Real Madrid striker becomes one of the owners of a Brazilian electronic sports club: “I see the positive impact that video games have”
Vinicius Junior, Brazilian striker elected the sixth best player in the world in 2023, became a partner of LOUD, one of the most important and popular electronic sportsteams in Brazil, in an agreement announced this Thursday- fair, without revealing the values involved.
With the deal, Vini Jr. became the owner of LOUD, alongside influencer Bruno “PlayHard” and entrepreneurs Jean Ortega and Matthew Ho – the trio who created the esports organization.
— As a long-time gamer, I see the positive impact that video games have on the lives and identities of young Brazilians. The partnership with LOUD is a perfect fit. Together, we will produce great content and develop several projects, encouraging young people to prioritize their studies and supporting the next generation of athletes, whether on the field or in games — declared Vini Jr. in a press release.
Vini Jr. with the LOUD esports team shirt — Photo: Disclosure/LOUD
According to PlayHard, even though he is a partner, Vini Jr. will not work in the organization’s administration, at least at the beginning. He will act as an ambassador for the team.
Vini joins the company as a partner, but not as an operator. He will not work day to day making decisions within the team, he has no impact on LOUD’s operations. He owns shares in the company, and the idea is to bring more of the role of brand ambassador along with his work. He propagates our brand, participates in our content and takes us to football. This is worth more than anything — said PlayHard in an interview with ge.
The businessman explained that Vini Jr.’s routine as a football player, now at Real Madrid and striker for the Brazilian national team, makes it impossible for him to to participate in the day to day life of LOUD.
— He is a highly competitive guy and lives for high performance. His goal is to be the best and win at what he sets out to do. Of course, commercial partnerships and the use of his image to promote other businesses are part of the routine. But it would be unfeasible, impossible and even asking too much to want him to come to our table, understand everything and give his opinion. Of course, we hope that, in the future, organically, this will happen.
Vini Jr. in the uniform of LOUD, the esports team of which he became a partner — Photo: Reproduction/X
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Vini Jr. highlighted his participation on the LOUD board, in addition to his role as ambassador.
— Signed contract, personalized shirt and shining pendant. I don’t just arrive as an ambassador but also to participate in the board of directors. The plan is to represent the fans and work hard to reach another level! — wrote the player.
Football and esports
In the middle of this year, LOUD set up a society football team, captained by influencers Victor “Coringa” and Ricardo “Piuzinho”, with the production of videos that have garnered millions of views on YouTube.
According to PlayHard, LOUD FUT7 is part of the organization’s strategy of bringing esports closer to football, already thinking about the entry of Vini Jr. This approach had already started before, with videos of matches involving influencers and . hiring of Iran “Bricklayer’s Glove” as an influencer
In December last year, LOUD’s management began mapping football personalities who could become members, with the aim of “bringing in a person who represents Brazil so well, who is such an idol of the new generation and who has similar values to that LOUD wants to preach”, as described by PlayHard. Vini Jr. was the first name considered. That month, LOUD made initial contact with the athlete’s staff.
— They were already connected to games. It was very easy to tell what LOUD is and show the value of the opportunity. They felt very excited — said the team owner.
— Vinicius Junior, for us, is a reference today. He’s a guy who brings a competitiveness and a high-performance mentality that are very similar to what we try to preach at LOUD in our teams. He has values of social causes and combating racism, all of this is very important, in LOUD’s view, for the next generations. For us it made perfect sense. Of course, at first, it seemed like a very big dream, but the truth is that games are already ‘mainstream’.
In a recent announcement, Brazilian esports organization LOUD revealed a partnership with football star Vini Jr., who is now an owner and ambassador for the team. The agreement, signed six months ago, was officially announced after careful coordination of schedules and avoiding overlap with the club’s competition calendar. Vini Jr., known for his association with EA SPORTS FC Mobile and collaboration with PlayStation, joins the ranks of players who also own esports teams. The partnership aims to create authentic content and experiences, leveraging both LOUD’s ecosystem and Vini Jr.’s influence. While the specific business model and financial details remain undisclosed, the collaboration is expected to bring mutual benefits, including business opportunities and social impact through the Vini Jr. Institute’s innovative approach to education using football. LOUD, founded in 2019, is a prominent esports organization in Brazil, gaining popularity through content creation in games like Free Fire, Valorant, and League of Legends, achieving notable success in various championships. The organization boasts a substantial online presence with millions of followers on social media platforms.
