Vinicius Junior ties Champions League record set by Lionel Messi

LONDON, ENGLAND - JUNE 01: (EDITORS NOTE: Image was captured using a remote camera positioned above the field of play.) A general view as Vinicius Junior of Real Madrid scores his team's second goal as Gregor Kobel of Borussia Dortmund fails to make a save during the UEFA Champions League 2023/24 Final match between Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid CF at Wembley Stadium on June 01, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

Vinicius Junior tied a record previously set by Lionel Messi when the Brazilian scored for Real Madrid in a 2-0 win over Borussia Dortmund in Saturday’s UEFA Champions League final.

The 23-year-old – who will be 24 in July – has now scored 11 goals and provided 11 assists during his career in the knockout stages of the Champions League.

Barcelona legend Messi is the only other player to have been directly involved in 22 goals at this level before the age of 24.

Messi, 36, went on to score 49 knockout goals during his UCL career before leaving Europe to join Inter Miami last year.

Cristiano Ronaldo, with 67, is the only player to have netted more goals than Messi during the UCL’s knockout rounds.

Vinicius scored Madrid’s second goal in Saturday’s final with a clean finish in the 83rd minute following an assist by Jude Bellingham.

Dani Carvajal had earlier headed Madrid in front from a Toni Kroos corner.