In 2004, Vinícius José Paixão de Oliveira Junior joined the Fla de São Gonçalo School at just 4 years old. Ten years later, the striker from the Rubro-Negro youth academy was called up to the Brazilian under-15 team.

Vinícius, born on July 12, 2000, was selected for the first time during the 2008 Fla de Escolinhas Cup. The boy tried out for Flamengo's futsal team, but his parents thought it best to wait for their son to turn 10 years old to put him into field soccer, which definitely happened in 2010.

"It's the first time I've been called up, and I was very excited, I was very happy. It's always been my dream to make it to the national team, and I also dream of playing for Flamengo's first team," said Vinícius. When asked who his idol was, he answered without hesitation: "Neymar."

Three months before his 14th birthday, the young striker already has personal and collective records: last season, he was the team's top scorer in three official competitions with Flamengo, winning them all, including the Copa Guri and Carioca.