Ballon d’Or: Extraordinary Vinicius Jr ‘will win
Just moments after Real Madrid fans were chanting for Vinicius Jr to win the Ballon d’Or, the Brazilian forward expressed his deep desire to “stay at the club forever.”
Vinicius Jr showcased his brilliance with a stunning hat-trick against Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League on Tuesday. His goals helped Real Madrid overturn a 2-0 deficit and win 5-2 at their home stadium, Santiago Bernabeu.
This couldn’t have come at a better time, as the Ballon d’Or ceremony, football’s top individual honor, is just around the corner on October 28.
After the match, Real Madrid’s coach, Carlo Ancelotti, praised Vinicius Jr, calling him “an extraordinary character,” and confidently stated that based on his performances last season, “he will win the Ballon d’Or.”
At 24 years old, Vinicius Jr is widely seen as a top contender for the award after playing a huge role in Real Madrid’s La Liga and Champions League victories last season. He even scored in the Champions League final and was later named the competition’s best player.
Beyond football, Vinicius Jr also won the Socrates Award last year, honoring his humanitarian efforts globally.
On social media, fans are already convinced that Vinicius Jr has secured the Ballon d’Or, with rumors suggesting that Nike will release special golden Mercurial boots in his name just two days after the ceremony.
Vinicius Jr’s remarkable performance against Dortmund only strengthens his case.
How Did Vinicius Jr Score His Hat-Trick?
His first goal was a simple tap-in to equalize the score. But his next two goals were spectacular.
At 3-2, with the game still in the balance, Vinicius picked up the ball in his own half, sprinted past Emre Can with sheer speed, and slotted the ball into the bottom corner from outside the box. He completed his hat-trick in stoppage time with another solo effort, dribbling from 40 yards, beating three defenders, and smashing the ball into the roof of the net.
He celebrated by taking off his shirt and running towards the home fans, who chanted “Ballon D’Or – Vinicius Ballon D’Or!”
After the match, Vinicius Jr shared his excitement with Movistar, saying, “It’s a dream come true when the fans chant my name. I want to keep giving them more goals. I’m 24, and I want to stay at Madrid forever. This club has given me so much.”
Who Could Challenge Vinicius Jr for the Ballon d’Or?
The Ballon d’Or shortlist has 30 nominees, including English stars like Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden, Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka, and Cole Palmer.
However, Vinicius Jr’s main competition seems to be Rodri, the defensive midfielder who helped Manchester City win the Premier League and Spain secure the European Championship last season.
Still, according to UK bookmakers, Vinicius Jr is the clear favorite. Last season, he scored 26 goals and provided 12 assists in 51 appearances for both club and country. If he wins, Vinicius Jr would join Luka Modric (2018) and Karim Benzema (2022) as the only players to break the Messi-Ronaldo dominance of the Ballon d’Or since 2007. Not bad company at all!