Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior reportedly believes his outspoken fight against racism may have cost him the Ballon d’Or, which was awarded to Manchester City’s Rodri instead.
The Real Madrid camp was reportedly shocked on Monday upon learning that Vinicius, despite his standout season helping secure both La Liga and Champions League titles, was overlooked for the prestigious award.
Following the news, Real Madrid and Vinicius decided to boycott the Paris ceremony, while Rodri received the honor.
Shortly after, Vinicius took to social media with a defiant message on X, writing, “I’ll do it 10x if I have to. They’re not ready.”
The Brazilian forward, who has faced repeated racial abuse throughout his career, recently broke down in tears during an interview in March while discussing the ongoing issue.
Vinicius has since been vocal in his stance, calling for Spain to lose its right to host the 2030 World Cup if racism persists, and advocating for harsher penalties, including jail time, for offenders.
His support also extends to Barcelona players Raphinha, Lamine Yamal, and Alejandro Balde, who were similarly subjected to racial slurs during El Clasico at the Santiago Bernabeu.
According to his management, Vinicius’ remarks following the Ballon d’Or decision were linked to his ongoing stand against racism. His team stated, “The football world is not ready to accept a player who challenges the system.”
Now, Vinicius will aim to turn his frustration into performance on the field, as Real Madrid faces Valencia in La Liga on Saturday.
Carlo Ancelotti’s side hopes to recover from a recent 4-0 defeat to Barcelona and reignite their momentum in the season.
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