Real Madrid winger Vinicius Jr has been offered to wear the number 7 jersey which he has refused. The Spanish giants have been looking for a suitable #7 ever since Cristiano Ronaldo’s departure in 2018.
Apart from the Portuguese superstar, legends like Raul, Juanito, and Kopa have all elevated the #7 jersey to new heights, creating a storied legacy for the club and football altogether.
Vinicius Jr Sticks to #20
In recent years, Madrid’s #7 jersey has lost some of its lustre. After Ronaldo, the jersey has been passed down to Mariano Diaz and then to Eden Hazard but both of them failed to live up to its weight and expectations. According to reports, they might end up on Madrid’s transfer list this summer.
Vinicius Jr. has proved himself to be one of the best wingers in the world over the last two years. The club saw him worthy of taking on the mantle but the Brazilian has rejected the offer and intends to stick with his current number, #20.
Associated Responsibility
It might not be surprising for many that Vinicius has turned down the chance to take on the responsibility associated with this number. After all, jerseys like that carry immense weight and pressure, especially after being worn by legendary players. Ronaldo scored 451 goals for Real Madrid in 438 competitive appearances. It’s a club record as well as more than half of Ronaldo’s total goal tally which is 832.
Just like the #7 at Real Madrid, the #10 at Barcelona is also highly prestigious due to its previous wearer, Lionel Messi. Barcelona’s Ansu Fati bravely accepted Messi’s #10 jersey, but he’s now fallen down the pecking order and is currently struggling to live up to its expectations. Similarly, Ronaldo’s former team Manchester United is also still struggling to find a successful successor to the #7 jersey. Perhaps Edinson Cavani was the only one who did the number some justice.
All these instances show that taking on a jersey with such a legacy is a massive responsibility and not for everyone. Probably this is why Vinicius has turned down the offer to wear #7.
