Few athletes can comprehend the level of pressure Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James faced when he joined the NBA in 2003. One player who comes close is Brazilian soccer superstar Vinicius Junior, who joined Real Madrid at age 18 for the second-highest transfer fee in the history of a Brazilian player.
Like Lebron, it hasn’t taken long for Vinicius to become one of the best players in the world of sports. He’s already helped Real Madrid win the UEFA Champions League twice and was named UEFA Champions League Player of the Year this year after recording six goals and five assists in the season.
While Vinicius hasn’t traditionally been a huge basketball fan, he is a James fan — he even got to meet James after a Lakers game last season — and the young superstar hopes to emulate LeBron’s longevity on the soccer pitch, reports Tania Ganguli of The New York Times.
“God willing, I can play for as long as him,” the 24-year-old Vinicius said, answering questions in Portuguese via WhatsApp.
Vinicius met James after a Lakers game last Christmas, and the two embraced and exchanged autographed jerseys.
“I was so nervous and anxious and at the same time I wanted him not to show up so I wouldn’t have to express how I was feeling in that moment,” he said.
Even the most famous international stars can get nervous in front of their idols, as Vinicius did when he had the chance to meet the Lakers star last year, but the two have a lot in common and if Vinicius continues on his current path, he could follow LeBron into becoming one of the greatest players in the sport’s history.
Already making progress in the fight against racism in football, Vinicius is also exerting his idol’s influence off the court. Not many players have lived up to the extraordinary expectations at such a young age, but with James as a worthy successor, Vinicius is well on his way to becoming a true legend.
LeBron James named 2024 Olympic Games MVP
LeBron James and Team USA have achieved their goal of winning a fifth consecutive Olympic gold medal at the 2024 Olympics.
James was also named the tournament MVP, a great achievement for the Lakers star, who turns 40 later this year.
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