Nearly two weeks after the Ballon d’Or ceremony saw Rodri emerge as the victor, the tight competition between the Spanish midfielder and Brazilian forward Vinicius Jr continues to spark conversations across the football world. Real Madrid fans, who had placed high hopes in Vinicius after his sensational Champions League performances under Carlo Ancelotti, were particularly stunned by the results. According to France Football’s official release, the difference between Rodri and Vinicius came down to a mere 41 votes — with Rodri collecting 1,170 points, while Vinicius finished with 1,129 points. This narrow margin has left many questioning the final outcome and wondering how Vinicius missed out on such a prestigious title by such a small gap.
Vinicius Jr, however, has chosen a philosophical approach to the close defeat. Sources close to the Brazilian star revealed that he took the news with a mixture of determination and optimism. He is quoted as saying, “I am sure that sooner or later, I will win this award.” Rather than dwelling on what could have been, Vinicius shifted his focus toward his goals with Real Madrid, stating, “Now, I no longer think about what happened.” For him, the primary aim is to get back into peak form with his club, especially after Real Madrid recently suffered two consecutive home defeats, which has prompted criticism from fans and media alike.
Despite the loss, Vinicius has proven resilient. As the Ballon d’Or remains a milestone on his horizon, his energy is now dedicated to Real Madrid’s ongoing season in La Liga. This Saturday, the team takes on Osasuna at the Santiago Bernabéu for the 13th round of the season, with Real Madrid currently sitting second in the league with 24 points. They trail Barcelona, the current leader, by nine points. As the club aims to regain its rhythm following the tough loss against AC Milan, Vinicius Jr and his teammates are determined to bring their A-game to the Bernabéu once more.
The road ahead is full of challenges, but Vinicius remains committed to chasing his Ballon d’Or dreams while continuing to elevate Real Madrid’s standing on both domestic and European fronts. His focus, for now, is firmly set on the battles ahead, with the certainty that his moment to claim football’s highest honor will come.
