Vinicius Jr extends Real Madrid contract until 2027

MADRID (Agencies): Real Madrid’s Brazil winger Vinicius Jr has signed a contract extension until 2027, the LaLiga club announced on Tuesday. The 23-year-old joined Real from Flamengo in 2018 for a reported transfer fee of 46 million euros ($48.76 million) and has since made 235 appearances, scoring 62 goals. “Real Madrid C.F. and Vini Jr have reached an agreement to extend the player’s contract, linking him to the club until 30 June 2027,” Real said in a statement. Vinicius Jr, who won the Socrates Award in Monday’s Ballon d’Or ceremony for his humanitarian work, has won nine trophies at Real, including two league titles along with the Champions League in 2022 and two FIFA Club World Cup trophies.

Vinicius vows to continue fight against racism:

Real Madrid winger Vinicius Jr will keep speaking out against racism in world soccer after receiving the Socrates Award on Monday at the Ballon d’Or ceremony for his contribution off the field. Vinicius, who has been racially abused regularly in LaLiga games for the last two seasons, was recognised for starting a foundation that is building schools in impoverished areas and investing in education in Brazil. “I will remain strong in the fight against racism,” said the Brazilian, who received the award from the Prince of Monaco. “It is a very sad thing to talk about racism nowadays, but we have to continue in the fight so that people suffer less. “Very happy to receive this award and to help many children in Brazil. I had little chance of getting where I have coming from where I came so it is a pleasure for me to help as many kid as I can so they can have a chance.”

The 23-year-old was the only Brazilian in the top 10 of the ranking for this year’s Ballon d’Or after scoring 23 goals in all competitions for Real last season. The forward was also part of an emotional tribute to Pele, the Brazil great who died in December last year at the age of 82. “Pele is a god for me and if I am here today, it is thanks to him. He put Brazil on a different level and people respect Brazilian players thanks to the great legacy he left,” Vinicius said. The Vini Jr. Institute, created in 2020, aims to use the popularity of football to help innovations in teaching and learning in Brazilian public schools. The project claims up to 15 schools and 10,000 students will benefit by the end of 2023, with more than 500 teachers employed.