DNA results reveal Vinicius Jnr. has Cameroonian roots

_A Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) test has revealed that Vinicius Jr., the Brazil and Real Madrid star winger, has ancestral roots in Cameroon.

_The test conducted by the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) in partnership with AfricanAncestry.com on Tuesday, November 19, 2024, at Fonte Nova revealed that the player’s ancestry is rooted in the Tikar tribe of Cameroon.

Real Madrid and Brazil star Vinicius Junior was part of the pre-game build-up before the Selecao’s clash with Uruguay, as he was presented with a plaque. It was revealed to Vinicius that he is of Cameroonian descent originally, something he was unaware of.

After taking a DNA test as part of the ‘Golden Roots’ campaign, aimed at expressing pride in the black Brazilian community and their identity, Vinicius’ roots were revealed to him. His father, who was also present, was not aware of the links, and neither was Vinicius, which take him back to the Tikar tribe in Cameroon, which currently reside in the Northwest of Cameroon.

“I didn’t know it, now I see. But I’m very happy. Now we have to win the game, let’s go,” he said quickly before the match.

“For us it is important to know where we come from,” said his father. “These are the things that Brazilians, in fact, do not know where our ancestry, where we have moved from. But I am happy, we are from Cameroon too.”

Vinicius has a strong sense of his identity, of course most clearly exemplified by his rallying cry to fight racism in Spanish football.

It was Real Madrid teammate Fede Valverde that soured the evening for Vinicius. Valverde’s excellent strike opened the scoring, while Gerson volleyed the equaliser, ending in a 1-1 draw.