Vinicius Junior has attracted widespread attention in Brazil after appearing in public with a noticeably different facial profile following the World Cup.
The 26-year-old was photographed at an event in Goiânia on July 20, with supporters quickly focusing on the greater definition around his chin and jawline. The change was described by MARCA as the result of a cosmetic chin procedure carried out during his post-tournament break.
Doctor explains the treatment
Some reports have labelled the procedure chin surgery or claimed that it consisted entirely of injectable fillers. However, the dermatologist who treated Vinicius gave a more detailed account.
According to Francielly Kodama of gshow, Alessandro Alarcão described it as a minimally invasive “facial naturalisation” treatment involving ligament restructuring, lasers, ultrasound, radiofrequency and biostimulators. Vinicius also underwent what the doctor called a refinement of his chin projection.
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“The aim is not to change anyone’s face, but to restore support, balance and proportion,” Alarcão said.
The dermatologist added that the treatment was designed to respect Vinicius’s natural features and preserve his identity. He did not describe it as conventional surgery, while his account also suggested that the technology used reduced the need for injectable procedures.
Ramires joins the online reaction
Images of Vinicius’s new appearance spread rapidly across social media, prompting comparisons with musicians, actors and former footballers.
One of the most common comparisons involved former Chelsea and Brazil midfielder Ramires. According to Paulo Pacheco of TMC, Ramires responded to one of the posts with a laughing emoji and the message: “You guys joke around too much, hahaha.”
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Vinicius has not publicly addressed the wider online reaction. The decision to undergo the treatment was a personal one made during his summer break.
Brazil suffer painful World Cup exit
The appearance came shortly after Brazil’s disappointing campaign ended in the round of 16. According to FIFA’s official match report, Norway eliminated the five-time champions with a 2-1 victory inspired by two Erling Haaland goals.
It was Brazil’s first round-of-16 exit since 1990.
Vinicius still produced a strong individual tournament, scoring four goals and registering one assist across five appearances.
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Contract talks await at Real Madrid
Attention will now return to Vinicius’s club future. His current Real Madrid contract expires in June 2027, meaning he has entered its final year without an extension being agreed.
According to Santiago Siguero of MARCA, negotiations are expected to resume after the World Cup. Florentino Pérez has publicly maintained that both parties want the relationship to continue, saying: “Vinicius wants to stay, and I want him to stay.”
For now, however, the new contract remains unsigned as Vinicius prepares to return to Madrid for pre-season.
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