Vini Jr. is the people’s 2024 Ballon d’Or champ. If that makes it any better.
Monday morning struck the world with some of the biggest news of the year as reports revealed that ‘clear’ Ballon d’Or favorite, Vinicius Jr., was to not travel to Paris, France, for the prestigious award’s ceremony — meaning the star Brazilian and Real Madrid forward was imminently snubbed from taking the golden ball home.
BREAKING: Vinicius Jr will NOT travel to Paris as Real Madrid know he will NOT win the Ballon d’Or.
No one from Real Madrid will attend the ceremony. No Florentino Pérez, no Vini Jr, no Carlo Ancelotti, no Jude Bellingham. pic.twitter.com/qN9PaYjmR0— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) October 28, 2024
This sent Real Madrid and its higher-ups into a frenzy, with the club reportedly furious and indignant over Vini being ‘stripped’ from winning the award to the point of canceling all travel and accommodations related to attending the ceremony. This along with ignoring the results on their social media platforms and failing to acknowledge their plethora of roster nominees for the award.
Players from the Galacticos squad, on the other hand, made sure to show support for Vini Jr. on social media, posting pictures of and with the 24-year-old Brazilian in their unanimous boycott against the French magazine.
Toni Kroos on Instagram: “The best”. pic.twitter.com/B93mwoXiC3
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) October 28, 2024
Nothing will take away what you’ve achieved my brother. We ALL know…
They are not ready for what you’re gonna deliver. Love @vinijr pic.twitter.com/N23EgMZjU6— Tchouameni Aurélien (@atchouameni) October 28, 2024
Rodrygo on IG: “And so our world goes on... we go on. I love you.” pic.twitter.com/t0lEXRvtoq
— Madrid Xtra (@MadridXtra) October 28, 2024
.@vinijr my brother, I am proud of you. We know you deserve more. Keep fighting ✨ pic.twitter.com/OTisAo1K9Q
— David Alaba (@David_Alaba) October 29, 2024
This pattern was not exclusive to within Los Blancos, with dozens of social media personalities, celebrities and other famous athletes showing their disapproval of Vinicius not winning the France Football award.
Reaction to Vinicius Jr. snubbed of winning Ballon d'Or
F1’s Lewis Hamilton, former players, Twitch’s iShowSpeed and stars from the Brazilian national team, to name a few, made their stance on social media against the award's outcome. Even the very own Vinicius Jr. made an appearance on X in reaction to the shocking result, claiming he’ll replicate his 2023-24 individual season '10 more times' if that’s what it takes to win a Ballon d’Or.
Eu farei 10x se for preciso. Eles não estão preparados.
— Vini Jr. (@vinijr) October 28, 2024
LEAO ON IG! pic.twitter.com/vYCquthLnl
— Madrid Xtra (@MadridXtra) October 28, 2024
RICHARLISON: “This is bullsh*t, man, this is just bullsh*it.” pic.twitter.com/Z3qgn39CX3
— Madrid Zone (@theMadridZone) October 28, 2024
u deserved it bro pic.twitter.com/41u6EDI33U
— Speed⭐️ (@ishowspeedsui) October 28, 2024
— Lewis Hamilton (@LewisHamilton) October 28, 2024
¡Sabemos quién lo mereció! Estamos muy orgullosos de ti, Vini!❤️ pic.twitter.com/ipvHUTNjgC
— Flamengo (@Flamengo_es) October 28, 2024
Only time will tell what repercussions this stance from Real Madrid, as well as the outcome of the voting for the award, have on the future for players in the Santiago Bernabéu who will inevitably remain in contingence to take the throne of world soccer.
So far, it’s not looking good.
