca also retained the Champions League, and Bonmati scored in the semi-final and final when Spain won the Nations League in February.

    “I’m very grateful for this award, but I always say that this is a team effort, with a Barca that won everything and the national team,” Bonmati said.

    Real Madrid’s Carlo Ancelotti won the best men’s coach award, after the Italian led his club to the league and Champions League double last season.

    “I want to share this with the club, with my president and with my players, those of the best club in the world,” Ancelotti said.

    Emma Hayes won the best women’s coach award, after taking the U.S. to the gold medal at this year’s Olympic Games having taken Chelsea to the WSL title last season, her fifth successive league win with the club.

    Alejandro Garnacho won the Puskas Award, for best goal of the year for the Argentine winger’s strike for Manchester United against Everton in the Premier League in November last year.

    Brazil’s Marta won the inaugural Marta Award, for the best goal in women’s football, taking the prize named in her honour for her goal against Jamaica in June of this year.

    The best women’s goalkeeper award went to American Alyssa Naeher of the Chicago Red Stars while Emiliano Martinez of Argentina and Aston Villa took the men’s award.

  • Vinicius ruled  out of clash at Liverpool

    Vinicius ruled  out of clash at Liverpool

    Real Madrid forward Vinicius Jr will miss his side’s Champions League clash at Liverpool on Wednesday after sustaining a leg muscle injury in their 3-0 LaLiga win at Leganes at the weekend, the Spanish club said.

    Sources close to the player told Reuters that Vinicius is expected to be sidelined from three to four weeks. It means he could miss up to seven games in all competitions before the winter break, including against Girona and Athletic Bilbao in LaLiga and a Champions League visit to Atalanta.

    “Following tests carried out today on our player Vini Jr by the Real Madrid Medical Services, he has been diagnosed with an injury to the biceps femoris in his left leg. Pending evolution,” Real said in a statement.

    Vinicius is the latest to join the club’s lengthy injury list which includes key players like Rodrygo, Eder Militao, Dani Carvajal, Lucas Vazquez, Aurelien Tchouameni and David Alaba.

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    Real are second in the LaLiga standings on 30 points, four behind Barcelona who drew 2-2 with Celta Vigo on Saturday.

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  • Vinicius Jr injured before Liverpool match

    Vinicius Jr injured before Liverpool match

    Real Madrid forward Vinicius Jr is a doubt for his side’s Champions League match against Liverpool after sustaining a hamstring injury.

    The Brazilian played the whole of Real Madrid’s 3-0 La Liga win against Leganes on Sunday.

    Madrid, who are 18th in the 36-team Champions League table, travel to Anfield on Wednesday to face table-topping Liverpool.

    The club released a statement on Monday to confirm the player had suffered “an injury to the biceps femoris in his left leg”.

    According Spanish newspaper Marca, external, the Brazil international could be sidelined for around three weeks but Madrid are not commenting on the severity of the injury.

    Read Also: Vinicius Jr scores hat-trick as Real Madrid thrash Osasuna

    Writing on X following Madrid’s statement, Vinicius Jr said: “Crazy calendar. Time to recover.”

    Liverpool are unlikely to be able to call on defender Trent Alexander-Arnold for the visit of the 15-time European Cup winners to Anfield.

    The England right-back missed Sunday’s 3-2 win at Southampton with a hamstring injury sustained before the international break.

    BBC

  • DNA test reveals Vinicius Jr’s ancestral roots in Cameroon

    DNA test reveals Vinicius Jr’s ancestral roots in Cameroon

    Brazilian and Real Madrid Forward Vinícius José Paixão de Oliveira Júnior, popularly known as Vinicius Jr, has traced his ancestry to Cameroon

    A Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) test carried out by the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) in partnership with AfricanAncestry.com on Tuesday, November 19, 2024, at Fonte Nova revealed the player’s ancestry in the Tikar tribe in Cameroon.

    This was disclosed on Tuesday during the warm-up before Brazil’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Uruguay.

    Vinicius was handed a certificate of the results prior to the game that ended in a one-all stalemate.

    Read Also: Vinicius Jr scores hat-trick as Real Madrid thrash Osasuna

    The CBF had embarked on the ‘Roots of Gold’ campaign, which celebrates the pride and history of the Afro-Brazilian community, especially in football.

    It is an initiative of the Brazilian Football Confederation aimed at reconnecting Seleção players with their roots.

    Speaking on behalf of his son, Vinicius’ father was delighted to discover that his family is tied to Cameroon.

    “It’s important for us to know where we came from. Many Brazilians actually don’t know their ancestry or our heritage. But I’m happy; we are from Cameroon too,” he said.

    In honour of his ancestry, Vinicius Jr wore a special jersey with the flags of Brazil and Cameroon for the match against Uruguay.

  • Vinicius Jr scores hat-trick as Real Madrid thrash Osasuna

    Vinicius Jr scores hat-trick as Real Madrid thrash Osasuna

    Eder Militao appeared to suffer a serious knee injury in Real Madrid’s 4-0 win over Osasuna at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu.

    The Brazilian centre-back went down screaming in agony after he seemingly jarred his right knee at a corner and was carried off the pitch on a stretcher with half an hour played, as 21-year old Raul Asencio replaced him for his Real debut.

    Vinicius Junior scored a fine hat-trick as the hosts got back to winning ways after two successive defeats.

    The Brazilian forward opened the scoring when he cut in from the left and slotted past Osasuna goalkeeper Sergio Herrera into the far corner.

    Jude Bellingham scored his first goal of the season, latching on to Asencio’s super long ball from defence to dink over Herrera.

    Vinicius found the net again after an hour thanks to Real goalkeeper Andriy Lunin’s sublime ball up the field, rounding Herrera and tapping home.

    Substitute Brahim Diaz stole the ball off Enzo Boyomo and slide it across to Vinicius who finished with ease for his hat-trick.

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    Despite the emphatic win, Real injury problems continued to mount as Rodrygo went off injured after 20 minutes and Lucas Vazquez could not continue after the break.

    Right-back Dani Carvajal suffered an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury last month, while centre-back David Alaba remains out with a knee injury.

    The result means second-placed Real move six points behind leaders Barcelona. However Hansi Flick’s side could increase the gap once more when they travel to Real Sociedad on Sunday (20:00 GMT).

  • Vinicius Jr : Madrid issue stern Ballon d’Or statement after boycott

    Vinicius Jr : Madrid issue stern Ballon d’Or statement after boycott

    Real Madrid have expressed their disappointment at the decision to overlook Vinicius Jr for the 2024 Ballon d’Or award.

    The Spanish giants had high hopes that one of their star players would clinch the esteemed award. However, leaked information suggests that Vinicius has been pipped to the Golden Ball by Rodri, another top contender for the accolade.

    Vinicius, Dani Carvajal, Jude Bellingham, Fede Valverde, Kylian Mbappe and Antonio Rudiger were all contenders for the Ballon d’Or, but none of the six were present in France. Neither was manager Carlo Ancelotti or president Florentino Perez, as the club took aim at the organisers.

    Madrid told AFP: “If the award criteria don’t give it to Vinicius as the winner, then those same criteria should point to Carvajal as the winner. As this was not the case, it is clear that Ballon d’Or-UEFA does not respect Real Madrid. And Real Madrid does not go where it is not respected.”

    Rodri’s victory can largely be attributed to his pivotal role in Spain’s Euro 2024 success. The Manchester City ace, who also added another Premier League title to his resume, was named the tournament’s best player. However, Carvajal was also a key member of the victorious Spanish team.

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    Real Madrid believe that his involvement, along with his Champions League victory, should place him ahead of Rodri if international success is the main criterion. Vinicius was unable to add the Copa America to his European triumphs as Brazil fell short.

    The Ballon d’Or is determined by a panel of journalists from the top 100 nations in the FIFA rankings. Real Madrid share the record for the most wins in the award’s history, having won it 12 times, the same as their Spanish rivals Barcelona.

    Their last winner was Karim Benzema, who took home the award in 2022. Since the start of the new millennium, they have also seen Luka Modric, Cristiano Ronaldo, Fabio Cannavaro and Ronaldo lift the prestigious award.

  • Vinicius Jr ruled out of  Brazil’s World Cup qualifiers 

    Vinicius Jr ruled out of  Brazil’s World Cup qualifiers 

    Brazil forward Vinicius Jr will miss their World Cup qualifiers against Chile and Peru due to injury, the Brazilian FA (CBF) said, making him the fourth player to be replaced in the squad.

    Vinicius suffered a neck injury during Real Madrid’s 2-0 home win against Villarreal on Saturday, the club said.

    Fulham midfielder Andreas Pereira has been called up to replace him, the CBF said in a statement.

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    Vinicius’ injury adds to the woes of coach Dorival Jr as Brazil, fifth in CONMEBOL’s World Cup qualifying standings with 10 points after eight matches, face Chile in Santiago on Oct. 10 before hosting Peru in Brasilia five days later.

    The top six of the 10 teams qualify directly for the World Cup.

    Dorival had already been forced to call up Paris Saint-Germain’s Lucas Beraldo, Palmeiras’ Weverton and Botafogo’s Alex Telles to replace Juventus’ Bremer, Liverpool’s Alisson and Atletico Mineiro’s Guilherme Arana, all injured.