The American energy drink brand, Gatorade has announced Real Madrid and Brazil star Vinicius Junior as its new brand ambassador, ahead of the UEFA Champions League Final.
The multi-year partnership began with Vini Jr. appearing in a Gatorade promotional film, demonstrating his well-known skills and antics that have helped him become one of the world’s most recognisable young football players.
Vini Jr. also took to social media to celebrate his new role as a Gatorade ambassador, demonstrating how his passion for Brazilian samba is represented on the pitch.
On the partnership, Vini Jr. said, “Growing up I was inspired by icons of the game, such as Neymar Jr., who is the best when it comes to one versus one dribbling. Gatorade has always been my go-to for pre, mid and post-match hydration. I’m excited to join its esteemed family of ambassadors who are all competing at the top of their game. We can work together to inspire the next generation of new talent to kick down the barriers to stay and play football, so they can perform at their best and fulfil their potential.”
Gatorade has added Vini Jr. to its portfolio of sports ambassadors ahead of the Champions League final, in which the Brazilian will try to win the most coveted trophy in European football for the second time.
Vini Jr. will have accessibility to resources from the Gatorade Sports Science Institute, which is dedicated to maximising athlete health and performance, in the lead-up to the championship game at Wembley Stadium.
Bart LaCount, VP of Marketing at Gatorade, said, “Vini Jr. is a world-class footballer, renowned for his silky dribbling and mesmerising trickery. On the pitch he has an unwavering competitive spirit to winning. At just 23-years old, he has already won everything he possibly can at club level for Real Madrid CF, scoring in some of the biggest matches in the club’s recent history. He knows first-hand sport has the power to change lives. His motivating and inspiring story will help to fuel tomorrow’s talent to stay and play in football.”
Vini Jr. joins a Gatorade roster that already includes some of the greatest and most marketable athletes in history. Athletes that have endorsed Gatorade include Dwayne Wade, Serena Williams, and Lionel Messi. It has also partnered with the Indian cricketer, Hardik Pandya, and the Indian tennis player, Sumit Nagal.