Brazilian forward Vinícius Júnior wore the captain's armband for Real Madrid for the first time on Wednesday at 24 years old, leading his team to a 1-0 victory over Real Sociedad in the first leg of the Copa del Rey semifinals. 

A Dream He Never Imagined

“It’s very special to play here for so long and, at 24, to have my first match as captain. It means a lot to me and my family after everything we’ve been through to get here,” he told Real Madrid TV.

The Brazilian admitted that he never expected to lead the team in such a crucial match. “It’s something different because you never think it will happen to you. I’m happy to wear the captain’s armband for the best club in the world in a Copa del Rey semifinal. I’m living the moment, something I hadn’t even dreamed of,” he added.

Vinícius Júnior also has his sights set on new milestones with the club: “In the next match, I’ll reach 300 appearances, but I already want 400, 500, and to keep making history at this club.”

A Key Win in San Sebastián

Regarding the match, the forward praised the team's performance and highlighted the decisive goal scored by young star Endrick.

“We played very well and defended as the coach asked us to. We won with a stunning goal from Endrick,” he said.

The Brazilian also emphasized the team’s strong form at this critical stage of the season. “We are reaching our best version at the perfect time, just as the matches we love to play are coming up,” he concluded.