Vinicius Junior has received an endorsement from none other than Brazil legend Ronaldo to clinch this year’s Ballon d’Or, with the former Real Madrid forward lauding Los Blancos’ current number 7 as “the best player in the world by far.”
Vinicius had an outstanding domestic season, playing a pivotal role in Madrid’s La Liga title victory and scoring in the team’s recent Champions League final triumph over Borussia Dortmund at Wembley.
With 24 goals scored across all competitions, the 23-year-old emerges as a formidable contender for the Ballon d’Or. If he secures the honor, he would become the fifth Brazilian to claim the prestigious prize, following in the footsteps of Kaka, Ronaldinho, Rivaldo, and Ronaldo (twice).
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“I think Vini already deserves [the Ballon d’Or],” Ronaldo expressed to ESPN. “I think his time has come. He’s had a spectacular Champions League, a spectacular La Liga, and he’s been evolving more and more.
“He’s been extremely decisive this year for Real Madrid. For me, today, he’s the best player in the world by far.
“I remember that I did his presentation the day he arrived at Real Madrid and I got along well with him. I talk to Vini a lot about football and certain details, and looking at everything that’s happened, it’s a fantastic development that he’s making.”
Vinicius Junior
At just 23 years old, Vinicius Jr. has the potential to become one of the greats / Anadolu/GettyImages
Ronaldo joined Real Madrid for €46m in 2002 and swiftly established himself as one of the premier players globally. Despite injury setbacks, Ronaldo accumulated 103 goals in 177 appearances. He became the fifth foreign player to surpass 100 goals for the club, following Alfredo Di Stefano, Ferenc Puskas, Hugo Sanchez, and Ivan Zamorano.