In the midst of the high-tension clash against Benfica at the Estádio da Luz, Vinícius Júnior has reached a monumental milestone in European football.
With his opening goal in the Champions League Round of 16 (first leg), the Real Madrid winger has further cemented his legacy in the world’s most prestigious club competition.
Vinícius Júnior is second behind Neymar.
In the 50th minute, Vinícius Júnior silenced the home crowd with a moment of individual brilliance. After dancing past two defenders, he unleashed a clinical strike past Anatoliy Trubin to give Real Madrid a vital lead.
This goal marked his 31st career goal in the UEFA Champions League, moving him into second place on the all-time list of Brazilian scorers in the competition’s history. He has now officially overtaken the legendary Kaká (30)
The Brazilian Goal-Scoring Charts
With this strike, Vinícius has officially surpassed legendary Brazilian names to claim the second spot in the all-time rankings.
| Rank | Player | Goals | Clubs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Neymar Jr. | 43 | Barcelona, PSG |
| 2 | Vinícius Júnior | 31 | Real Madrid |
| 3 | Kaká | 30 | AC Milan, Real Madrid |
| 4 | Rivaldo | 27 | Barcelona, AC Milan |
Key Takeaways from the Milestone
- Chasing Neymar: At just 25 years old, Vinícius is now only 12 goals away from equalizing Neymar’s record (43), making him the favorite to eventually become the greatest Brazilian scorer in the tournament’s history.
- Clutch Performer: Out of his 31 goals, a significant majority have come in the knockout stages, including his famous winners in the 2022 and 2024 finals.
- The Match Context: This 31st goal was the spark that led to the match’s temporary suspension following the ensuing celebrations and unfortunate incidents in the stands.
