Before concerning himself with individual awards, the Brazilian forward aims to win his second Champions League title on Saturday when Real Madrid faces Borussia Dortmund at Wembley.
Vinícius was the hero who secured Real Madrid’s 14th Champions League title in 2022, driving into the box from the left and scoring the decisive goal in the 1-0 victory over Liverpool.
It was a simple finish, but one he had previously struggled to make, highlighting a challenging start to his career in Madrid.
Brought in to fill the void left by former top scorer Cristiano Ronaldo in 2018, Vinícius initially faced ridicule for his lack of finishing.
Following Carlo Ancelotti’s return for a second stint as manager in 2021, the Brazilian was one of the main beneficiaries. After scoring 14 goals in three seasons before the Italian’s arrival, Vinícius netted 22 under Ancelotti’s guidance.
The 22nd goal came in Paris against Jürgen Klopp’s Reds, a fitting reward for Vinícius’s transformation.
The following year, the Brazilian scored 23 goals and, ahead of the final against Dortmund, he has already matched that tally.
Vinícius also benefited from Ancelotti’s tactical changes this season to accommodate the arrival of Jude Bellingham and address the team’s defensive weaknesses. Ancelotti has deployed Vinícius as a forward, a role the winger took time to adapt to.
“Now I can play in more positions, and that’s how I’ve improved my game significantly since I arrived here. I keep evolving and want to continue evolving until the last day of my career, just like Toni Kroos,” Vinícius told reporters before the final.
The German midfielder has been a positive influence on the Brazilian international, but Ancelotti’s guidance has been crucial. One of the Italian’s greatest achievements has been transforming Vinícius from a rough diamond into an elite player.
“I feel comfortable with everything the coach tells me because he has changed me as a player,” Vinícius continued.
“He gave me the confidence I needed, and wherever he tells me to go, I have to be there. At first, I wasn’t convinced about playing inside, but now I’m very happy to play there—he always told me I would score goals, and I didn’t believe it. And in the end, things turned out well.”
Time to Improve
After scoring three goals in the first 11 games of the season and with newcomer Bellingham taking the spotlight, Vinícius wasn’t worried, especially since he was sidelined for over a month due to a muscle injury.
“I had time to work on things I usually don’t, to think about my game and everything I could do to improve… and reach the most important part of the season at a better level,” he explained.
Vinícius scored 17 goals in his last 23 games, including two goals against Bayern Munich in the semi-final, where he outpaced Joshua Kimmich. However, he has also made headlines for other reasons, having been subjected to racial abuse in Spain over the past two seasons.
“Racism is something I can’t control, but I always try to stay calm,” he said.
Fortunately, in recent weeks, these incidents have decreased, allowing Vinícius to focus on football.
When asked if he would take a 1-0 victory over Dortmund, as happened two years ago against Liverpool where he scored the winning goal, Vinícius responded, “for sure.”
“With a goal from anyone,” he added, prioritizing the Champions League above any individual accolade.
“I never thought about winning the Ballon d’Or. The best thing that can happen this season is winning the Champions League,” he concluded.