Vinicius Junior was informed that he is “not unpopular in Spain because of his race” following his comments about the 2030 World Cup. This response came after a La Liga legend criticized the Real Madrid star’s “maturity” in an ignorant rant.

The Real Madrid star recently suggested that the 2030 World Cup, which is set to be co-hosted by Spain, should be moved if the country cannot eliminate racist abuse from the sport, emphasizing that players should feel safe on the field. In response, former Spain international Canizares has criticized the Brazil winger with an ignorant rant, claiming that Vinicius is “not popular” in Spain due to his perceived lack of “maturity” rather than his race.

On Cadena Cope’s ‘El Partidazo’ show, the former goalkeeper stated, “If Vinicius is not very popular in Spain, it is not because of his race. He already made a mistake by saying the entire Mestalla crowd was racist, and now he’s doing it again. It’s a matter of maturity; I’d rather listen to [Dani] Carvajal or [Luis] De la Fuente. I assure you, it’s not about his race.”

Vinicius Jr. has consistently spoken out about racial issues in Europe, having faced severe abuse from rival fans during his time at Santiago Bernabeu. However, some of his Real Madrid teammates, including Carvajal, have disagreed with his stance, asserting that Spain is not a racist country.

For the time being, Vinicius will concentrate on his responsibilities with Brazil before returning to Real Madrid. The Selecao will face Paraguay in their next 2026 World Cup qualifier, following a 1-0 victory over Ecuador that moved them up to fourth place in the CONMEBOL qualifying table.Vinicius Jr., the Real Madrid winger, has recently raised concerns about the 2030 World Cup, which is set to be co-hosted by Spain, questioning whether the tournament should proceed in the country if it cannot effectively address the issue of racist abuse in football. He emphasized the importance of creating a safe environment for players on the field. This statement has sparked controversy, especially with former Spain international Santiago Canizares, who responded critically.

On the Spanish radio show “El Partidazo” on Cadena Cope, Canizares argued that Vinicius Jr. is “not popular” in Spain due to a perceived lack of “maturity,” rather than his race. Canizares criticized Vinicius for his outspoken stance, stating, “If Vinicius is not very popular in Spain, it is not because of his race. He already made a mistake by saying the entire Mestalla crowd was racist, and now he’s doing it again. It’s a matter of maturity; I’d rather listen to [Dani] Carvajal or [Luis] De la Fuente. I assure you, it’s not about his race.”

Vinicius Jr. has consistently highlighted racial issues in European football, especially after experiencing severe racist abuse from rival fans during his time at Real Madrid. Despite his efforts to bring attention to these issues, some of his Real Madrid teammates, such as Dani Carvajal, have expressed differing views, claiming that Spain is not a racist country.

For now, Vinicius is focusing on his duties with the Brazilian national team. Brazil recently secured a 1-0 victory over Ecuador in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, which moved them up to fourth place in the CONMEBOL qualifying table. The Selecao is set to face Paraguay in their next match, with Vinicius aiming to make an impact on the field amid ongoing discussions off it.