Roberto Carlos has expressed his support for Vinicius Jr, the Real Madrid forward, as a strong contender for this year’s Ballon d’Or.
He has observed that despite facing early criticism from media and fans, the Brazilian winger has emerged more resilient.
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Carlos, while addressing the press, emphasized the importance of having players like Vinicius Jr in football—individuals who have the fortitude to overcome negativity and thrive.
He backed the Real Madrid forward to win the Ballon d’Or and said via TheMadridZone: “They tried to destroy Vini when he was young and that made him stronger. There are other great players, but we needed a player like Vini. If he continues like this, it will be natural for him to win the Ballon d’Or.”
The Brazilian legend also spoke about Vinicus Jr via OneFootball: “I always hope that the Brazilian players that come to Europe are among the best. Vinícius is very young and left Flamengo already with a lot of experience. It was great for him to play against Plzen.
“He will make history in Real Madrid and in world football. He is a modern player, able to dribble, responsible, consistent and complete.”
According to GOAL, Vinicius Jr is leading the race for the Ballon d’Or this season, with his teammates at Real Madrid, Jude Bellingham and Toni Kroos, closely following in the rankings.
Real Madrid’s coach, Carlo Ancelotti, has voiced his support for Vinicius Jr in the Ballon d’Or contention.
Ancelotti believes that the Brazilian’s performances in the upcoming UEFA Champions League final and the Copa America could be pivotal in swaying the votes in his favor.
He said in a press conference: “He’s still got the Champions League final to come and then he’ll be at the Copa America. He’s very close, and if he has positive results in both competitions, he could well win it (Ballon d’Or).
“Before I came to coach Madrid, I saw Vinicius on TV and I thought what an incredibly talented player he looked. When I arrived here, that much was clear, and he’s improved on many things to enhance that talent. He’s better at evading his markers now and has improved in front of goal as well.”
Vinicus Jr has helped Real Madrid win La Liga this season and has played a vital role in taking them to the Champions League final. He scored the winning goal against Liverpool in the 2022 final.
