Featured Image Credit: Real Madrid/Getty
Topics: Ballon d'Or, Vinicius Jr, Vinicius Junior, Football, Carlo Ancelotti, Real Madrid
Marcus Chan
Topics: Ballon d'Or, Vinicius Jr, Vinicius Junior, Football, Carlo Ancelotti, Real Madrid
Carlo Ancelotti has already spoken out about Vinicius Junior and the Ballon d’Or with Real Madrid reportedly set to make a drastic decision.
The 2024 Ballon d’Or award is set to be given out on Monday night during a star-studded ceremony at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris, France.
It had been widely speculated that Madrid superstar Vinicius would win the trophy after he had a brilliant 23/24 season winning La Liga and the Champions League.
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Speaking after their 5-2 win over Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League, Madrid boss Ancelotti was adamant that Vinicius would win the Ballon d’Or, he said: “Vinicius Junior will win the Ballon d’Or, in my opinion. He will get the award.
“It’s not about tonight… it’s what he did last season. Tonight’s hat-trick can help his case for the next Ballon d’Or!”
However, it was reported on Monday afternoon that the Brazilian will not win the award and that Madrid will not be attending the ceremony.
RMC Sport’s Fabrice Hawkins said: “Real Madrid's directors are furious. They are certain that Vini Jr will not win the Ballon d'Or. The Real delegation remains in Spain.”
Last month, speaking ahead of the ceremony, Vinicius said to CNN, via Planet Football: “I have to talk about Marta, who is the greatest to ever play the [women’s game].
“I have great affection for her because I believe she changed the sport and put women’s football on the level it deserves. Women’s football is growing day by day and Marta was one of the pioneers. Marta is for us is what Pele was for everyone in Brazil, like Ayrton Senna, she’s from a level where there is one person in every million.”
He added: “And as for the men’s players, I have Kaka as an example, I have Ronaldo who won the award twice, I have Ronaldinho, Rivaldo, a lot of Brazilian players who have won the Ballon d’Or.
“But without a doubt, Ronaldo and Ronaldinho are the ones I’m closest with, who tell me every day that I have to win the Ballon d’Or. I was with Ronaldo just now when I was in Ibiza and trained at his house and he told me: ‘Train here a few more days, so you are closer to the Ballon d’Or.’
“They are players who did incredible things and to be able to compete for the Ballon d’Or and to win an award that they won, that would be something really incredible.”