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A voice against racism
In 2022, France Football introduced a new award at the ‘Ballon d’Or’ ceremony: the Socrates Award. The name was not chosen by chance. It was a tribute to the legendary Brazilian player who, in the 1980s, turned football into a political voice by leading the ‘Corinthian Democracy’ movement against the military dictatorship.
The idea behind the award was to recognise players who use their influence to make a difference off the pitch, where the game is quite different.
A year later, in 2023, Vinícius Júnior received this honour.
He was the first – and, to date, the only – Brazilian to win the Sócrates Award.
In a way, it was not just an award. It was a passing of the baton.
Just as Sócrates had used his voice to fight against oppression, Vini had been turning his own experience into a struggle for equality and respect. Since arriving at Real Madrid in 2018, the Brazilian has had to live with a reality that no talented player should ever have to endure: constant incidents of racism.
On the pitch, however, his career continued to flourish.
At 26, Vini has already established himself as one of the great names of his generation and one of Real Madrid’s leading stars. Since joining the club, he has helped them win two Champions Leagues, three La Liga titles, one Copa del Rey, three Spanish Super Cups, two UEFA Super Cups, two FIFA Club World Cups and one FIFA Intercontinental Cup.
In 2024, he finished second in the voting for the ‘Ballon d’Or’ award and, in 2026, received his fifth nomination for the award.
But whilst his career on the pitch was gaining ever more momentum, the burden Vini carried off the pitch was also growing.
When abuse becomes routine
In October 2021, at the Camp Nou, during an El Clásico against Barcelona, Vini was subjected to racist abuse as he left the pitch.
A case was opened and later closed.
No one was held to account.
Unfortunately, that incident was not to be the last.
In 2022, there were two further incidents: one during a match against Mallorca in March, and another before a match against Atlético Madrid in September.
Both incidents sparked public outrage, but had few tangible consequences.
And when there are no consequences, the problem does not go away.
It grows.
In January 2023, the situation reached an even more alarming level. A doll wearing Vini’s shirt was hung from a bridge by Atlético Madrid supporters, in an act that went far beyond any notion of sporting taunting.
After much insistence from Vini and Real Madrid, four men were arrested and convicted. For a moment, it seemed that justice had been done.
But justice was only partial.
The sentences were reduced to fines and restrictions.
The message that remained was unsettling: justice might have been served, but it still did not seem capable of preventing such an incident from happening again.
And it did happen.
In May of that year, at Mestalla, Vini confronted Valencia supporters over racist chants during a match. The incident attracted worldwide attention and ended in a scuffle amongst the players, which resulted in a red card for the Brazilian.
Valencia described the incident as an ‘isolated case’.
But by this point, the question could no longer be avoided:
How long would this go on?
And, above all, what was La Liga actually doing to protect its players?
“I’m strong and I’ll see this through to the end”
Vini could have chosen to remain silent.
He didn’t.
His career has come to be defined not only by his resilience on the pitch, but also by his willingness to expose, challenge and unsettle those who would rather the problem remained hidden.
‘I’m strong and I’ll see this through to the end against the racists.’ – Vinícius Júnior
Every time he took a stand, however, new attacks would emerge.
But his voice also grew louder.
After the incident against Valencia, Vini vented on social media, putting years of pent-up suffering into words: ‘It wasn’t the first time, nor the second, nor the third. Racism is the norm in La Liga. The league thinks it’s normal, the Federation does too, and the opposition encourage it. I’m really sorry. The league that once belonged to Ronaldinho, Ronaldo, Cristiano and Messi now belongs to racists. A beautiful nation, which welcomed me and which I love, but which has accepted to project the image of a racist country to the world. I’m sorry for the Spaniards who disagree, but today, in Brazil, Spain is known as a country of racists. And, unfortunately, given everything that happens every week, I can’t defend it. I agree. But I’m strong and I’ll fight racists to the very end. Even from afar.’ (GE)
The statement sparked a war of words on social media between Vini and Javier Tebas, president of La Liga: ‘Before criticising and insulting La Liga, you need to be properly informed, Vini Jr.’ (GE)
The two had already clashed at the end of 2022, following another complaint made by the player.
Once again, Vini did not back down.
Instead of toning down his rhetoric, he raised his voice even further: ‘I want action and punishments.’ (GE)
This time, however, he was not alone.
Fans from all over the world, tired of seeing the same scenes repeat themselves, began to rally behind the Brazilian. The pressure grew, gained momentum and became impossible to ignore.
Even Tebas changed his stance.
He apologised and acknowledged that these were not ‘isolated incidents’.
The fight goes beyond football
From that moment on, what was happening to Vini ceased to be merely a matter for Spanish football.
It became an international issue.
‘If I have to suffer more and more so that future generations do not have to go through similar situations, I am ready and prepared.’ – Vinícius Júnior
In Brazil, where football is almost a language in itself, the case reached President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who spoke out on the situation: “I think it is important that FIFA, the Spanish league and the leagues in other countries take serious action, because we cannot allow fascism and racism to take hold inside football stadiums.” (UOL)
A few days later, there was a silent gesture, yet one laden with meaning.
In Rio de Janeiro, the city where Vini grew up, the lights on the Christ the Redeemer statue were switched off for an hour.
It was as if the city itself had paused for a moment to say: we’re with you.
Vini replied, visibly moved: ‘Black and imposing. Christ the Redeemer looked like that just now. An act of solidarity that moves me deeply. But above all, I want to inspire and bring more light to our struggle. I am so grateful for all the outpouring of affection and support I have received over the last few months. Both in Brazil and around the world. I know exactly who is who. You can count on me because good people are in the majority and I won’t give up. I have a purpose in life and, if I have to suffer more and more so that future generations don’t have to go through similar situations, I am ready and prepared.’ (X)
The image of Christ the Redeemer shrouded in darkness was featured prominently in newspapers around the world.
And in Spain, one of journalism’s most influential voices also weighed in on the debate.
El País, the country’s most popular and widely read newspaper, published an editorial stating: ‘La Liga has a problem – and that problem isn’t Vinícius.’ (El País)
It was not just a headline.
It was a call for tough and permanent measures to be taken.
The domino effect began.
The then president of the Spanish Football Federation, Luis Rubiales, acknowledged that racism was indeed a problem in the country’s football.
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez also took a stand: ‘Zero tolerance for racism in football. Sport is based on the values of tolerance and respect. Hatred and xenophobia have no place in our football or in our society.’ (X)
Shortly afterwards, in June, FIFA president Gianni Infantino invited Vini to lead a special committee of players against racism.
In Rio de Janeiro, more than 150 organisations joined forces and delivered a letter to the Spanish consulate calling for an investigation by La Liga.
Vini’s campaign was beginning to yield results beyond mere rhetoric.
It was beginning to bring about change.
A voice that inspires and educates
At the ‘Ballon d’Or’ ceremony in October 2023, Vini received the Socrates Award for his tireless fight against racism.
A few months later, further recognition followed.
UNESCO appointed him an Ambassador – only the second footballer in history to receive this honour, after Pelé.
The organisation’s Director-General described Vini as: ‘an example to an entire generation’. (UNESCO)
But for Vini, recognition has never been a reason to slow down.
The fight continued.
In March 2024, he returned to Mestalla, the very same stadium where, almost a year earlier, he had been subjected to racist abuse.
He was met with boos.
“I feel less and less like playing. But I’ll keep fighting.” – Vinícius Júnior
Vini scored two goals and celebrated with his fist raised – a simple yet powerful gesture that has become a symbol of resistance.
Later that month, however, at a press conference, he revealed just how much of an emotional toll that struggle was taking: “I feel less and less like playing. But I’ll keep fighting.” (The Guardian)
It was the painful contradiction of his journey.
The player who seemed so strong on the pitch also had to cope with the psychological burden of being constantly attacked off it.
And it was precisely because he understood this burden that Vini began to look increasingly towards the future.
If the fight against racism required punishment, it also required education.
In 2021, he had set up the Vini Jr. Institute, an initiative aimed at children and teenagers from disadvantaged communities in Brazil.
The institute uses sport, particularly football, as a language capable of uniting, teaching and inspiring.
Today, more than 30 schools and 460 educators are involved in the project, engaging over 10,000 young people, with the aim of becoming one of the leading forces in reducing educational inequality in the country by 2030.
At the heart of this mission lies education against racism.
For Vini, it is not enough to combat today’s hatred.
We must prevent it from growing tomorrow.
In Vini’s own words: “I was chosen to champion such an important cause that, every day, I learn more about it. I’ve been learning so that [...] my 5-year-old brother doesn’t have to go through everything I’m going through.” (The Guardian)
Small victories, big changes
The struggle was still far from over.
But concrete signs of change were beginning to emerge.
In June 2024, three supporters were sentenced to eight months in prison for racist acts – the first sentence of its kind in Spain.
Months later, four Atlético Madrid supporters were arrested for inciting hatred on social media ahead of a derby.
Vini realised that, little by little, something was beginning to change: “Over the last three months, we’ve already managed to put three or four people in jail and make them pay for the crimes they committed. And with that, we can reduce [incidents of racism] as quickly as possible, because even someone who is racist will be afraid to say such things when there are cameras around. And this will gradually decrease and affect other people too. They’ll do it less and less.” (CBF)
They were small victories.
But each one carried enormous weight.
They showed that racism did not have to be treated as an inevitable part of football. That there could be consequences. That real change was possible when someone had the courage to demand it.
Even so, new incidents continued to arise.
The incident at the Estádio da Luz
On 17 February 2026, during the first leg of the Champions League round of 16 between Real Madrid and Benfica, Vini once again found himself at the centre of an incident that made headlines around the world.
After scoring the winning goal at the Estádio da Luz in Lisbon, the Brazilian celebrated by dancing next to the corner flag, in front of the Benfica supporters.
Players, coaching staff and supporters of the Portuguese club interpreted the celebration as a provocation, and the situation eventually led to a heated confrontation between the two sides.
The French referee François Letexier showed Vini a yellow card.
Shortly afterwards, however, the situation took a much more serious turn.
Vini ran over to Letexier and claimed that Gianluca Prestianni, Benfica’s Argentine winger, had directed racist abuse at him.
The allegation triggered UEFA’s anti-racism protocol.
The match was halted for 10 minutes.
But there was a problem.
Upon reviewing the footage, the referee was unable to identify what Prestianni had said, as the player had covered his mouth with his shirt whilst speaking.
Unable to verify the content of the words, the match resumed.
Real Madrid won 1–0.
But after the final whistle, the result took a back seat.
The main issue was, once again, the same: racism.
‘Racists are, above all, cowards.’ – Vinícius Júnior
The incident highlighted just how difficult it was to tackle a form of abuse that could be concealed in a matter of seconds, even behind a shirt.
The football world reacts
After the match, Vini took to social media to explain his frustration: ‘Racists are, above all, cowards. They need to put their shirts over their mouths to show just how weak they are. But they are protected by other people who, in theory, have a duty to punish them. Nothing that happened today is new to me or to my team. I was shown a yellow card for celebrating a goal. I still don’t understand why. On the other hand, it was just a poorly executed piece of protocol that served no purpose. I don’t like to be in the spotlight in situations like this, especially after a big win and when the headlines should be about Real Madrid, but it’s necessary.’ (Instagram)
His team-mates came to his defence.
Kylian Mbappé claimed to have heard Prestianni call Vini a racist slur: “He said it five times. I’m being as clear as I can.” (Real Madrid)
Trent Alexander-Arnold also condemned the incident: “It ruined the night. It’s a disgrace to the sport and to society as a whole. There’s no place for this sort of thing.” (CBS Sports Golazo)
The then Real Madrid manager, Álvaro Arbeloa, also spoke out.
The club issued a statement: ‘Real Madrid will continue to work, in collaboration with all institutions, to eradicate racism, violence and hatred in sport and society.’ (Real Madrid)
The CBF also published a statement in support of the Brazilian.
Prestianni, for his part, vehemently denied the accusation: ‘I want to make it clear that at no point did I direct racist insults at Vinícius Júnior, who unfortunately misinterpreted what he thought he had heard. I have never been racist towards anyone and I regret the threats I have received from Real Madrid players.’ (Instagram)
Benfica backed the player and described the allegations as a ‘smear campaign’. (BBC Sport)
Once again, the issue seemed to be caught between two different versions of events.
When the debate takes a different turn
At the time, Benfica were managed by José Mourinho, who also spoke about Vini’s celebration, which the manager considered provocative: “This happens in so many stadiums, and always with the same bloke. Something isn’t right. On the pitch, I said to Vinícius: ‘You’ve scored a goal that the whole world will see. Why did you celebrate like that? Why?’” (beIN Sports)
The statement drew criticism in the football world, mainly for focusing on the celebration rather than the player’s complaint.
Vincent Kompany, Bayern Munich’s manager, questioned Mourinho’s stance: “Mourinho is essentially questioning Vinícius Júnior’s character by bringing up the celebration to discredit what happened at that moment. For me, as a leader, that’s a huge mistake. It’s something we cannot accept.” (Diario AS)
Kompany, however, was keen to distinguish between Mourinho’s behaviour at that moment and his character: “All the players who have worked with him admire him. I know what sort of person he is. I understand that he is defending his team and his club, and that is why he made that decision. You can’t be a bad person and, at the same time, have so many former players speaking so highly of you. That’s why I know he’s a good person. I don’t need to judge him as a person, but I also know what I heard. He made a mistake.” (Diario AS)
Mourinho responded by explaining that he would not take sides without evidence to corroborate one side’s version of events.
Vini said one thing.
Prestianni was saying something else.
The Portuguese manager, however, made it clear that, if the accusation were proven, he would immediately withdraw his support for the player: “If my player has failed to respect these principles – which are mine and Benfica’s – his career with a manager called Mourinho and at a club like Benfica is over. I’m no lawyer, but I’m not ignorant either: the presumption of innocence is a right. [...] If the player is really guilty, I won’t look at him in the same way anymore and, as far as I’m concerned, it will all be over. But I need to qualify that with a lot of ‘ifs’.” (GE)
Ultimately, however, the central issue remained simple.
As Thierry Henry put it: “We don’t know what Prestianni said, because he put his shirt over his mouth so that no one could see. That, obviously, is suspicious. Clearly, he didn’t want people to see what he was saying.” (CBS Sports Golazo)
A rule born of an incident
The day after the incident, UEFA launched an investigation.
A racist offence such as the one reported by Vini could result in a mandatory 10-match ban for Prestianni.
But before that, it was necessary to prove what had happened.
Prestianni received a provisional one-match ban and was ruled out of the second leg against Real Madrid.
And, in an almost poetic twist, Vini once again scored the winning goal – this time at the Santiago Bernabéu.
After the goal, he ran to celebrate in a similar manner by the corner flag.
During the match, Real Madrid fans unfurled a huge banner with a simple message: ‘No to racism’.
Even so, because of the shirt that had covered Prestianni’s mouth, it seemed the incident would have few consequences.
A few weeks later, the Argentine was called up by manager Lionel Scaloni for the national team’s upcoming friendlies.
More than two months passed before a new punishment was announced.
And it, too, sparked controversy.
The punishment that did not end the debate
Prestianni claimed that he had covered his mouth to utter a homophobic insult, not a racist one, and that Vini had misinterpreted what he heard.
At the end of April, UEFA announced a six-match ban for ‘discriminatory conduct’, relating to the use of homophobic language.
Three of those six matches, however, were subject to a two-year probationary period.
In practice, Prestianni would serve only a three-match ban, provided he did not commit a further offence during that period.
UEFA also stated that the punishment already included the provisional suspension served during the second leg against Real Madrid.
For many, the punishment left a question hanging in the air: Was that the end of it?
Would there be no rule capable of dealing with similar situations in the future?
It was precisely at this point that Vini’s story took on a new dimension.
Because his refusal to remain silent – once again – found support from other influential voices in football.
And, a few days later, something historic happened.
The Vini Jr. Rule is born.
A special meeting of the International Football Association Board (IFAB) resulted in FIFA’s approval of a historic change to the rules of world football.
Players who covered their mouths during matches would now be shown a straight red card.
The link to the incident involving Vini and Prestianni was clear.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino explained the reasoning behind the change: “If a player covers his mouth and says something of a racist nature, he must be sent off – obviously. We have to assume that he said something he shouldn’t have, because otherwise there would be no reason for him to cover his mouth.” (GE)
The new rule came to represent more than just a response to a specific incident.
It was an attempt to prevent certain types of abuse from being concealed behind a simple gesture.
And it was given a symbolic name: the ‘Vini Jr. Rule’.
The player who had become a symbol of so many victories both on and off the pitch now lent his name to a change in the very rules of the sport.
From Spain to the world
The change was not confined to European football.
At the 2026 World Cup, the Vini Jr. Rule was applied in two different matches.
Firstly, in the match between Paraguay and Turkey, Miguel Almirón was shown a straight red card for covering his mouth during a clash with Mert Müldür.
A few days later, Ecuadorian Piero Hincapié was also sent off for a similar offence against Mexico’s Santi Giménez.
The application of the rule was well received and praised around the world.
But there are still some reservations.
The way the rule is applied depends on the referee in each match and, generally speaking, its use is still optional, left to the discretion of each competition organiser. In other words, it is not mandatory in all tournaments.
And the new rule, on its own, cannot solve such a long-standing problem.
Racism remains a problem in football.
During the 2026 World Cup, FIFA analysed around six million posts and identified 89,000 cases of abuse on social media during the group stage alone. Of these, 11 per cent were of a racist nature.
Even so, the Vini Jr. Law has set an important precedent.
Abuse should not be tolerated simply because it is difficult to prove.
Brazil is also changing the rules
The impact of the new rule has continued to grow.
In mid-July, CONMEBOL followed FIFA’s example and adopted the measure in its competitions.
Subsequently, the CBF approved a comprehensive package of changes to the rules of Brazilian football, including the Vini Jr. Rule.
The new rules will apply to the Brazilian Championship Série A – the competition where Vini began his career with Flamengo – as well as Série B, the men’s Copa do Brasil and the Brazilian Women’s Championship A1.
This is the second ‘Vini Jr. Law’ to be implemented in Brazil.
In 2023, another law bearing the same name had already been enacted to combat racism at sporting events.
Officially known as the Vini Jr. State Policy to Combat Racism in Stadiums and Sports Arenas, this legislation is legally binding and establishes protocols for dealing with cases of discrimination inside stadiums.
The law requires organisers to adopt specific procedures in the event of racist incidents, such as temporarily suspending matches, identifying those responsible, notifying the relevant authorities and even permanently suspending events.
It also allows any member of the public to report cases of racism in stadiums and provides for anti-racism educational campaigns during matches, primarily via big screens and public address systems.
Rio de Janeiro, Vini’s home state, was the first to enact the law. Subsequently, other states began to adopt similar regulations.
The fight that had begun with a player trying to make his voice heard was now enshrined in law.
A legacy that goes beyond football
At just 26 years old, Vini had already helped drive changes that went far beyond the confines of a football pitch.
But the story still had one final, curious chapter.
Following Álvaro Arbeloa’s departure as Real Madrid manager at the end of the season, José Mourinho left Benfica and took charge of the Spanish club.
The Portuguese manager, who had previously led Real Madrid to three titles in the early 2010s, returned to the Santiago Bernabéu with an important mission during pre-season.
In his first major decision, he worked to ensure that one player in particular did not leave the club: Vinícius Júnior.
The Brazilian’s contract was due to expire in June of the following year, and Arsenal, the English Premier League champions, were preparing a multi-million offer to sign him.
In response, Real Madrid upped their offer.
Vini extended his contract until 2032.
Prioritising his retention was a natural choice.
After all, he had already become one of the club’s key players in recent years, with over 120 goals and 100 assists by September 2026, as well as 14 titles won along the way, including two Champions Leagues.
As Mourinho himself explained: “The most important thing is Vinicius’s contract renewal. It’s important for him, obviously, but it’s also a joy for all of us.” (ESPN)
Under Mourinho’s guidance, Vini will continue to delight the crowds on the pitch.
But he will also continue to do something that has become an integral part of his career: using his voice off the pitch.
Turning pain into inspiration
Vini’s story of fighting racism is not a story about a problem that has already been resolved.
Racism still exists.
The abuse continues.
Punishments are still, all too often, insufficient.
But something has changed.
A voice that could have been silenced has managed to cut through stadiums, borders and institutions.
A player who spent years being forced to endure abuse now lends his name to rules designed to prevent others from facing the same situations.
The Socrates Prize recognised his struggle.
UNESCO has recognised his influence.
The laws that bear his name have turned that influence into action.
And perhaps that is the most powerful aspect of his journey.
Vini did not choose this struggle.
But he chose not to run away from it.
Every insult was met with a response.
Every injustice was met with a demand for accountability.
And, little by little, what began as one player’s struggle became a collective one.
Because Vini knows that his voice has a reach that goes far beyond himself.
That is why he never wanted to be alone.
Standing alongside him are players, fans, clubs, organisations, educators, officials and millions of people who believe that football can – and must – be different.
There is still a long way to go.
But some changes have already begun.
And perhaps that is the true significance of the Vini Jr. Act: not merely a response devised in the wake of a painful incident, but proof that, when someone refuses to accept what has always been treated as normal, even the rules of the game can change.
