DNA test reveals Vini Jr traces his ancestry to Cameroon

Vinícius José Paixão de Oliveira Júnior, known globally as Vinícius Jr., has uncovered his roots in Cameroon.

On Tuesday, November 19, 2024, a DNA test conducted by the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) in collaboration with AfricanAncestry.com confirmed that the Real Madrid star has ancestry from the Tikar tribe in Cameroon.

The results were presented to Vinícius before Brazil’s match against Uruguay in the South American World Cup qualifiers at Fonte Nova.

The CBF’s “Roots of Gold” initiative celebrates the rich heritage of the Afro-Brazilian community, particularly within the world of football.

So Brazil & Real Madrid Star Vinicius Jnr did a DNA test and the results show that his ancestors were from Cameroon 🇨🇲.

There's no doubt his following in the country https://t.co/sSQnTSEwmF skyrocket. pic.twitter.com/iEDKxXL3Pp

— NJIE ENOW: The Razzmatazz (@NjieEnow) November 20, 2024

Vinícius’ father expressed his joy at learning about their Cameroonian connection, sharing his excitement on behalf of his son.

“It’s important for us to know where we came from. Many Brazilians actually don’t know their ancestry or our heritage. But I’m happy; we are from Cameroon too,” he said.

In honour of his ancestry, Vinicius Jr wore a special jersey with the flags of Brazil and Cameroon for the match against Uruguay.

The game ended in a one-all stalemate with Vinicius playing full-throttle.