Vinicius Junior pens Ballon d’Or dig after FIFA Best Award

Vinicius Junior aimed a dig at the Ballon d’Or after being crowned FIFA’s The Best Men’s Player of the Year on Tuesday.

The 24-year-old Real Madrid and Brazil forward claimed the prestigious award with 48 points, finishing ahead of Manchester City midfielder Rodri, who earned 43 points, and his Madrid team-mate Jude Bellingham, who tallied 37 points.

The award is determined by a combination of votes from national team coaches, captains, journalists, and fans.

Vinicius’s victory comes in the wake of missing out on the Ballon d’Or, which was awarded to Rodri earlier this year.

That decision led Real Madrid to boycott the ceremony in protest.

“Today I write to the child who has seen so many idols lift that trophy,” Vinícius shared on Instagram after receiving the award.

“His time has come. Or rather, my time has come. The time to say, yes, I am the best player in the world and I have fought hard for it.

“They have tried and tried to invalidate me, to diminish me. But they are not ready. No one is going to tell me who I should fight for, how I should behave.

“When I was at Sao Gonçalo, the system didn’t care about me. It almost swallowed me up.

“I won for myself, for my family. With a lot of support along the way: Flamengo, Real Madrid, the Brazilian national team, my hundreds of team-mates over the years, the people who accompany me every day in my routine, those who admire me, the best player in the world.”

Vinicius was recognised for his exceptional 2023-24 campaign, during which he played a key role in helping Real Madrid secure a LaLiga and Champions League double.

In October, Vinicius expressed his frustration after being overlooked for the Ballon d’Or, stating: “I’ll do it 10x if I have to. They’re not ready.”

Vinicius’s achievement drew praise from many in the football world, including Neymar, who encouraged his compatriot to “keep flying” in an Instagram story celebrating his win.