Vinicius Jr. latest player with links to Cameroon

Vinicius Jr. & Cameroon: A match made in heaven, beyond football

The November international break lived up to expectations, with intriguing and questionable results across various centers in the world.

However, the one-week break confirmed an off-field decision as a DNA test result was released and presented to Real Madrid superstar Vinicius Junior to show as evidence of his ancestry to Africa.

Vinicius becomes the latest top player to be linked to Cameroon. 

Before Brazil’s 1-1 draw with Uruguay in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers on Tuesday night, Vinicius was presented with a plaque that shows that his ancestors came from the Tikar ethnic group in the Central African country. 

Brazilian FA president, Endaldo Rodrigues, presented the DNA result to Vinicius alongside his father in Salvador. He remarked that the initiative with a genetic tracing company is to bring about an inclusive society in Brazil and world football.   

“By celebrating Vini Jr., we celebrate all Brazilians and the essential contribution of Afro-Brazilian culture to our identity,” Rodrigues said.

“Discovering that my roots are in Cameroon is a very special moment for me and my family,” Vinicius said. “It reminds me that our origins and history are invaluable.”

Vinicius played the entire 90 minutes but could not end his international goal drought. Gerson rescued a point for Brazil, canceling out Federico Valverde’s opener for Uruguay.

Mbappe, Saliba & other players who could have played for Cameroon 

Samuel Umtiti 

The former Barcelona defender was born in Yaounde and was eligible to play for the Indomitable Lions. He was neutralized to become a French citizen in September 2008 and went on to play for the 2018 world champions between 2016 and 2019. 

William Saliba 

Saliba was born to a Lebanese father in the suburbs of Paris but was qualified to feature for Cameroon through his Cameroonian mother. 

He was first called up by France for friendly games against Ivory Coast and South Africa in March 2022, and he is now an established star in Didier Deschamps’ squad. 

Aurelien Tchouameni 

The Real Madrid star was born to Cameroonian parents in France and he had no approach from Cameroon before France handed him his debut call-up in August 2021.

Kylian Mbappe 

The French superstar traced his steps back home in summer 2023 when he visited his father’s (Wilfried Mbappe) village in Djebale after making a name for himself in France and he could have also represented Algeria through his mother.

Vinicius returns focus to Real Madrid

In Spain, Vinicius has been a victim of racist abuse because of his skin color. But the Brazilian government in Rio, proactively, passed a legislative bill called ‘Vini Jr. Law’. It punishes racist abuse in sports grounds in the South American nation.

The 24-year-old’s influence transcends the football pitch. Now, his immediate focus would shift to Sunday when Real Madrid face Leganes in a La Liga fixture.

The Blancos currently trail league leaders Barcelona by six points, with a game at hand.

Introducing Taiye T. Taiwo

Taiye T. Taiwo is a seasoned media professional based in Marseille, France, with extensive experience in sports journalism and content management. From April 2022 to August 2024, he served as the Online Community Manager and Editor at Afrosport TV. It is Sub-Saharan Africa’s first Free-To-Air television network. He led editorial planning, content flow, and social media strategies.

Taiwo oversaw daily content for the website and TV productions, ensuring high editorial standards and maximizing audience engagement. He also contributed to major sports events. These included the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast and FIFA TV Production for the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers in Mali and Guinea.

Prior to this, Taiwo worked as Deputy Editor at Goal.com Africa from September 2019 to April 2022. He helped shape editorial direction and coverage of African football. With over 5,000 articles under his belt, Taiwo has now joined the Rant Sports team as an expert in European football and basketball.