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Real Madrid star Vinicius Jr has reacted to cricketer Virat Kohli's Instagram post celebrating India's win over South Africa in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup.
Vini posted five fire emojis under Kohli's post, conveying his congratulations and appreciation for the team.
"🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥" the Brazilian wrote.
India defeated South Africa by seven runs after scoring 176-7 at the Kensington Oval in Barbados. Virat Kohli scored 76 off 59 in the game, leading his country to victory.
Meanwhile, Vinicius Jr is representing Brazil in the 2024 CONMEBOL Copa America after winning the Champions League and the La Liga with Real Madrid last season. He found the net twice in Brazil's 4-1 win over Paraguay in a group stages game on Friday (June 28).
Both Virat Kohli and Vinicius Jr idolise Cristiano Ronaldo
While Vinicius Jr and Virat Kohli play two different sports, they have more in common than one might think. An interesting similarity between the two is their admiration for Portuguese talisman Cristiano Ronaldo.
Vinicius plays in the No 7 position for Real Madrid, a shirt that was once worn by Ronaldo. In a 2023 interview with Marca, he spoke about his feelings after wearing the shirt for Los Blancos. He also called Ronaldo his idol.
"I'm very grateful to wear this jersey that many other great players have worn. I am inspired by Cristiano Ronaldo because I've watched all of his games and he marked an era at the club. He's an idol for me." the Brazilian said.
Meanwhile, Indian cricket icon Virat Kohli has also been vocal about his appreciation for Ronaldo multiple times.
In a conversation with Blue Rising, Kohli was asked about the sporting GOAT . The batter mentioned Ronaldo without hesitation and explained why he admires the former Real Madrid icon.
“For me, it's Cristiano Ronaldo. Sporting GOAT, not in different disciplines. What he's doing at his age is not human, playing every 3-4 days. He's still doing what he's doing, so it's pretty amazing."
Kohli has also penned heartfelt notes for his idol multiple times on social media, while Vinicius has paid tribute to his idol by replicating his celebration after scoring crucial goals.
Apart from their love for Ronaldo, Virat Kohli and Vinicius Jr have both recently delivered at the biggest stage for their country.
After starting Brazil's Copa America 2024 campaign with an underwhelming goalless draw with Costa Rica, Vini Jr stepped up for his country and scored two goals in the 4-1 win over Paraguay.
He's widely considered a strong contender for the 2024 Ballon D'or after recording 24 goals and 11 assists for Real Madrid last season. If Vinicius Jr can lead Brazil to Copa America glory, he could make it to the Ballon D'or podium this year.
Meanwhile, Virat Kohli had an underwhelming World Cup initially, struggling to reach double digits. However, he came through in the match that mattered the most, leading India to win the T20 World Cup.
After India lost three quick wickets within the powerplay in the final, Virat Kohli held the innings together and kept knocking the ball for ones and twos before unleashing his full spectrum of shots at the death. The Indian cricket icon hinted at his retirement from T20 internationals after India won the title.
