Birthday boy Vinicius can’t blow away the doubts at Real Madrid

On July 12, 2018, Vinicius Jr turned 18 and automatically became a Real Madrid player. The club had signed him months earlier, paying Flamengo €45 million ($48.6 million), but the move hinged on him reaching legal age. Seven years later, he turns 25 at what should be the peak of his career – reigning as FIFA’s The Best and nearly winning the Ballon d’Or – but in a sharp slump that clouds his immediate future.

Happy 25th birthday Vini

At the Club World Cup, he only managed one standout performance, against Salzburg, where he scored and assisted. It was another sign that there’s little trace of the player who was directly responsible for Madrid’s last two Champions League triumphs – against Liverpool and Dortmund.

Still, Vinicius celebrates his 25th birthday comfortably ranked in the top five most valuable players in the world, according to Transfermarkt’s latest update. His market value sits at €170 million ($183.6 million), behind only Kylian Mbappé, Erling Haaland, and Jude Bellingham (all at €180 million, or $194.4 million), and Lamine Yamal (€200 million, or $216 million). But his role in Real Madrid’s future remains an open question – especially with a contract extension that is agreed, but not yet signed.

When does Vinicius’ contract expire?

Vinicius is under contract with Madrid until 2027. There is a verbal agreement to extend it to 2030 – just three additional years – because his agent, Frederico Pena, prefers players to maintain control over their futures and avoids long deals. The new contract would make Vinicius the highest-paid player in the squad. When he renewed in 2022, he agreed to earn €75 million ($81 million) over five years, averaging €15 million ($16.2 million) net per season.

With this upcoming renewal, that figure would rise to nearly €20 million ($21.6 million) annually. Mbappé, according to hints from the club, is currently earning €15 million per season.

Vinicius situation still up in the air

Until pen meets paper, however, the entire agreement remains up in the air. Vinicius is currently on vacation in the U.S., where he’s set to embark on a short tour to attend NBA games – his other great passion – and fulfill a few commitments with Nike, his sponsor. In some cities he’ll cross paths with his close friend Eduardo Camavinga, who also didn’t return to Madrid with the team. The expectation is that the contract extension will be finalized and formally announced after these holidays.

Even so, the strange atmosphere that’s taken hold after the PSG defeat – which again highlighted the lack of chemistry between Vini and Mbappé on the pitch – has fueled new rumors about his future. In any case, the Saudi Arabian offer that would have paid him €1 billion ($1.08 billion) over five years is no longer on the table. Vinicius remains determined to continue making history at Madrid.

So far, at just 25, he has already played 322 games for the club, scoring 106 goals and providing 75 assists. In that time, he has won two Champions League titles, three LaLiga championships, a Copa del Rey, and several other trophies.