After a challenging start to his career, Vinicius Junior has now firmly established himself as one of Real Madrid‘s key players and one of the brightest talents in world football. At just 24 years old, Vinicius has reached a remarkable milestone, surpassing even club legend Cristiano Ronaldo in terms of age at the time.
In 2018, Real Madrid made a major investment, signing the young winger from Flamengo for €45 million. The club bet on Vinicius to be the star of their next generation, and the Brazilian has not disappointed.
During Saturday’s La Liga match against Real Betis, Vinicius reached 300 official appearances for Real Madrid at just 24 years old. By comparison, Cristiano Ronaldo achieved this milestone during the 2014-15 season at the age of 30.
The key difference between the two is that Ronaldo joined Real Madrid at 24 already established as a top-tier player, while Vinicius arrived as an 18-year-old with a promising future. The fact that Vinicius reached 300 matches at such a young age speaks volumes about the impact he’s had in a short period at one of the world’s most prestigious clubs.
Vinicius Junior is now the third-youngest player to reach 300 appearances for Real Madrid. The two players ahead of him are club legends: Spanish striker Raul Gonzalez, who reached the milestone at 23 years and 154 days, and legendary goalkeeper Iker Casillas, who did so at 24 years and 165 days. Vinicius achieved his 300th match at 24 years and 232 days.
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Ronaldo outshines Vinicius in goal production
While Vinicius has made a major impact at Real Madrid, particularly with his skill and flair, Cristiano Ronaldo’s numbers still overshadow the Brazilian when it comes to goal-scoring.
By the time Ronaldo reached 300 appearances for Real Madrid, he had registered an impressive 313 goals and 85 assists. In contrast, Vinicius currently stands at 102 goals and 76 assists for the club, still far behind Ronaldo’s one-goal-per-game rate.
Ronaldo, one of Real Madrid’s greatest-ever players, finished his time at the club with 438 appearances, 450 goals, and 131 assists—remarkable figures that set him apart in football history. Vinicius, though, at just 24, has plenty of time to develop and potentially leave his own mark on the club’s storied history.
