In the world of football, there is no greater achievement than breaking through at your club and making it big in Europe. For young Brazilian star Vinicius Junior, this journey began with his time at Flamengo, where he became one of the most promising talents in South America.

At just 17 years old, Vinicius made his professional debut for Flamengo in 2016, becoming the youngest player ever to make his senior debut in Brazil's top tier. His performances that season caught the attention of scouts from European clubs, including Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), who were reportedly interested in signing him.

Despite the interest from PSG, Vinicius remained loyal to Flamengo, continuing to develop under the guidance of coach Jorge Jesus. He scored a hat-trick against São Paulo in September 2018, which helped the team secure their place in the Copa Libertadores final. This performance earned him the FIFA U-20 World Cup Golden Boot award, cementing his reputation as one of the brightest prospects in football.

As Vinicius continued to impress, he was eventually signed by PSG in January 2019 for a reported fee of €45 million. The move was a significant coup for the French giants, who saw him as the future of their squad.

However, Vinicius struggled to find his feet at PSG, scoring only four goals in 32 appearances across all competitions. Despite this, he continued to be a key member of the team, playing a crucial role in their title-winning campaign in the 2019-20 Ligue 1 season.

But the breakthrough came when Vinicius moved to Real Madrid in June 2020 for a record-breaking fee of €110 million. At the time, it was thought that he would become the most expensive player in history, but he quickly proved that he was more than capable of living up to such hype.

His first season at Real Madrid was a success, scoring nine goals and assisting seven others in all competitions. He also played a vital role in helping Madrid win La Liga, the UEFA Champions League, and the Club World Cup.

Since then, Vinicius has continued to shine on the international stage, earning a call-up to the Brazil national team. He has already established himself as one of the best players in the world, and his journey from a young talent at Flamengo to a star of European football is nothing short of remarkable.

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• Breakthrough
• Flamengo
• Vinicius
• Young