Vinícius Júnior, the Real Madrid and Brazil winger, broke down in tears during a press conference on Monday as he spoke about the repeated and systematic racist abuse he has faced while playing in La Liga. The 23-year-old, who has been on the receiving end of 10 reported episodes of racist abuse since joining Real Madrid in 2018, expressed his diminishing desire to play football due to the constant barrage of hate.
"I just want to play football but it's hard to move forward ... I feel less and less like playing," Vinícius said, his voice cracking with emotion. "It never crossed my mind [to leave Spain] because if I leave Spain I give the racists exactly what they want."
Despite the toll the abuse has taken on him, Vinícius remains determined to stay in Spain and continue playing for Real Madrid. "I will stay because that way the racists can continue to see my face more and more. I'm a bold player, I play for Real Madrid and we win a lot of titles and that doesn't sit well with a lot of people," he said.
The press conference, held ahead of Brazil's friendly match against Spain as part of an anti-racism campaign, saw Vinícius struggle to maintain his composure as he addressed the issue. "I'll stay here, playing for the best club in the world and scoring goals and winning titles. And people will have to keep seeing my face for a long time," he added.
Vinícius's teammates and coaches have rallied behind him, with Spain full-back Dani Carvajal acknowledging that while he does not believe Spain is a racist country, there are individuals who attend football matches to "let loose all their rage, their anger." Carvajal called for such people to be banned from stadiums, describing their behavior as "the ugliest thing that exists in sport."
Brazilian national coach Dorival Júnior has also spoken out about the situation, urging authorities to take action and track down the perpetrators. "It should be possible to track down the people if the police put their mind to it. It is just like in our country, where many, many people suffer every day. But they are silenced by the inefficiency and ineffectiveness of the authorities," Júnior told the Guardian last week.
Fellow Brazil international and Real Madrid forward Rodrygo has advocated for tough punishments for the abuse, having previously sued social media abusers himself. "When they start punishing [people], things will change," he said. "But as long as there is no punishment, it will continue. As soon as they start punishing people I think a lot will change."
During the press conference, Vinícius also addressed the media's approach to reporting on the abuse he has suffered, urging them to focus less on his on-pitch mistakes and more on the real issues at hand. "I think they have to talk less about everything I do wrong on the pitch, that of course I have to evolve and improve, but I'm only 23 and it's a natural process," he said. "I left Brazil very young and haven't been able to learn many things. I'm studying. I'm 23 and I'm still studying. Why can't they, the reporters here, who are older than me, study and see what's really going on?"
As Vinícius continues to face racism in Spain, his determination to stand up against hate and fight for equality has only grown stronger. With the support of his teammates, coaches, and the wider football community, he remains committed to using his platform to bring about change and ensure that future generations of players can enjoy the beautiful game without fear of discrimination.
