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It’s official: Vinícius Júnior is now in a league of his own among Brazilian legends. With his decisive goal against Benfica on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, the Real Madrid No. 7 has reached 31 Champions League goals, moving into sole possession of second place on the all-time Brazilian scorers list.
At just 25 years old, Vini has surpassed the iconic Kaká and is now eyes-on-the-prize for the top spot currently held by his idol, Neymar.
The Elite Brazilian Top 5 (UCL History)
Rank,Player,Goals,Club(s)
1.,Neymar,43,"Barcelona (22), PSG (21)"
2.,Vinícius Júnior,31,Real Madrid
3.,Kaká,30,"AC Milan (25), Real Madrid (5)"
4.,Rivaldo,27,"Barcelona (22), Milan (2), Olympiacos (3)"
5.,Rodrygo,26,Real Madrid
The "Big Game" Player: What makes Vini’s tally even more terrifying for defenders? 13 of his 31 goals have come in the knockout stages, including two goals across two different Champions League finals.
The Chase: Can He Catch Neymar?
Vini Jr. is currently 12 goals behind Neymar’s 43. Given his current trajectory and Real Madrid’s perennial deep runs in the competition, the math looks favorable:
Age Factor: At 25, Vini likely has 7–8 more seasons at the peak of European football.
Scoring Rate: He has averaged roughly 6 goals per season over the last few UCL campaigns. At this pace, he could potentially equal Neymar’s record by the end of the 2027/28 season.
The Competition: With Neymar currently playing in the AFC Champions League with Al-Hilal, his UEFA tally is effectively frozen at 43.
The Verdict: Surpassing Kaká is a monumental feat, but doing it while still in his mid-twenties suggests we are witnessing the birth of the most statistically dominant Brazilian in European history.