Real Madrid forward, Vinicius Junior, has pledged to continue working hard in pursuit of individual accolades, following his defeat to Manchester City’s Rodri for the 2024 Ballon d’Or.
Taking to X (formerly Twitter) shortly after the announcement, Vinicius expressed his resolve, tweeting: “I’ll do it 10x if I have to. They’re not ready.”
https://x.com/vinijr/status/1851023004496789695?t=hr7z6TA_REQGmvnrofathw&s=19
This message came after the Real Madrid squad notably boycotted the Ballon d’Or ceremony on Monday.
Rodri’s win came ahead of Real Madrid’s standout performers, including Vinicius, Jude Bellingham, and Dani Carvajal. Speculation surrounding Vinicius’ post heightened when his management clarified its meaning. Speaking to Reuters, Vinicius’ team revealed that the post referred to his ongoing battle against racism. They indicated that his outspoken stance against racial abuse could have influenced the decision, saying, “The football world is not ready to accept a player who fights against the system.”
The 24-year-old Brazilian has faced racial abuse multiple times while playing in Spain, with at least two landmark convictions for racist insults in his cases. Vinicius has been a vocal advocate for stricter measures against racism, often taking to social media to demand accountability.
Despite the loss, Vinicius’ club, Real Madrid, had a noteworthy evening at the ceremony. The club was named the Men’s Club of the Year, and their head coach, Carlo Ancelotti, received the award for Men’s Coach of the Year, celebrating his achievements in leading the team to a successful European and Spanish league double last season.
Following the award announcement, Vinicius received public support from his teammate, Eduardo Camavinga, who posted on X: “FOOTBALL POLITICS X. My brother, you are the best player in the world, and no award can say otherwise. Love you, my bro.”
The Ballon d’Or awards are organized by France Football, and winners are selected through votes cast by journalists from the top 100 FIFA-ranked nations. As of the time of writing, France Football had not provided a comment on the event.
Despite the setback, Vinicius’ determination and resolve signal his intent to continue pushing boundaries and rising above the challenges he faces, both on and off the pitch.
