Brazilian journalists and fans have criticized the organizers of the Ballon d’Or after Vinicius Junior was not awarded the prestigious honor.
On Monday, Rodri was named the winner of the Ballon d’Or in Paris, while Vinicius and representatives from Real Madrid chose not to attend the ceremony. Last season, the Brazilian forward was the team’s top scorer as Real Madrid clinched both La Liga and the Champions League. Despite his impressive performance, he finished second to Rodri, who won the Euro 2024 with Spain and other accolades.
The reaction from Brazil has been one of outrage. Some analysts have deemed the decision one of the most controversial in the award’s history, labeling it unfair and vindictive.
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Guga Chacra, a commentator for Globo News, Brazil’s leading TV news network, stated, “We know that Vinicius is a target of racism in Spanish football and other parts of Europe, and he actively fights against it. This raises questions about whether Rodri’s win was influenced by prejudice and racism against Vinicius.”
Gustavo Faldon of the Brazilian daily Estadão remarked, “The treatment of Vinicius represents the biggest injustice in Ballon d’Or history. His nationality, position as a forward, and his association with Real Madrid should have worked in his favor.”
Rodrigo Bueno, a sports commentator for ESPN Brasil, added, “It sounds like an injustice to me.” Milly Lacombe, a sports analyst for the Brazilian news website UOL, noted that the Ballon d’Or “missed the opportunity to pay a heartfelt tribute to the most talked-about player of the season, known for his dribbling, goals, decisive plays, and social activism.”