"I Want to Help Children": Vinícius Plans to Open School in Brazil

Real Madrid winger Vinícius Júnior has announced his plans to open a school in Brazil for children from low-income families.

"I already help many children in Brazil. But I want to do more for them. One of my main goals next year is to open the first school that will bear my name because I have always looked up to my idols. I always talk about Neymar, Cristiano Ronaldo, LeBron James, Lewis Hamilton. They represent sports that I closely follow. Last year, LeBron James invited people from my institute to visit his school, and they said it's a fantastic place that focuses not only on football, basketball, and other sports but, above all, on education. I want to help many children in the future so that Brazil can become a country with better education and a higher quality of life. Out of a million people, only two or three become professional footballers. So, the motto and goal of my institute are always to give children the freedom and opportunity to become doctors or teachers, not just footballers. Brazil needs more teachers, more lawyers, more doctors," Vinícius told the Mirror.

Vinícius Júnior's contract with Real Madrid is set to run until the summer of 2027. The release clause for the 24-year-old forward stands at €1 billion. According to data provided by Transfermarkt, Vinícius has a market value of €180 million.