Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James has evolved past the point of being a basketball icon. With a global brand, unprecedented longevity, and statistics and accolades that hold up against any athlete known to the modern world, James is simply a household name—no matter the reason you know him
That level of profound influence has been established throughout the NBA, but the gretest testament to it may come from outside of the basketball community.
James has been in the spotlight throughout his 21 NBA seasons and storied high school playing career. During that time, he's epitomized greatness, winning championships and individual awards while breaking records that once seemed untouchable.
According to Tania Ganguli of The Athletic, James' influence has reached as far as Vinícius Júnior, the Brazil and Real Madrid soccer star who many expect to win the Ballon d'Or—the sport's highest individual honor.
"Vinícius Júnior, the star soccer player for Real Madrid, said in an interview that he didn’t follow basketball when he was growing up in Brazil but that James “was a bit of a superhero for me,” and served as inspiration for his own athletic exploits...“God willing, I can play as long as he has,” said Vinícius, 24, answering questions in Portuguese that were sent via WhatsApp."
It's a testament to the legend that James has become in the world at large that a superstar athlete in an entirely different field, let alone country, cites him as a direct influence.
Soccer superstar Vinícius Junior calls LeBron James superhero, influence
For those unfamiliar with Vinícius Junior, he's a 24-year-old superstar in the process of becoming the face of world football. He's already helped Real Madrid win La Liga, the top league in Spain, on three separate occasions, including 2023-24.
Vinícius also played a starring role when Real Madrid won the Champions League, which hosts the top teams in Europe, in 2023-24 after previously winning it in 2021-22.
For his efforts, Vinícius earned accolades as the 2021-22 Champions League Young Player of the Season and 2023-24 Champions League Player of the Season. He also won the Golden Ball at the 2022 FIFA Club World Cup, which is effectively the MVP award for the event.
With a case for being the best player in the world at just 24 years of age, it's easy to see how a player like Vinícius would be inspired by James—one of the few who can relate to that experience.
James was drafted out of high school and earned All-NBA First Team honors at just 21 years of age. He won the scoring title at 23, captured his first of four NBA MVP awards at 25, and secured his first of four championships and Finals MVP honors at 27.
The living embodiment of the word, "Phenom," James has established a new standard for players facing otherworldly expectations at the dawn of their professional careers.
One of the most interesting aspects of what inspires Vinícius, who hadn't yet turned three years old when James was drafted, is the longevity factor. James has raised the bar for sustained greatness, earning All-NBA honors at 39 years of age—in his 21st NBA season.
It's an impossible standard for anyone to live up to, but the same was said before James had accomplished it. Perhaps Vinícius can be the player who raises the bar in his sport.