Vinicius Jr: Inspired by Ronaldo, Driven by Goals

Vinicius Junior's opened up about his admiration for Cristiano Ronaldo, calling the Al Nassr & Real Madrid legend personal role model alongside NBA icon LeBron James.

In new Netflix documentary about his life, the Brazilian winger reflected on how Ronaldo shaped his mindset both on and off the pitch.

“I consider Cristiano Ronaldo & LeBron James to be my idols. I do my best every day for this club” Vinicius said.

From Santiago Bernabeu to Global Stardom

Vinicius joined Real Madrid in 2018 just after Ronaldo’s exit to Juventus. While he was seen as potential heir, the young Brazilian's since carved out his own legacy but never forgot the influence of Ronaldo who scored record 451 goal for Real Madrid between 2009 and 2018.

"They Pay Me to Score Goals"

Known for his emotional outbursts and heated moments on the pitch, Vinicius addressed criticism surrounding his temperament.

“They don’t pay me to be nice.. They pay me to score goals” he declared bluntly.

His statement reflects no nonsense mentality, often mirrored by his idols especially Ronaldo, a player known for his ruthless desire to win.

Ronaldo’s Support for Ballon d'Or Dream

Earlier in 2025, Cristiano Ronaldo publicly backed Vinicius for the 2024 Ballon d’Or, gesture the 23 year old deeply appreciated. His rise in Madrid continues to echo Ronaldo’s relentless pursuit of greatness.

Khaled Hegazy |

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Journaliste sportif spécialisé dans la couverture du football et la création de contenu numérique, alliant expérience éditoriale et expertise des médias sociaux.