Topics: Vinicius Jr, Real Madrid, La Liga
Fans inside the Bernabeu were heard singing a Ballon d'Or-inspired chant after Vinicius Junior netted a hat-trick for Real Madrid in their 4-0 win over Osasuna.
It was one of the more controversial moments of the year. Last month, Real Madrid decided to boycott the Ballon d'Or ceremony in Paris in protest of Vinicius Junior missing out on the prestigious award.
Florentino Perez, Carlo Ancelotti and the nominated Los Blancos players – Jude Bellingham, Dani Carvajal, Kylian Mbappe, Federico Valverde and Antonio Rudiger – refused to attend, which sparked a huge amount of reaction.
However, a revitalised Vinicius has scored four times since missing out to Manchester City midfielder Rodri in the Ballon d'Or standings – including a trio of goals in their convincing 4-0 win over Osasuna on Saturday afternoon.
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The 24-year-old, who has bagged 12 goals in 17 matches for Los Blancos this season, opened the scoring shortly after the half hour mark.
Then, after Jude Bellingham doubled Madrid's lead with a much-needed strike, Vini completed his hat-trick with a quickfire double.
Fans inside the Bernabeu were delighted by their number 7's performance on Saturday. In fact, they started chanting “Balon de Oro, Vinicius Balon de Oro” as he celebrated his third goal.
Here's how fans on social reacted to Vinicius' performance against Osasuna.
One said: "Vinicius Junior is playing like someone who was robbed of the Ballon d’Or," while another commented: "Vinicius showing everyone he can handle the weight of the iconic number 7. Special player."
A third wrote: "In 50 years, will you remember Rodri's Ballon D'Or or a Vinicius hat trick against Osasuna?" and a fourth added: "Vinicius has scored two hat tricks so far this season, he's winning the Ballon d'Or next year, isn't he?"
Vinicius reportedly cancelled a chartered flight, as well as a private event that was organised for the Ballon d'Or, after finding out he came second.
Carlo Ancelotti, meanwhile, took to Instagram after he won the prize for the Men's Johan Cruyff trophy, which is handed out to the best coach. He wrote: "I want to thank my family, my president, my club, my players and above all Vini and Carvajal."
