Vinicius Junior has Cameroonian ancestry, a DNA test carried out on the Real Madrid and Brazil forward confirmed, Afrosport reports.
The result of the test was made public during Brazil’s warm-up before their 1-1 draw against Uruguay in the CONMEBOL qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Tuesday night.
Vinicius was awarded a certificate confirming his Cameroonian origins, and a video tribute showing the history of the Tikar people, who were believed to have originally emanated from the Nile River in Sudan before settling in Cameroon, was aired inside the Fonte Nova Arena in Salvador.
Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) president Ednaldo Rodrigues was in attendance as well as Vinicius’ father during the presentation of the DNA certificate.
The CBF, in its bid to help reconnect Brazilian players with their ancestral roots, kickstarted the “Golden Roots” initiative in partnership with AfricanAncestry.com.
“Discovering that my roots are in Cameroon is a very special moment for me and my family,” Vinicius said during the ceremony.
“It reminds me that, despite the challenges, our origins and our history count for a lot.”
Rodrigues, CBF President, highlighted the importance of the initiative in helping link Brazilian stars with their roots.
“By celebrating Vini Jr., we are celebrating all Brazilians,” he said. “This reflects our commitment to an inclusive society and highlights the crucial contribution of Afro-Brazilian culture to our identity.”
Flamengo midfielder Gerson earned a point for the Selecao as his 62nd minute strike cancelled out Federico Valverde’s opener for Uruguay.
Brazil sits fifth in the standings with 18 points from their opening 12 matches.
