Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the best soccer players to have ever stepped on a soccer pitch. He has also made the number 7 shirt absolutely iconic since his Manchester United days. The Portuguese took the level and weight of that shirt to another level during his Real Madrid tenure. Vinicius Jr. is the most likely to take over the number 7 shirt next season and it has split the fans, who want to keep that number 7, for a certain someone.
Real Madrid signed Vinicius Jr. back in 2018 for almost $48 million from Brazilian giants Flamengo. He was rated as the next superstar who would dominate the sport when he was 15. Fans regarded him as the successor of Cristiano Ronaldo on the left wing. Vinicius joined the Galacticos as an 18-year-old and looked out of place immediately.
The media and the fans didn’t take much time to write him as a big-money flop, even though he was in his teenage. However, slowly but surely Vinicius started becoming lethal with every passing day. Alongside bags of pace, a very controlled dribbling and a keen eye for a pass were added to his game. Vini’s pace started becoming a nightmare for the defenders, and he created an iconic partnership with Karim Benzema.
🚨💣 CONFIRMED by @brunoandrd: Vinicius Jr is set to wear the legendary No. 7 at Real Madrid next season. #rmalive pic.twitter.com/UxZOhe63XP
— Madrid Zone (@theMadridZone) February 27, 2023
This is stupid. Vini should get #11. Leave the #7 for Mbappe.
— Mirna (@Talisma73488645) February 27, 2023
Undeserved and overrated
— ٍ (@ebz7i) February 27, 2023
He will make CR7 Proud pic.twitter.com/0fHkj7XNvr
— Oro Blanco (@Elian36EGJ) February 27, 2023
Whattttt means no Mbappe coming
— Dexter (@D3xter_007) February 27, 2023
Big mistake. He doesn’t need this pressure and still isn’t developped enough for this responsibility, it can backfire on him. The 11 suits him more.
— John H O N E S T Y (@ExJohnHonestyy) February 27, 2023
Vinicius chipped in with 17 goals and 10 assists last season, where he won the Champions League and La Liga with Real. Journalist Bruno Andrade has reported that Vinicius will be offered the legendary number 7 of Ronaldo. A lot of fans are worried about the weight of the number 7 shirt. Whereas one fan commented, “This is stupid. Vini should get #11. Leave the #7 for Mbappe,” which has caused an outrage.
Who wore Cristiano Ronaldo’s number 7 after he left Real Madrid?
Cristiano Ronaldo changed the look of the number 7 shirt forever, especially in Real Madrid and Manchester United. He left the Spanish capital, scoring an unbelievable 451 goals in just 438 matches, which doesn’t even compute. Naturally, it is next to impossible to go anywhere near those stats, even for a world-class player.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s record at Real Madrid is ridiculous. pic.twitter.com/qHMekPodAf
— TCR. (@TeamCRonaldo) March 19, 2022
Ronaldo left Real Madrid in 2018 for Juventus vacating the number 7 after nine unreal years. Although Vini was regarded as the heir of Ronaldo, the number 7 would have been dangerous for him. Instead, the number 7 was given to Mariano Diaz. He never got going. Diaz is still at Real Madrid but hardly makes the bench and wears the number 24 shirt.
However, the next in the line was Eden Hazard. He was one of the best players in the world in 2019, and Real Madrid bought him from Chelsea for a whopping $107 million. Mariano’s number 7 was given to Hazard. Fans had very high hopes for the Belgian magician. And he has shown his incredible ability to dribble and score insane goals in his Chelsea tenure.
Eden Hazard comparison stats of his Real Madrid & Chelsea career so far. pic.twitter.com/rqh2OOECnO
— Frank Khalid OBE (@FrankKhalidUK) November 20, 2021
Unfortunately, enough everything came crashing down as Hazard is considered one of the worst transfers in world soccer. Since he joined in 2019, he has played only 54 matches in 4 years. Hazard has chipped in with a mere five goals in four years.
However, Vinicius looks like he would be able to handle the pressure of the number 7 shirt. Since he has grown up in the club and understands the significance of the shirt. Only time will tell if the Brazilian superstar can prove his worth in the number 7 shirt of Real Madrid.
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