CNN —
Real Madrid superstar Vinicius Junior is aiming to reach new heights this season. Speaking in the first part of a world exclusive interview with CNN Sport, the Brazilian said Real Madrid could win a historic treble this season, adding that he wants to emulate his Brazilian heroes by winning the Ballon d'Or.
Speaking to CNN senior sports analyst Darren Lewis from his home in Madrid, Vinicius was optimistic about Los Merengues' chances of winning all major competitions this season as the reigning Champions League holders prepare to defend their title.
“Every year our target is to win as many titles as we can,” Vinicius said of his 15-time European Cup winners before the team beat Atalanta to win their sixth European Super Cup.
Despite their success, Madrid have never won the European treble of the Champions League, La Liga and Copa del Rey.
Rivals FC Barcelona are the only Spanish club to have achieved this feat twice, in 2009 and 2015.
Speaking to CNN about why the feat is so rare, Vinicius said: “The Copa del Rey always holds us back from winning the treble because we play very strong teams in January, when we have the most games, and the cup competitions end up complicating things a bit.”
The Madrid star made it clear that the team's biggest priority was winning the club's 16th Champions League title, but added that he was keen to “finally win the treble”.
“Firstly, the Champions League is the most difficult competition, then La Liga and then the Copa. Each of them brings its own pressure. The Champions League carries weight because it is a competition that Real Madrid always wants to win. The players and also the fans want us to win it. But our target now is to win every game we play and ultimately win the treble”.
To understand the impact Vinicius had last season, you first have to look at the numbers: his 15 league goals helped Madrid to another Spanish title.
And earlier this year, his decisive goal sealed Real Madrid's second Champions League title in three seasons as they beat Borussia Dortmund 2-0 at Wembley Stadium.
“I've always dreamed of playing for Real Madrid so I'm cherishing every moment as if it were the last,” he said.
“Everyone wants to win with the best team on the planet, play with the best players, score a lot of goals in a lot of finals and make a lot of contributions. I'm only 24 years old and I want to keep playing like this and make history with this great team I'm on. Not everyone gets that chance so I want to enjoy every moment I spend in this shirt.”
Vinicius finished the 2023/24 season as Madrid's top scorer with 24 goals and 11 assists, despite missing two months between November and January.
With a talent that emerges when it matters most and big numbers all season for arguably the biggest club on the planet, it's no wonder he's the leading candidate for this year's Ballon d'Or.
For Vinicius, winning the award is akin to living up to Brazilian tradition, as he aims to follow in the footsteps of some of the country's greatest modern football stars, including Marta, Ronaldo Nazario, Ronaldinho, Rivaldo and Kaka, who were all recognised as the best players in the world at some point in their careers.
“I have to talk about Marta, she is the best (in the history of women's football). I have a lot of affection for her because I believe she changed the sport and took women's football to the level it should be. Women's football is growing every day and Marta was one of the pioneers,” he said.
“Marta is to us what Pele is to the Brazilian people. She's like Ayrton Senna. She's one in a million.”
“For men, there's Kaka, Ronaldo who won it twice, Ronaldinho, Rivaldo, there are a lot of Brazilians who have won the Ballon d'Or. But Ronaldo and Ronaldinho are definitely the closest to me and they tell me every day that I have to win the Ballon d'Or.”
Vinicius told CNN he had spent some time with O Fenomeno recently and received personal guidance from him.
“I was in Ibiza training with Ronaldo at his house and he said to me: 'If you train here for a few more days you will be closer to the Ballon d'Or.' These are players who have done amazing things. To compete for the Ballon d'Or and win the award they have won is really amazing.”
Team-mate Jude Bellingham and new signing Kylian Mbappe will be Vinicius' main rivals for the Ballon d'Or in October, with Real Madrid's newest form packed with talent from front to back.
Despite being one of the biggest rivals for football's most coveted prize, the Brazilian is very happy that former PSG star Mbappe is joining the Spanish giants.
“The team is very good and has been for a long time,” he said.
“Everyone says that with the arrival of Mbappe the team will be unstoppable, but now we just need to have the best training sessions and try to understand each other as quickly as possible.”
Vinicius has long admired Mbappe from afar but is now enjoying playing alongside the World Cup winner and admits he has been impressed by his play.
“I like Mbappe's style, the way he plays and I'm excited to see what we can do during the season. He comes after scoring a lot of goals and winning a lot of titles. He comes to the club he's always dreamed of and the club every player dreams of playing for: Real Madrid.”
“With God's blessing, Mbappe will score as many goals for us as he did for his previous teams and national team and achieve even more with us.”
Vinicius assisted the opener and the Frenchman scored on his official debut for Los Blancos in a 2-0 win in the UEFA Super Cup, but Real Madrid faltered in their La Liga opener against a solid Mallorca, earning just a point from a 1-1 away draw and showing signs that the team needs to be more cohesive if they are to hit their stride.
Despite Son Moix's missteps and the team experiencing growing pains in the first half of their home opener against Real Valladolid, which they won 3-0, the stage is set for what will be an incredibly successful year for Madrid.
Recently, rumors have circulated that Vinicius has been offered a staggering $1 billion plus for a move to Saudi Arabia, which is similar to the rumors surrounding his new teammate Mbappe joining in July 2023.
But the Brazilian star made his feelings about the future clear to CNN.
“I've always played to be one of the best players and with each passing day at Real Madrid my confidence grows.”
“I've already won the Champions League twice and I play with other players who have already won it six times -[Dani]Carvajal has won it six times. They push us every day to play beyond our limits and I believe with this team anything is possible.”
“We've come so far already (two Champions League titles in three years) and it's been really tough, but it's even harder to stay at the highest level, so I want to stay at this level for a long time and win as many Champions League titles as Carvajal, (Luka) Modric, Nacho and Toni (Kroos), who has won it six times.”
“We could be one of the best teams of the next decade and now we just have to prove what we can do on the pitch and that with every game that I play and my teammates and I take, we come closer to winning more titles for Real Madrid.”
