Vinícius Júnior #7

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Almost everyone in Brazil knew what was coming from Viní Jr, right from the start. The hype began when he was a pre-teen at Flamengo, and he delivered. In 2017, at 17, he agreed a £39m move to Real Madrid, where he grew into the symbol of the team’s success post-Cristiano Ronaldo. Form hasn’t always been consistent, including with the Seleção, but if there is one man who knows how to get the best out of him it is Carlo Ancelotti. In 2024, Vinícius said of his then club manager: “He's done everything for me. He's always given me confidence, told me off when I needed it. He cares about me as much as I care about him. He's changed me as a player, not on the pitch, but in the way I think.” He has repeatedly been the victim of racist abuse in La Liga, and has repeatedly spoken out against it. He said in 2024: “I just want to play football but it’s hard to move forward … I feel less and less like playing. But it never crossed my mind [to leave Spain] because if I leave Spain I give the racists exactly what they want.”

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