Vinicius Junior, a Real Madrid player, has described how his “dream” as a child in Brazil was to play in the Champions League.

When the winger joined Madrid from Flamengo at the age of 18, he was given the opportunity to fulfill his goal after spending a large portion of his boyhood in Brazil watching Europe’s best clubs compete in the renowned club championship. Since then, he has won the coveted trophy twice, most recently scoring in the final as Real Madrid defeated Borussia Dortmund 2-0 in the season finale.

“When I was younger and growing up in Brazil, I clearly remember sprinting back from school as fast as I could to catch the start of European matches,” Vinicius remarked, reflecting on his journey from watching on television to participating in the event. I too recall being fixated on the screen, hoping to play on those fields someday. I was greatly inspired by watching my heroes compete in the Champions League, which fueled my desire to play at the greatest level.

Although he is prioritizing team records over individual accolades, he has now scored in two Champions League finals and, should he lead Madrid to the final again, could become the first player to score in three.

“The Champions League is the biggest stage, and to make history in a competition by scoring in multiple finals would be unforgettable,” he stated. But the team’s success always comes first; trophies, not individual records, are what matter most. To do that, we must maintain our composure and concentrate only on the upcoming game, one step at a time.”

The 24-year-old’s playing style was clearly influenced by his background in the South American country, as he inherited many of the traits of the Selecao legends that came before him.

“I think having an explosive and dynamic playing style which is full of flair is the essence of Brazilian football culture,” he stated. “We spent hours playing on the streets with friends when we were kids, where there were no rigid guidelines or strategic plans—just the ability to express yourself and try new things. It all came down to ingenuity, improvisation, and taking your opponents by surprise. My game was influenced by that milieu, which also explains why so many Brazilian players have the same flare. It’s about transferring the same excitement and unpredictable nature to the biggest stages.”

As a result of his ascent to international fame, Vinicius has recently been featured prominently in Pepsi advertising campaigns, portraying a variety of roles. In the most recent movie for the beverages brand, he has saddled up as a cowboy who is transferred into a classic Telenovela scene. He will play a martial artist in a follow-up movie.

“I’ve played a few different characters in various Pepsi campaigns and it’s hard to pick a favorite because each one was so much fun!” he remarked when asked which character was his favorite. However, I must admit that I thought the cowboy attire was a really interesting and surprising look. What comes next? Who knows! Perhaps I will become a superhero or even pursue a career in music. We’ll see what innovative ideas the Pepsi team comes up with next; I’m always up for a challenge.

Even though Real Madrid has only won three Champions League games this season, Vinicius already has five goals to his name. When his team plays Red Bull Salzburg on Wednesday, the attacker will want to help them beat that record.

Pepsi’s most recent worldwide football advertisement aims to persuade supporters of the game to watch the Champions League in order to break their midweek routines. The goal of the Football Always Wins campaign, which stars Vinicius and Jack Grealish of Manchester City as ambassadors, is to demonstrate the superiority of the beautiful game over other entertainment mediums.