For weeks the environment Real Madrid and the media in Madrid made it clear that only one player could win the Ballon d'Or for the 2023/24 season. Even though Real Madrid itself had several candidates for the award for the best player in the world for last year (including: Bellingham or Carvajal), everyone in Madrid made it clear that the only thing that mattered to them was that the Brazilian won the Ballon d'Or Vinicius Junior.
This marketing machine has recently caused everyone to prepare for the thought that on Monday, October 28, in Paris, the most valuable individual award in football will be received by a 24-year-old Brazilian. A month ago, the daily “Marca” even wrote that “Vinicius Junior already knows that he will be the winner of the Ballon d'Or.” However, reality turned out to be brutal for him.
On Monday morning, there were signals that in the end the Ballon d'Or would not go to Vinicius or any other Real Madrid player, but to the Spaniard Rodri from Manchester City, which was also confirmed at the gala. In retaliation, Real's authorities decided to recall their entire delegation to Paris and none of the “Royal”, including Carlo Ancelotti, who was elected coach of the year, appeared at the Theater Chatelet.
Vinicius Junior comments on the lack of the Ballon d'Or. “If necessary…”
Vinicius Junior himself reacted to this huge disappointment right after Monday's gala on the X portal. “If necessary, I will do it ten more times. They are not prepared for it,” he wrote, making it clear that he will give even more to achieve the goal of the Ballon d'Or, and rivals should already be afraid of it. In less than 50 minutes, the post garnered over 14 million views.
The first opportunity to do this will come next Saturday, when Real Madrid will face Valencia at the Estadio Mestalla. The beginning of this meeting hour 9:00 p.m.