A few days after the great disappointment of the 2024 Ballon d’Or, Rivaldo, former Brazilian international and FC Barcelona legend, told Vinícius Júnior the whole truth. For the young Madrid player to find his way back to the light, the 1999 Ballon d’Or winner did not mince his words.
When Vinícius Júnior is performing well, the whole Real Madrid team follows suit. Arriving in the Spanish capital in 2018 as a true adventurer, the Brazilian star has climbed the ranks, braving challenges to establish himself as one of the best players in the world today. After an outstanding season with Carlo Ancelotti’s team, the young 24-year-old winger was tipped as the winner of the 2024 Ballon d’Or. Expected on 28 October at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris to lift this prestigious trophy, Vini learned the devastating news of his last-minute defeat.
Vinícius must forget about the Ballon d’Or
Supported by Real Madrid, he promised to work ten times harder to find his way back to success. However, during Real Madrid’s recent match against AC Milan in the Champions League, things did not go well at all for the young forward and his team. While many are pointing fingers at Kylian Mbappé as one of the main reasons for Real Madrid’s poor form, Rivaldo, the former Brazilian midfielder who needs no introduction, shared his thoughts on Vinícius Júnior.
In an interview with Betfair, the former FC Barcelona player (1997-2002, 235 matches with 130 goals) advised his young Brazilian compatriot to forget about the Ballon d’Or completely and focus on his game with Real. “He needs to get this Ballon d’Or story out of his head, start playing again, and play well for Real Madrid. He needs to win matches after two consecutive defeats,” said the 1999 Ballon d’Or winner initially.
“He can win the Ballon d’Or one day”
Understanding the pain of the Madrid winger, who was 41 points behind Rodri, as revealed by France Football in the 2024 Ballon d’Or rankings, Rivaldo remains confident that things will return to normal if Vini stays focused on the pitch. “Vinícius is young. He has the age and the football skills to overcome all this. He can win the Ballon d’Or one day. He can become the best player in the world one or more times.“
Additionally, Rivaldo questioned those who vote for France Football. “Do all the journalists who vote really understand football? Are all these people truly qualified?” he asked, before clarifying that he has nothing against Rodri. “I cannot underestimate Rodri. He’s a player I admire. For me, he was my second choice, even though I thought Vinícius was the best,” stated the former 2002 World Cup winner with the Brazilian Seleção.
For Vinícius Júnior, it would simply be wiser to heed the advice of the Brazilian legend who has often shared hard truths. In any case, Real Madrid needs their forward, who is currently the driving force behind their attack.
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