Vinicius Junior has changed his opinion on who he considers the greatest player of all time.
The Brazilian forward is one of the top contenders for the Ballon d’Or, which will be awarded in Paris on October 28, following a stellar year in which he led his team to victory in both La Liga and the Champions League.
Vinicius has carried his impressive form into the current season, scoring a remarkable hat-trick against Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League on Tuesday, turning a 2-0 deficit into a 5-2 triumph for Real Madrid.. .Continue Reading
Although many consider Vinicius to be the best player in the world right now, his view on who holds the title of the greatest player ever remains uncertain.
Back in 2017, while still a young player, Vinicius was asked by Flamengo’s social media team to pick between Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi as the top player of that era.
The teenage superstar responded: ““Messi or Cristiano? … Messi, Messi.”
At the time, there were rumors that the winger was being targeted by Barcelona, where he could have potentially played alongside Messi.
For years, his comments remained unchanged, fueling ongoing discussions online.
However, in 2023, Vinicius seemed to shift his stance on the Messi-Ronaldo debate after posting a photo on social media with the Portuguese legend.
He included a goat emoji with the picture, a clear reference to Ronaldo’s status as the “GOAT” (Greatest of All Time).
Ronaldo and Messi have dominated football for the last two decades, with Ronaldo winning five Ballon d’Ors and Messi securing a record eight, including last year’s award.
This year, for the first time since 2003, neither of them made the Ballon d’Or shortlist.
Currently, Vinicius and Manchester City’s Rodri are the top contenders for the prestigious award.
