Home » Vinicius Jr blames his fight against RACISM for losing out on the Ballon d’Or

Vinicius Jr blames his fight against RACISM for losing out on the Ballon d’Or

Vinicius Jr assumed that his fight against racism was the critical reason for his loss to the 2024 Ballon d’Or, as Man City midfielder Rodri won the honorable award, creating a shock wave of debates around the football world.

The Real Madrid winger finished second in this year’s award voting and refused to attend the ceremony while multiple parties planned were canceled.

Journalist Jose Luis Sanchez claimed a 50-strong party was scheduled to jet out, only for them to cancel after discovering Vinicius would not win.

Los Blancos players and coaches also boycotted the event in Paris on Tuesday.

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Vinicius Jr believes his fight against racism cost him the Ballon d’Or

The Brazilian missed the prestigious award while his Real Madrid teammate Jude Bellingham came third. 

After snubbing the ceremony, the 24-year-old took to social media and wrote on X that he would ‘do it 10 times if he has to’. While numerous theories surfaced to interpret Vini’s true opinion with his post, Reuters quoted the player’s staff as saying the comment was a reference to his fight against racism in recent years.

‘The football world is not ready to accept a player who fights against the system.’ The outlet quotes a Brazilian winger’s management staff member as saying. 

Vinicius has been at the center of discussions on racism in football, having been targeted for abuse on at least 16 occasions in recent years, including the notorious night at Valencia. Last month, he suggested that Spain should not host the World Cup in 2030 unless action is taken over the issue.

‘If the situation with racism in Spain does not improve before 2030, the World Cup would have to be moved to a different location,’ Vinicius said in tears at a press conference earlier this year.

‘So I hope that Spain can evolve and understand how serious it is to insult a person because of the colour of their skin, because if things don’t evolve in 2030, I think we have to change the venue, because if the player doesn’t feel comfortable and doesn’t feel safe playing in a country where he can suffer racism, it’s a bit complicated.’

Vinicius’s extraordinary season ended in vain without the Ballon d’Or

Vinicius was a hot favorite to win the 2024 Ballon d’Or after his vital contribution helped Madrid win a LaLiga-UEFA Champions League double, leading to the belief that he should have been the righteous award winner this year.

He scored six goals and four assists in ten Champions League appearances and 20 goals in 26 La Liga matches as Madrid won a stunning double-title season.

Madrid-based outlet Marca also reported that Madrid insiders have furiously declared, ‘The Ballon d’Or no longer exists for us’.’

A statement from Madrid to AFP said: ‘If the award criteria doesn’t give it to Vinicius as the winner, those same criteria should point to Carvajal as the winner.

‘As this was not the case, it is clear that Ballon d’Or-UEFA does not respect Real Madrid. And Real Madrid does not go where it is not respected.’