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Article continues belowArticle continues belowArticle continues below<ul><li>Vinicius repeatedly asked about racism</li><li>Brazil star breaks down in tears during press conference</li><li>Real forward the target of countless attacks</li></ul>

VIDEO: Real Madrid superstar Vinicius Jr breaks down in tears as he is quizzed on racial abuse ahead of Brazil's clash with Spain

World Cup Qualification CONMEBOL

Venezuela

Brazil

LaLiga

Leganes

Real Madrid

Vinicius faced the press on Monday ahead of a blockbuster friendly clash between his home nation and the country he has lived in since 2018. Spain has, however, also been the setting of <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/vinicius-junior-fight-against-racism/bltadb581cbaa456a5c#cs94def28bc4a4c8ca" target="_blank">countless incidents of racist abuse aimed in his direction</a>, prompting some reporters to question him on the subject. The 23-year-old was unable to hide his emotion and broke down in tears, calling for the end of "suffering for black people" before being met with applause.

WHAT HAPPENED?

In between tears during the press conference at Valdebebas, Madrid's training ground, the Brazilian said: “I just want to play football but it’s hard to move forward … I feel less and less like playing. It never crossed my mind [to leave Spain] because if I leave Spain I give the racists exactly what they want."I will stay because that way the racists can continue to see my face more and more. I’m a bold player, I play for Real Madrid and we win a lot of titles and that doesn’t sit well with a lot of people."

WHAT VINICIUS SAID

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">❤️‍🩹🇧🇷 Vinicius got emotional during the Brazil's press conference after three questions about racism. “I’m sorry. I just want to play football, do everything for my club and my family, never see black people suffering.<a href="https://t.co/TVSj20vsCN">pic.twitter.com/TVSj20vsCN</a>— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) <a href="https://twitter.com/FabrizioRomano/status/1772281044852420752?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 25, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

WATCH THE CLIP

Vinicius has time and again proved himself to be one of the strongest players in world football, batting off countless racist attacks from rival fans. This includes matches he isn't even playing in, as seen during <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/atletico-madrid-fans-aim-racist-chants-real-madrid-star-vinicius-jr-before-inter-champions-league-clash/blt193969c762e2ec3d" target="_blank">Atletico's clash with Inter in the Champions League</a> earlier this month. Racism towards Vinicius has even come from leading figures <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/vinicius-junior-la-liga-spanish-football-facilitating-racism/bltf7197711ead997d9#cs6bb6b0f45e3a6171" target="_blank">within Spanish football</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/goleada_info/status/1570597657185497089" target="_blank">the media</a>. Clearly, at 23 years of age and with enough weight on his shoulders playing for two of football's most storied sides in Brazil and Real, such vile abuse has taken its toll on Vinicius.

THE BIGGER PICTURE

As a result, Tuesday's friendly against Spain will be a bittersweet one for the Real star. The Selecao go into that one on a high, too, after a <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/brazil-player-ratings-vs-england-endrick-vinicius-jr/blt1a42435c3943fbcd" target="_blank">Vinicius-inspired victory over England</a> on Saturday.

WHAT NEXT FOR VINICIUS?

VIDEO: Real Madrid superstar Vinicius Jr breaks down in tears as he is quizzed on racial abuse ahead of Brazil's clash with Spain | Goal.com US

Real Madrid sensation Vinicius Junior couldn&apos;t hold back the tears after being repeatedly asked about racism ahead of Brazil&apos;s friendly with Spain.