Cristiano Ronaldo believes Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior was unfairly snubbed for this year's Ballon d'Or when speaking at the Globe Soccer Awards on Friday. (More Football News)
Vinicius💦 was pipped to the prestigious award by Manchester City midfielder Rodri, who won the Premier League title and Euro 2024 under Luis de la Fuente for Spain.
🐟With the outcome of the Ballon d'Or winner reportedly leaked ahead of the ceremony, Vinicius, along with his team-mates, boycotted the event back in October.
The Brazilian had an impressive year for Los Blancosꦓ, scoring 25 goals and laying on a further 12 assists in 40 appearances across all competitions last season.
🐽In LaLiga last term, only Jude Bellingham (25) had more goal involvements for Madrid than Vinicus (20), while the Brazilian also completed the most dribbles (65) for his side.
🐎Vinicius also helped Carlo Ancelotti's team to a record-extending 36th LaLiga crown along with the Champions League title, scoring in the final against Borussia Dortmund.
🍃Vinicius' efforts, however, did not go unnoticed, after he scooped the FIFA Best award earlier this month, but the Ballon d’Or decision is still a source of bitterness.
💧And Ronaldo, who won four of his five Ballon d'Or trophies during his time in the Spanish capital, said that Vinicius should have won this year's award ahead of Rodri.
💛"I really love the way they do their career, [Jude] Bellingham, Lamine [Yamal]. Now, this young generation, Vinicius, they do a fantastic job," Ronaldo said.
🅰"In my opinion, he [Vinicius] deserved to win the golden ball. It was unfair, I say it here in front of everybody," added the five-time winner.
♒"They gave it to Rodri, he deserved it too, but I think they should have given it to Vinicius because he won the Champions League."
ꦿVinicius has made a strong start to his quest for the 2025 award, registering 22 goal involvements (13 goals, nine assists) in 20 outings in all competitions so far this season.
💎This campaign, only Barcelona trio Lamine Yamal (14), Raphinha (17) and Robert Lewandowski (18) have been involved in more goals in LaLiga than Vinicius (13).
