Rivaldo has advised his compatriot Vinicius Junior to “turn the page” after missing out on the Ballon d’Or, focusing instead on rediscovering his best form with Real Madrid, especially after two consecutive defeats.
The former FC Barcelona star, who won the Ballon d’Or in 1999 and is now an ambassador for Betfair, said: “Vinicius needs to get the Ballon d’Or narrative out of his head, start playing well for Real Madrid, who must win matches after these two consecutive defeats.” He believes Vinicius has the time and talent to overcome this setback in the years to come.
“Vinicius is young, he has the age and the skills to turn the situation around. One day he will win the Ballon d’Or. He can be the best in the world once or many times,” encouraged Rivaldo, marking 25 years since he himself won the award.
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However, Rivaldo hinted at a slight criticism of the way the Ballon d’Or is awarded, questioning whether all voting journalists truly understand football. He remarked: “Do all the journalists who vote really understand football? Are they all highly qualified?”
For the former ’10’ of FC Barcelona, although Vinicius deserved this distinction, Rodri also earned his recognition. “I cannot underestimate Rodri. He’s a player I admire. For me, he was my second candidate. And yes, although I think Vinicius is more deserving of the Ballon d’Or, I cannot take any credit away from Rodri, because I sincerely admire his style of play,” Rivaldo insisted.
Barcelona’s fearsome form has raised questions, but Rivaldo urges caution, stressing there is still much to be done this season. “It’s still early. There are many games ahead. Clearly, any club in the world would want to be Barcelona right now, receiving praise for their players and their coach…” he said commented.
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“But we must remain vigilant. Other meetings will be necessary to continue to demonstrate their favoritism, in La Liga and the Champions League. Meanwhile, young players should play as if they were 40 years old, with maximum caution and care. This is the way to show that they are favorites in the Champions League or La Liga and to prove it with actions,” he added.
Amid Real Madrid’s current struggles, the Betfair ambassador also praised Ancelotti, who was his coach during his time at Milan, where he won a Champions League. The Brazilian believes Ancelotti will navigate through this difficult period and that his game-time management reflects a protective instinct to prevent players from being overwhelmed, as is the case with Endrick.
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“It is normal that Ancelotti protects Endrick. He is a smart coach and will know the right time to give him more playing time. For now, the situation is complicated, and Ancelotti is handling it wisely. There is still much to come. His participation will be necessary later. We must remain calm. The same goes for Rodrygo,” Rivaldo said.
Finally, Rivaldo expressed his condolences for Valencia and all those affected by the DANA tragedy. “It’s a very sad moment. I really feel it. We Brazilians understand this well, because not long ago, at the beginning of 2024, our country experienced a similar tragedy. From afar, I can only convey my support and love, unite and try to help in any way possible. I have always felt admiration for Valencia. All my support to Valencia,” concluded Rivaldo.
