Brazil had just beaten England 1-0 last month when journalists approached Vinicius Jr for an interview in the mixed zone at Wembley.
“But are we going to talk about football?” replied the Real Madrid striker with a smile.
After the positive response, he agreed to answer a few questions. Already knowing that he would give a press conference in Madrid a few days later, which would be mainly dedicated to his personal fight against racism, Vinicius wanted to avoid the subject in London.
And so he did. But then, speaking before Brazil’s friendly against Spain, he burst into tears as he discusses the impact the racist abuse he continues to suffer in Spanish stadiums has had on him.
“I just want to play football, but I’m having trouble moving forward. I feel more and more sad and I have less and less desire to play,” he said. “At 23, I have to teach many Spaniards what racism is.”
The fact that a superstar of the world’s biggest club and national team has reached the point of considering his future at this stage of his career only underlines how far things have come.
La Liga is a reference 10 racist incidents implicating Vinicius to Spanish prosecutors last season, but little appears to have been done so far.
When Real Madrid take on Manchester City in the Champions League quarter-finals on Tuesday, the number seven may not be the most talented player on the Santiago Bernabeu pitch – even if he does enter that conversation.
But he is perhaps the most important footballer in the world right now.
His fight goes far beyond football.
In recent years, Vinicius has become the leading black voice in the fight against racism in football and, despite the emotional toll it has taken on him, he has no intention of backing down.
“Vinicius is breaking the silence that surrounded this issue and that was imposed by the football industry in the past,” Marcelo Carvalho, founder and executive director of the Observatory of Racial Discrimination in Football, told BBC Sport.
“He is fighting against a racist system.”
Image source, Getty Images
Growing up in Sao Goncalo, the most dangerous city in the Rio de Janeiro metropolitan area, Vinicius had to overcome obstacles to reach the top.
None of that, however, prepared him for what he would face in Spain after leaving Flamengo for Real Madrid at the age of 18 in 2018, with constant abuse from the stands. monkey songs And an effigy hanging from a bridge directed towards him.
“I looked back and I’ve never seen a player who was persecuted like Vinicius,” Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti said last month.
The seriousness of the situation is such that it has become a diplomatic problem, with the Brazilian government summoning the Spanish ambassador to explain the incidents and request measures to put an end to them.
While the feeling of impunity remains, Vinicius acts alone.
Last year, the striker launched a campaign under the slogan “Racism, don’t pretend you don’t see it” on billboards across his country and even abroad for Black Awareness Day.
He has also helped renovate several schools in his country through his foundation and published an anti-racist manual to make the educational environment more inclusive.
He spoke out on social media about cases of racism involving other footballers as well.
“These initiatives are 100% his. What we do is make them happen and give him more strength to fight. We give him advice, but in the end, it’s his fight. He didn’t start a war against racism out of nowhere. He suffered it,” explained his agent Frederico Pena. “He’s combative. He always has been. It’s a family affair.”
No impact on its performance?
Image source, Getty Images
Unhappy with the treatment he received from La Liga last season, Vinicius considered the idea of leaving Real Madrid, but it can now be said that his relationship with the organization has changed. There is recognition of La Liga’s recent efforts.
There were concerns among his entourage about the impact of the racist abuse on his performances but, despite criticism of his behaviour on the pitch, Vinicius could be on course for his best season yet.
With 18 goals and six assists for Los Blancos this season, Vinicius is second only to Jude Bellingham in terms of numbers for the Spanish giants – the England midfielder has 20 goals and 10 assists.
“Obviously the racism cases affect him in some way. You can see that he is more reactive during matches,” Carvalho said of Vinicius.
“It’s great to have someone as powerful as Vinicius involved in this fight, but it’s also dangerous for him to be in this position because of the pressure he can feel on the pitch and from other clubs and sponsors who want to silence him.”
He’ll be hoping to put all that aside against City and, when the whistle blows, do what he does best: play football.
