"As long as skin color is more important than the brightness of the eyes, there will be war. | have that phrase tattooed on my body. | have that thought permanently in my head. That's the attitude and philosophy that | try to put into practice in my life," Vinicius Junior wrote on Instagram.
"They say happiness is annoying. The happiness of a victorious Brazilian black in Europe bothers much more. But my desire to win, my smile and the twinkle in my eyes are much bigger than that. You can't even imagine. | was a victim of xenophobia and racism in one statement. But none of that started yesterday. Weeks ago they started criminalising my dancing. Dances that are not mine. Ronaldinho, Neymar, Paqueta, Griezmann, Joao Felix, Matheus Cunha... they are Brazilian funk and sambist artists, reggaeton singers, and American black. They are dances to celebrate the cultural diversity of the world. Accept it, respect it.
"| ain't stopping. | come from a country where poverty is very high, where people don't have access to education.. and in many cases, no food on the table! | don't usually come to publicly rebuttal to criticism. | get attacked and | don't speak up. They praise me and | don't talk either. | work! | work a lot. On and off the field. | have developed an app to help children's education in public schools without financial help from anyone. I'm making a school with my name. I'll do much more for education. | want the next generations to be prepared, like me, to fight against racists and xenophobes.
"| always try to be a professional and an exemplary citizen. But that doesn't click, doesn't trend on the internet, or motivates cowards to aggressively talk about people they don't even know. The script always ends with an apology and a 'I was misunderstood.' But | repeat it to you racists: | will not stop dancing. Whether at the Sambddromo, at the Bernabeu or wherever.
"With the love and smiles of the very happy
"Vini Jr."
Vinicius Junior has been attacked by Spanish media amid his way of celebrating goals. This sparked massive backlash on social media.
Real Madrid, as well as some of their players and other football legends, officially stood up for the Brazilian.
