Real Madrid: Vinicius Junior clarifies dramatic Ballon d'Or boycott and links with big money Saudi Arabia move

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Evening Standard

·3 marzo 2025

Real Madrid: Vinicius Junior clarifies dramatic Ballon d'Or boycott and links with big money Saudi Arabia move

The Brazilian finished second in the 2024 Ballon d’Or voting

Real Madrid superstar Vinicius Junior has set the record straight over last year’s dramatic Ballon d'Or boycott.

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Manchester City midfielder Rodri won football’s most prestigious individual prize in Paris back in October and in doing so, became the first player from the Premier League to achieve the feat since Cristiano Ronaldo in 2008.

Though the event wasn’t without controversy as Real Madrid boycotted the entire ceremony due to Vinicius Jr. missing out on the award.

The Brazilian was regarded as the favourite to scoop the prize after helping Los Blancos achieve a La Liga and Champions League double last season but ended up finishing second in the voting.

Much was made of Vinicius Jr. and company not being in attendance that night. Some, Ronaldo, for example said the decision was “unfair” whilst Gary Neville accused the forward of “disrespecting” Rodri.

Speaking ahead of his side’s Champions League round of 16 first-leg tie against Atletico Madrid, the Brazilian has revealed he was ordered not to attend the Ballon d'Or by the club.

“I do as I'm told by the club. They asked me to stay in Madrid and I did so, no problem. Now we're focused on the next one."

The fallout from the ceremony continued last month when Man City fans unfurled a banner behind one of the goals for the Champions League playoff tie against Real Madrid.

“Stop crying your heart out” was the caption alongside a picture of Rodri and the Ballon d’Or trophy, mocking the La Liga giants after they snubbed last year’s ceremony.

However, Vinicius Jr. would have the last laugh: “I saw the banner from Man City fans. It motivated me even more,” he said after the 3-2 win at the Etihad Stadium.

“Whenever rival fans do things, it gives me more strength to play a great game.”

Tifo: Man City fans unfurled the banner ahead of kick-off

REUTERS

Vinicius has also pledged his future to Real Madrid amid talk of an exit.

Reports have claimed the 24-year-old is a target for the Saudi Pro League where he would be in line to earn an annual salary of around £298.9m should he agree a move.

But the forward is keen to extend his stay at the Santiago Bernabeu: “I'm very relaxed about it, I've got a contract until 2027, I hope we can renew that shortly. I'm happy here and it's a dream come true to be playing alongside the best players, under the best manager, the best president and for the best fans.

“I couldn't be anywhere better than where I am right now."

“I'm here to continue making history. I want to repay all this club and the president have given me. I hope I can keep scoring goals and playing more games in this jersey.

“Now I've got the taste for winning things and started writing my own history here, I want more. I want to go down in this club's history, which isn't easy with the number of legendary players in the past. I want to be one of them."