Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior has said he too expected to win the Ballon d'Or last year after being recognized by Manchester City's Rodri Hernandez. The story gained momentum after Real Madrid decided not to attend the Ballon d'Or gala in protest.
The voting was split between several Real Madrid players this year, with Dani Carvajal, Toni Kroos, Jude Bellingham and Vinicius all in the top 10. But after weeks of the Madrid press conference that Vinicius was guaranteed to win the award, the backlash when it emerged Rodri would win was significant.
During the gala, Vinicius posted that he would “do it 10x more” to prove people wrong. When he won the FIFA Best Award, the Brazilian declared himself the best in the world.
It's a story that follows him around stadiums in Spain, chanting “beach ball” at him, as Rodri Hernandez guides him to the Ballon d'Or. Vinicius was asked if the 2025 Ballon d'Or was one of his goals after Real Madrid defeated RB Salzburg on Wednesday night.
“I always say that my biggest goal is to help my team, to be able to score goals, to be able to provide assists, to be at my best, because if I am like that I can help all my teammates and take Madrid to the top to take. always my biggest goal.”
“Individual trophies are of course important, but… We can't talk so much, it's not the mood people expected, but we have to keep going… Rodrygo, Kylian, Jude, to do great things.”
His task has undoubtedly become even more difficult this season with Kylian Mbappe now at Real Madrid, giving Vinicius another star to share the spotlight with. Likewise, Bellingham has once again emerged as one of the leaders of this Real Madrid team, something that will likely re-divide the votes at Real Madrid.
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