Vinicius Jr has recorded 20 cases of alleged racist abuse during his eight-year tenure at Real Madrid, according to BBC Sport. The Brazil international joined the club as an 18-year-old in 2018 and has since become a prominent figure against discrimination in football. Experts report that the frequency of these incidents has increased over recent seasons.
Spanish football expert Guillem Balague states that the forward is now a global symbol of resistance. Legal proceedings have followed several matches, including fixtures against Valencia and Atletico Madrid. In June 2024, a Spanish court sentenced three Valencia supporters to eight months in prison for hate crimes against the player. This marked the first such conviction for racist insults in a Spanish football stadium.
Despite these legal outcomes, abuse continues to be reported at various La Liga venues. The Spanish top flight and Real Madrid have both submitted multiple complaints to the state prosecutor's office regarding the treatment of the player during away fixtures.
