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MADRID. – Vinicius Jr believes that his public fight against racism cost him the Ballon d’Or, a report has claimed.
The Brazilian missed out on the prestigious award to Manchester City and Spain midfielder Rodri, while Real Madrid teammate Jude Bellingham came third.
The Spanish giants grabbed headlines before Tuesday’s ceremony in Paris when it was reported that players and coaches had decided to boycott the ceremony after learning Vinicius Jr would not be taking home the top honour.
The 24-year-old took to social media after he was confirmed as the runner-up, writing on X: “I will do it 10 times if I have to. They’re not ready.”
According to Reuters, this comment was a reference to his fight against racism in recent years.
“The football world is not ready to accept a player who fights against the system.” A member of the Brazilian winger’s management staff is quoted by the outlet as saying. Vinicius has been at the centre of discussions on racism in football, having been the target of abuse at least 16 occasions in recent years. Last month, he suggested that Spain should not host the World Cup in 2030 unless action is taken over the issue. His remarks were quickly dismissed by LaLiga president Javier Tebas, who labelled them as ‘incoherent’. – Mailonline
Bongani Ndlovu
Mathew Masinge