A number of current and ex-players have come forward and offered their support to Vinicius Jr after the Real Madrid star was snubbed of the Ballon d’Or.
On Monday night, the Brazilian came second in the voting for football’s most prestigious individual award – with Man City’s Rodri taking home the trophy.
News broke earlier in the day that Vinicius was going to miss out on the award and shortly after Real Madrid and Vinicius decided to pull the plug on their trip to the gala, held at the Theatre du Chatelet.
Now that the dust has settled from the glitzy event, a number of prominent figures within football have offered words of encouragement for the Madrid star.
Interviewed at the event, Netherlands legend Ruud Gullit said: ‘Ballon d’Or? I think Vinicius.’
Real Madrid star Vinicius Jr narrowly missed out on winning the Ballon d’Or on Monday night
Man City and Spain midfielder Rodri instead picked up the prestigious individual award
Meanwhile, shortly after the result, Real Madrid team-mate Eduardo Camavinga took to X to write: ‘FOOTBALL POLITICS (red X emoji). My brother you are the best player in the world and no award can say otherwise. Love you my bro’.
Even those away from Real Madrid offered their support. AC Milan star Rafael Leao took to Instagram to post a picture of Vinicius with a ‘covered eyes’ emoji.
Spurs striker Richarlison – a compatriot of Vinicius – wrote a lengthy post on social media for Madrid star, which said: ‘All of us who live soccer look forward to the individual awards with great anxiety each season.
‘Today, all Brazilians who love football woke up expecting to see another player from our country win a award of the best in the world after so long.
‘Unfortunately, by criteria no one can understand, the prize did not come. And don’t get me wrong, Rodri is a bad player who deserves to be among the best. But Vini not getting that Ballon d’Or was embarrassing, and the only person who lost today was football.
‘I remember Vini saying his dream was to see all Brazil cheering for him. And that day was today! You are giant and the best in the world, kido! And no trophy will change that. Move forward and never be quiet! We’re all together!’
Richarlison’s north London rival – Arsenal defender Gabriel Maghalhaes – also offered his support to Vinicius in the form of an Instagram story.
He shared a picture of the Brazilian winger with the caption: ‘Best in the world!’.
Bayern Munich legend Franck Ribery also weighed in on the decision and posted an Instagram story that read: ‘Ballon d’Or’ with multiple ‘laughing emojis’.
Dutch legend Ruud Gullit, when interviewed at the event, said that Vinicius Jr should have won
AC Milan star Rafael Leao was one of the first to offer support to Vinicius after the decision
Arsenal star Gabriel Magahalhaes labelled Vinicius ‘the best in the world’ after his snub
Real Madrid team-mate claimed it was ‘football politics’ which stopped Vinicius from winning
Tottenham striker Richarlison penned a long and emotional message in support to the winger
It didn’t take long for Vinicius to break his silence just minutes after an emotional Rodri picked up the award, in recognition for his roles in Spain’s Euro 2024 triumph and his club side’s fourth consecutive Premier League.
‘I’ll do it 10x if I have to. They’re not ready,’ he posted on X, hinting at future successes.
Vinicius was a hot favourite to win the 2024 Ballon d’Or after his epic contribution leading Madrid’s frontline to a LaLiga-UEFA Champions League double.
The Brazilian, 24, hit six goals and four assists in ten Champions League appearances and tallied 20 goal involvements in 26 La Liga matches.
‘If the criteria of the award do not proclaim Vinicius the winner, those same criteria must proclaim Carvajal the winner,’ the club stated earlier today.
Bayern Munich legend Franck Ribery clearly didn’t agree with the decision either
Vinicius broke his silence just minutes after an emotional Rodri picked up the award
‘Since this has not been the case, it is obvious that the Ballon d’Or and UEFA do not respect Real Madrid. And Real Madrid is not where it is not respected.’
Real Madrid’s no-show led to a number of excruciating scenarios on a heavily stunted evening.
The announcement of Men’s Club of the Year saw Los Blancos pick up the honour, with the trophy going uncollected in a moment only matched for awkwardness when Carlo Ancelotti won Men’s Coach of the Year minutes later.
