The celebrations of Black Awareness Day, a national holiday this Wednesday (20), were brought forward by the CBF, the night before, at Arena Fonte Nova, the stage for Brazil x Uruguay, in Salvador (BA). Striker Vinícius Júnior, an exponent of the fight against racism in the Spanish Championship, was presented with an ancestry certificate. The star born in São Gonçalo (RJ) discovered that his most distant ancestors were from Cameroon, on the African continent, coming from the Tikar people.
“I didn’t know, I see it now. But I’m very happy. Now it’s time to win the game, let’s get going”, said an emotional Vini, upon receiving the document from Ednaldo Rodrigues, president of the CBF.
The identification of Vini Jr’s ancestry was possible through a DNA test, carried out at the request of the CBF to the company African Ancestry, a pioneer in the genetic tracking of paternal and maternal ancestors for black people around the world. Vinícius José Paixão de Oliveira, Vini Jr’s father, was the only one who knew about the surprise ceremony in honor of his son, but he was unaware of the results of the DNA test.
“It’s important for us to know where we come from. These are things that Brazilians, in fact, don’t know: where our ancestry came from, our advance. But I’m happy, we’re from Cameroon too”, said the father of the number 7 of the selection.
The tribute to Vini Jr is part of the “Golden Roots” campaign, created by the CBF, which aims to “inspire all Brazilians of African descent to be proud of their ancestors and African countries”.
“Celebrating Vini Jr is celebrating the achievement of all Brazilians. By learning about its origins, we reaffirm our commitment to an inclusive society, recognizing the fundamental role of Afro-Brazilian culture in our identity and our success in world football”, argues Ednaldo Rodrigues.
The identification of Vini Jr’s ancestry was possible through a DNA test, carried out at the request of the CBF to the company African Ancestry, a pioneer in the genetic tracking of paternal and maternal ancestors for black people around the world – André Frutuôso/CBF/Reserved Rights
Founder and president of African Ancestry, Gina Paige said she was honored to be able to reveal her African ancestry to Vini Jr and her family.
“We believe Vini’s reconnection with his African roots is a powerful ‘act of resistance,’ in line with his advocacy for social justice on and off the football field,” said Paige.
The CBF considers that the national team’s number 7 “follows in the footsteps of great Afro-Brazilian icons such as Pelé, Garricha, Didi, Barbosa and Ronaldinho Gaúcho”. Several Brazilian stars who stood out in world football were also celebrated on Tuesday night (19) with a giant mosaic at Arena Fonte Nova.
In addition to the certificate and the broadcast on social media of a film about Afro-descendant ancestry in the country, the CBF will display a photo of Vini Jr next to the flags of Brazil and Cameroon, on the facade of the entity’s headquarters, in Barra da Tijuca, a neighborhood in west zone of Rio de Janeiro.
Vinicius Júnior makes FIFA’s anti-racist gesture, launched for the first time in Brazil on Tuesday night (19), in the classic Brazil x Uruguay, in the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers – Rafael Ribeiro/CBF/Reserved Rights
Fifa’s anti-racist gesture debuts in Brazil
FIFA, the entity that regulates football in the world, took advantage of the South American classic in Salvador, a city with the largest black population outside the African continent, to implement the “anti-racist gesture” for the first time in Brazil. In short, the player who crosses the arms in the shape of an directing players and officials to leave the field of play; and, finally, if the incident continues, the referee will leave the match.
The anti-racist gesture was approved in May at the 74th FIFA Congress in Bangkok (Thailand) and became part of football protocol in September, when implemented at the U20 Women’s World Cup in Colombia.
