Vinicius Jr’s call that changed everything
The Brazilian called Araújo when he decided to stop playing for mental health reasons.
Football stirs passions and rivalries, sometimes spilling beyond the boundaries of sportsmanship. Yet there are also gestures that offer comfort and remind everyone that, at its core, it is a game played by professionals with real emotions. One such moment came from Vinicius Junior, who recognised a moment of vulnerability in a direct rival, Ronald Araújo. At a critical point for the defender, the Brazilian reached out to check on him and offer his full support and encouragement.
The call came when the Uruguayan felt he had reached his limit in the final stretch of 2025. Over time, he had become overwhelmed by the excessive criticism and attacks directed at him and his family. He needed to stop, reset, and once again feel capable of competing at the elite level. Above all, he needed to recover his self-esteem after the humiliation and insults he had endured for his performances on the pitch.
As he revealed in an interview with Mundo Deportivo, the first person to say “enough” was his wife, who could not understand what was happening. That moment prompted the centre-back to step away for a while to rebuild his energy and confidence in his daily life, which revolves around playing football.
What began as anxiety developed into depression, a struggle he has since overcome.
During that period, Araújo was not alone. Alongside his family, he received affection and support from many within the game. Still, one call stood out: Vinicius’s. Despite being frequent head-to-head rivals on the pitch, the Brazilian showed remarkable empathy, a gesture that says a great deal about his character.
Days later, the call turned into a hug between the two. The embrace extended to Carvajal and Ceballos as well, fellow Real Madrid players and sporting rivals of Araújo, who set competition aside to show concern for the person behind the footballer: Ronald, a colleague going through a difficult time.
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