Vinicius Junior is one of the superstars of the game, and his status at Real Madrid has helped him reach new levels in the past few years. Like every other Brazilian player, Vinicius Junior’s game is about flair and a very impeccable dribbling technique, making him one of the best players in the world as far as modern football is concerned.
Vinicius’s popularity is not only limited to football, as he’s made friends with some big names in the United States through his love for basketball. In a recent show-off Instagram moment, the Brazilian displayed his collection of NBA jerseys from the players he met during his trip to the States.
Vinicius Jr. shows off his NBA jerseys collection
Vinicius Junior is a huge fan of basketball, and he’s shown that in the past week by turning out to watch some of the biggest NBA teams in action. In a recent social media post, the Brazilian showed off his collection of NBA jerseys, which included jerseys from some of the biggest names in the sport, including LeBron James.
The Real Madrid star went to watch a Lakers game on Christmas day, landing himself some special moments with NBA legend LeBron James, who eventually gifted him his match-worn jersey from the game.
Vinicius Junior also has a jersey from fellow Brazilian and former NBA star Leandro Barbosa, who had spells with the likes of Phoenix Suns, Toronto Raptors, Golden State Warriors, Boston Celtics, and Indiana Pacers before retiring in 2020.
His collection also includes jerseys from Sacramento Kings’ Harrison Barnes, Boston Celtics’ Jayson Tatum, Charlotte Hornets’ LaMelo Ball, and Oklahoma City Thunder’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
The Real Madrid forward also enjoyed a special court-side moment with Giannis Antetokounmpo, who gifted him a signed jersey and match-worn shoes from the game. The pair later posed for pictures together, while Giannis referred to Vinicius Junior as ‘number one’ in soccer now.
The talented Brazilian recently caused quite a stir on social media with a mash-up tattoo of Pele, Muhammad Ali, Kobe Bryant, and Michael Jordan on his back with the accompanying word ‘mentality.’
Why did Vinicius Jr. visit the United States?
Vinicius Jr. has been having the time of his life away from all the racial abuse he has suffered recently in some La Liga games. The Brazilian superstar has been nursing an injury for a few weeks but had a blast of a time in the United States by linking up with some of the biggest celebrities in the country.
Vinicius Junior visited some of the biggest NBA teams in the country, with most of them acknowledging his presence on their social media pages. His arrival in the United States began with a trip to the home of the Oklahoma City Thunder, where he linked up with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
The next day, he was in the front row of a home game for the LA Clippers, with the team and the official NBA account posting his picture on social media. On Christmas Eve, Vini Jr. linked up with Jayson Tatum and the Boston Celtics for a home game.
Just a few days ago, he highlighted his visit to the United States with a post, which also featured a picture with Hollywood star Michael B. Jordan.
Can Vinicius Junior win the UCL with Real Madrid this season? Drop your predictions in the comments section.
