Ballon d'Or 2024: Vinicius Junior breaks silence with vow after finishing second behind Rodri

Evening Standard

·28 October 2024

Ballon d'Or 2024: Vinicius Junior breaks silence with vow after finishing second behind Rodri

Real Madrid boycotted the ceremony after learning Vinicius would not win

Vinicius Junior came second in the Ballon d’Or voting

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Vinicius Junior vowed to bounce back from his Ballon d’Or disappointment, after he finished second in the voting behind Rodri.

The Real Madrid star had been widely expected to win the award after his role in the Champions League and LaLiga wins last season, until reports emerged on Monday suggesting otherwise.

Madrid opted against sending anyone to the Paris ceremony as a result, despite Vinicius, Jude Bellingham and Dani Carvajal all finishing in the top four of the Ballon d’or rankings. Earlier in the name, Madrid won the club of the year award and Carlo Ancelotti was named the best men’s coach.

However, it was the main award that angered the club, with Manchester City’s Rodri becoming the first Premier League winner of the Ballon d’Or since 2008.

Vinicius took to social medial shortly after the ceremony had finished, posting: “I'll do it 10x if I have to. They're not ready.”

There was a similar message from team-mate Aurelien Tchouameni, who made it clear he felt Vinicius deserved to win the Ballon d’Or.

He wrote: “Nothing will take away what you’ve achieved my brother. We ALL know… They are not ready for what you’re gonna deliver. Love.”

Madrid had been expected to send a significant delegation to Paris for the ceremony, but the decision was made to cancel the private jet after news broke of Vinicius not winning the award.

In a statement to AFP, Madrid said: "If the award criteria doesn't give it to Vinicius as the winner, then those same criteria should point to Carvajal as the winner.

"As this was not the case, it is clear that Ballon d'Or-Uefa does not respect Real Madrid. And Real Madrid does not go where it is not respected."