Wonderkid driven to tears by racism: How Vinicius has been relentlessly abused

The emotional burden of years of taunts and death threats came to a head during a press conference yesterday, as the 23-year-old broke down in tears while describing how he suffered vile abuse during 'every match'.

Asked why he thought he was singled out, the young star said: 'It's something very sad that happens in every match of mine. It's not just me and it's not just in Spain, it's all over the world.

'I receive a lot of insults while the racist is free; he is not punished. Every day that goes by I feel more and more sad about it. But I struggle on because they have picked on me. I fight so that in the near future it won't happen to anyone else.'

Vinicius's rise from a disadvantaged childhood in Rio de Janeiro to the height of European football is a story of success against overwhelming odds.

After impressing his coaches at school, the youngster enrolled as an academy player aged 10 when his father took him to the branch offices of his local football club Flamengo.

The teenager was then put on the fast-track to stardom aged 16 when he received a contract from Real Madrid, with the Spanish club agreeing to pay an eyewatering £38million to take him when he turned 18.

Vinicius's story may be one of incredible personal achievement, but at yesterday's press conference - held before Brazil's friendly against Spain tonight - he admitted that the racism he continues to receive sometimes saps his desire to carry on.

'Sometimes I have less and less desire to play but I want to keep fighting,' he said.

Last May, the player was targeted with monkey chants by supporters at Valencia's Mestalla Stadium and handed a red card for reacting to the abuse.

He later took to Instagram to accuse Spain of having a reputation as a 'racist country',