A DNA test carried out by Brazilian star Vinicius Junior revealed the African country from which his ancestors came to Brazil.
The Brazilian Football Confederation launched a campaign to explore the roots of national team players, called “Golden Roots,” which aims to raise awareness of black people and who are committed to working for an in- catch in football.
Before the start of the match between Brazil and his host Uruguay in the South American qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup, Vinicius received from the football federation in his country an official line certificate confirming his origin from Cameroon, specifically from the Tikar tribe, after the player takes a DNA test.
🚨 OFFICIAL! Vinicius Jr took a DNA test through his federation and the results show that his ancestors were from Cameroon. 🧬🇨🇲🇧🇷
He was given a certificate ahead of tonight’s game against Uruguay. 📜 pic.twitter.com/VmaSWdS7wd
— Instant Foot ⚽️ (@lnstantFoot) November 20, 2024
The Brazilian Federation – on its official website – published a statement in which he said: “For us, Vinicius Junior is not only the best player in the world, but a symbol of the fight against hate- race and global motivation.”
He said, “In his honor, we launched the Golden Roots campaign, which is a special campaign that shows the African origins of Vinny Junior, and that highlights the pride and history of the Brazilian African people, especially in the ball -foot.”
He continued, “Vinnie wants to honor his roots, like many people of African descent whose ancestral history has been erased due to racism and the legacy of slavery. Thanks to DNA tests, we found the country of Vinnie Jr. and his original tribe. ancestors are descendants of the Tikar tribe in Cameroon.”
For his part, Ednaldo Rodriguez, President of the Brazilian Federation, said: “The celebration of Vinicius Junior is a celebration of the achievements of all Brazilians, and by learning about the origins of the players, we reaffirm our commitment to an inclusive society , and we recognize the fundamental role of Afro-Brazilian culture in our identity and success in world football.”
Vinicius’ father was the only one who knew about the party, but he did not know that his son had undergone a DNA test or its results, as the case was revealed at the Arena Fonte Nova stadium in the city of Salvador before the start of the Brazil-Uruguay Match.
The 24-year-old Real Madrid star said of what happened, “I wasn’t aware of it. I saw it now and I’m very happy because we’re from Cameroon. It’s important that we know where it comes from we are coming.”
Vinicius participated with Brazil against Venezuela and Uruguay in the World Cup qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup, and both matches ended in a 1-1 draw.
Vinicius has defended the colors of the Brazilian national team in 37 international matches since wearing the “Seleção” shirt for the first time in September 2019, when he scored 5 goals and made as many.
At the same time, the Spanish newspaper “Mundo Deportivo” touched on a strange coincidence in Real Madrid, because the Frenchman Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius’ teammate in “Merengue”, is also of Cameroonian origin from father, Wilfried Mbappe Lutin.
She explained that Mbappe has French and Cameroonian citizenship at the same time.
2024-11-20 12:32:00
#Real #Madrid #star #Vinicius #African #sport
What impact might Vinicius Junior’s DNA test results have on his sense of identity and legacy as a football player?
1. Can you tell us about the significance of this DNA test result of Vinicius Junior? How do you think it will affect his journey as a football player, and his connection to his heritage?
2. The Brazilian Football Confederation launched a campaign, “Golden Roots,” which aims to raise awareness about black people’s contributions to football. Can you tell us more about this campaign and how it plans to address racial injustices in the sport?
3. Many Brazilians have African roots, but some research suggests they don’t often identify strongly with their heritage. How do you think this campaign can change that perception and promote a more inclusive society?
4. Recently, Vinicius’ father was surprised to learn about his son’s DNA test results during a match. Can you talk about the importance of celebrating these discoveries in public settings like stadiums, where fans and families can share in the moment?
5. Real Madrid teammates Vinicius Junior and Kylian Mbappe both have Cameroonian roots. Do you think their shared heritage will bring them closer together in the team, or does it matter in terms of their performance on the field?
