Vinicius Junior discovers and embraces his ancestral roots ahead of the fixture against Uruguay

Vinicius Junior has represented Real Madrid since 2018, following his transfer from Flamengo for 45 million euros. Hailing from Sao Goncalo, he has emerged as a key figure in the team. Recently, he was part of the controversy surrounding the 2024 Ballon d'Or award, which was awarded to Rodri from Manchester City. Vinicius went on to express his feelings about not receiving the honour this time, and working hard to achieve it the subsequent season.

Real Madrid faced a reasonable decline in performance before the International break, but Vinicius Junior emerged as a standout performer, showcasing his talent by scoring hat tricks and providing key assists. 

Vinicius Junior gets to know about his ancestral roots

As he prepared for Brazil's fixture against Uruguay in the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers, Vinicius Junior had a DNA test conducted by the Brazilian Football Federation. The findings indicated that his ancestral roots trace back to the African nation of Cameroon.

Before the final match between Brazil and Uruguay in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, the striker received an official certificate confirming his ancestral roots. Vinicius embraced this newfound knowledge about his African heritage with pride. Vinicius Junior also happens to be a Spanish Citizen since 2022.

The federation actively showcases all its national teams as part of the "Golden Roots" campaign, which is dedicated to tracing and celebrating the origins of players.

Vinny's heritage is highlighted by his mother, Tatiana, who is of Congolese descent, and his father, Jose Paixão de Oliveira, a proud Brazilian. The "Golden Roots" campaign is a vital initiative aimed at promoting inclusion and recognizing the diverse backgrounds of individuals within Brazilian society.

The FIFA World fixture between Brazil and Uruguay ended in a lackluster 1-1 draw, and both the teams look set to qualify for the 2026 World Cup as per current standings.