After being crowned FIFA’s The Best Men’s Player of the Year on Tuesday, Vinicius Junior took a subtle swipe at the Ballon d’Or.
The 24-year-old forward from Real Madrid and Brazil won the prestigious award with 48 points, beating Manchester City’s Rodri, who earned 43 points, and his Madrid team-mate Jude Bellingham, who got 37 points.
The winner of the award is determined by a combination of votes from national team coaches, captains, journalists, and fans.
Vinicius’s victory comes after missing out on the Ballon d’Or, which had been given to Rodri earlier this year, prompting Real Madrid to boycott the ceremony in protest.
Reflecting on his achievement, Vinicius shared on Instagram, “Today I write to the child who has seen so many idols lift that trophy. His time has come. Or rather, my time has come. The time to say, yes, I am the best player in the world and I have fought hard for it.”
“They have tried and tried to invalidate me, to diminish me. But they are not ready. No one is going to tell me who I should fight for, how I should behave,” Vinicius continued.
Recognized for his outstanding performance in the 2023-24 season, where he played a crucial role in Real Madrid’s LaLiga and Champions League double, Vinicius expressed his frustration in October after being snubbed for the Ballon d’Or, stating, “I’ll do it 10x if I have to. They’re not ready.”
His achievement garnered praise from many in the football community, including Neymar, who encouraged Vinicius to “keep flying” in an Instagram story celebrating his win.