We knew that succeeding Lionel Messi on the Ballon d’Or list would not be easy. But we didn’t imagine that the winner would be so debated.
Or rather that the one who didn’t win would take it just as badly. While many expected to see Vinicius lift this prestigious trophy, it was ultimately Rodri who had this honor. A decision that did not please Real Madrid.
“There was an error on the part of the judges”
And that doesn’t please Brazil any more, where the coach in turn got involved in this matter. Dorival Junior indeed intervened on the subject, affirming that the voters had made an error in not choosing his compatriot.
“Honestly, Rodri deserved to win. He’s a great player. But for me, there was a mistake on the part of the judges. If it’s an individual award, the best player of the season last was Vini,” said the Brazilian coach.
“He earned the respect of the Brazilian people”
Before continuing: “The biggest reward is that he earned the respect of the Brazilian people. We all realized that, despite everything he accomplished, he was the most killer player. He deserved. I think he will continue this quest.”
And Dorival concluded by recalling the qualities of Vinicius: “He is a player who constantly reinvents himself. He has gone through a lot of challenges in his career and he has not lost this desire to be a star. His greatest success is perhaps a collective success that we will all contribute to achieving over time.”
While Brazil is going through a complicated period, Vinicius could be a symbol of renewal. In any case, he will have to help his team qualify for the next World Cup and then shine there in order to aim for a sixth title.
