Under fire from critics since the start of the season for his behaviour on the pitch, Vini is nevertheless getting closer to the supreme individual title.
With just over a month to go until the Ballon d’Or ceremony on October 28, nothing seems to be able to stop the Brazilian from winning this ultimate prize. Vinicius Junior is likely to be competing with two of his teammates, Bellingham and Carvajal, as well as Rodri in the race for the 2024 Ballon d’Or.
But the young Brazilian striker seems to be the favourite in view of the last exceptional season where he was involved in 33 goals (24 scored and 9 assists) including a resounding hat-trick during the final of the Spanish Super Cup against Barça (4-1 victory) and a precious goal in the final of the Champions League against Borussia Dortmund (2-0 victory).
So Vini won La Liga, the Spanish Super Cup and the Champions League last season and the European Super Cup at the start of this season. He even received his award for best player in the Champions League a few days ago… A good sign.
The last two decades have been the private preserve, almost exclusively, of Leo Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.. Only his teammate Modric and the now Al-Ittihad footballer Karim Benzema were able to challenge the domination of the two monsters.
📰☕ Brand: “All roads lead to gold”
Edit: the front page was shared by Fabrizio Romano 😏 pic.twitter.com/FcuQOCcYGQ
— Real France (@realfrance_fr)
September 24, 2024
Vinicius has climbed the ladder one by one since his arrival at Real. He has become, by force of circumstance, the best attacking player of the team by being involved in 10 goals (6 goals scored and 4 assists) in 10 Champions League games last season and is, according to Marca, already aware that he will be crowned with gold in October.
Unanimity in Spain
During the show “La Tribu” on Radio Marca, the various speakers were enthusiastic and all agreed on the same thing about Vini and the Ballon d’Or. Miguel Quintana, Felipe del Campo, Ricardo Reyes, Ricardo Rosety and Nacho Labarga were the commentators this Tuesday.
Miguel Quintana : “Vinicius has been the most decisive player in the most important games. It’s a process. Last year he was the best player in the world. I defend Rodri’s qualities, Carvajal also had a great season but, honestly, Vinicius really seemed to me to be the most decisive this season. In 2021, no one imagined Vini could win a Ballon d’Or so early. He was far ahead of all of us, the pessimists and the optimists.”
Felipe del Campo : “A lot of people have been very unfair to Vinicius. He has been the subject of ridicule and yet now he deserves the Ballon d’Or.”
Ricardo Reyes : “Vinicius behaved in ways that spoke against him, he wasn’t very exemplary. If he wins the Ballon d’Or, there will be people who think it’s unfair, if Rodri wins it, it will be fair too. Especially since I think he’ll never have the chance to win it again.”
Ricardo Rosetti: “What is most precious to me is how Vini has changed. It’s not that he has changed in a short period of time, it’s that he has evolved abruptly. He has accumulated enough merit to earn this award. If he takes it, it won’t be unfair at all.”
Nacho Labarga : “Now everyone remembers that phrase from Eric García in March 2022 when he told him during the Clasico “You next year will be Ballon d’Or”… And with everything he has suffered, not only because of racism but also all the mockery, he fully deserves this trophy.”
