Vinicius Jr. will serve as Real Madrid's second captain in the 2026-27 season, ranking behind only Federico Valverde in the club's new leadership structure. The promotion comes as contract extension talks between Vinicius and the club are also set to resume before pre-season begins.
According to Yahoo Sports, citing a report by Jose Felix Diaz in AS, representatives for both Vinicius and Real Madrid agreed to hold another meeting in the final days of July to work out the remaining details of a contract extension. Those talks are expected to focus on finalizing an agreement that both parties already want, rather than opening difficult negotiations from scratch.
Vinicius joined Real Madrid from Flamengo as an 18-year-old prospect and faced intense scrutiny during his early years adjusting to European football. He gradually became one of the club's most important players and a growing presence inside the dressing room.
The captaincy role marks another step in that evolution. With experienced figures such as Dani Carvajal and David Alaba no longer part of the squad, Real Madrid have turned toward a younger generation of leaders. Vinicius and Valverde now appear set to fill that role under manager Jose Mourinho.
Throughout the contract discussions, Vinicius has made clear that he sees his future in Madrid, and club officials have responded with the same commitment.
