Vinícius José Paixão de Oliveira Júnior (born 12 July 2000), commonly known as Vinícius Júnior or Vini Jr., is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays as a winger for Real Madrid and the Brazil national team. He is considered one of the most electrifying dribblers in the world. He overcame early career criticism for poor finishing to become a clutch performer, scoring the winning goal in the 2022 Champions League Final and another in the 2024 Final. Beyond football, Vinícius is a global icon for social justice. He has been the target of persistent racist abuse in Spanish stadiums and has aggressively confronted the league (La Liga) and authorities, leading to historic convictions of fans. In 2023, he received the Socrates Award for his humanitarian work in Brazil. By 2026, Vini Jr. remained indispensable to Real Madrid, despite the arrival of Kylian Mbappé. He inherited the legendary number 7 shirt at Madrid and the number 10 shirt for Brazil, carrying the weight of a nation desperate for a World Cup title. His playing style is defined by "Joga Bonito"—flair, tricks, and joy—balanced with a newfound ruthless efficiency.