‘I love playing in a packed stadium, it won’t faze me’ – Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior relishing Celtic challenge.

Some would say last May’s Champions League final winner against Liverpool in Paris already guaranteed his place among the many unforgettable players in the history of a fabulous club.

Vinicius Junior at a training session at Celtic Park

But this clinical 22-year-old – who now has dual Brazilian-Spanish nationality – is staying humble and believes he’s got much more to do to join the Bernabeu immortals.

Vinicius – signed from Flamengo in 2017 on his 18th birthday for £40 million – finished last season with 22 goals, second only to the sensationa Karim Benzema.

This term in La Liga he’s so far netted three goals in his last three games and is currently Real’s top league marksman after four games.

But put on the spot at Parkhead last night in the No7 restaurant named in tribute after Celtic idols such as Henrik Larsson, Vinicius refused to bite on the suggestion he’s currently one of the top five players on the planet.

And the 14-times capped Brazil star also stated he can’t wait to step into a fever-pitched Parkhead for the mouth-watering Group F opener.

On his present status in world football, Vinicius said: “I will let the people decide that.

“I feel as though I’m in a good place at the moment.

“I like to keep my head cool and my foot on the ground.

“I am in good form, so I have just to keep going and see where it takes me.

“Obviously, I want to score more and get more assists, but the most important thing for me is to do well for the team and carry on winning.

“I want to do my best for this team that has given me all. That’s the most important.

“What matters to me is the people who love me, my family.

“I try to improve as a player and, hopefully at this club, I am going to go down as a legend.

“I can stay for a long time and go down in the history books like Karim Benzema, Marcelo, Toni Kroos and Luka Modric.

“I just need to keep scoring goals and doing well.

“I was happy to score the winning goal in the final.

“I’m looking forward to a new season and, hopefully we can win this again.

“We are doing our best and, hopefully, it ends in success.

“I need to improve in everything.

“I still have a lot of work to do and want to keep evolving every day.

“I watch Karim every day and you never stop learning.

“It’s important to do that, especially at the biggest club in the world.”

On the idea of a raucous 60,000-capacity Parkhead and facing a free-scoring Celtic side, Vinicius betrayed an ignorance of the current free-flowing Hoops team.

He’s clearly still got homework to do on Postecoglou’s total-football, passing side, but he said: “It is a great team and I am look forward to playing here.

“I’ve heard good things and that there is a lot of pressure playing in this stadium.

“It’s a great atmosphere and I obviously saw that these guys won 4-0 in a big derby, so it is going to be a tough challenge for us.

“Celtic are a very strong team, they run very hard and they are very physical.

“To be honest, I’ve not seen many of their games and I should probably watch some more before the game.

“But we are going to turn up and play our own normal game – and it’s the other team that has to adapt to us.

“We are NOT not going to change for anyone.

“I absolutely love playing in a packed stadium with a lot of pressure on me.

“That’s what we like doing at Real Madrid.

“So, hopefully, we can perform and come away with a victory.”

Vinicius has surely got so many more years at the top for club and country ahead of him but is already highly decorated.

His career so far is as glittering as the diamond encrusted watch he displayed at Real’s press conference.

He’s also won two La Liga titles plus a UEFA Super Cup and a FIFA Club World Cup.

Vinicius – born in Sao Goncalo, Brazil – has also just been granted Spanish citizenship.

And of his deep affection for Real and Madrid, he added: “Over the years, the club and the city and Spain has given me a lot.

“I arrived at 18 as a young kid and now I am 22 and more mature.

“I feel as though the club and the fans have a lot of love for me.

“My family is settled and have everything we need. I can see myself staying for a long time.”