France Football, on this occasion in collaboration with UEFA, will present its award in a month, the one for which all footballers put on their boots every day and the Brazilian already knows that glory awaits him.
Vinicius Junior touches gold . Paris and the River Seine, the first protagonist of the Olympic Games, await the Brazilian for his coronation as the best in the world during the 23-24 season. The world of football has already welcomed the Real Madrid striker as one of the greatest and now France Football and its Ballon d’Or take over.
The superstar who grew up in Flamengo reflects one hundred percent what it means to believe in one’s possibilities, to grow in the face of adversity to show everyone that effort has its reward, in this case in the form of gold, that which each and every footballer in the world of football seeks, dreams or aspires to have one day in the form of a golden ball.
The star of the gala on October 28th
The Brazilian striker has fully earned the title of star of the Ballon d’Or ceremony on October 28 at the Chatelet theatre in the French capital. It has not been easy to reach the top of the football world. Feeling like the centre of the football universe, surrounded by stars, is something reserved for the greatest, and the Real Madrid striker is already one, as his numbers and the award he showed off a few days ago for best player in the last edition of the Champions League prove.
The last two decades have been the preserve, almost exclusively, of Leo Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. Only his teammate Modric and the now Al Ittihad player Karim Benzema have been able to question the dominance of the Portuguese and the Argentine. The absence of either of the two (CR7 was left out in 2019 following his departure from Real Madrid) opened up the range of possibilities, but what Vinicius Junior has done and his importance in everything achieved in the last season with Real Madrid has cleared up doubts.
Vinicius has been climbing the ladder at the same pace as Real Madrid’s achievements. He has gone from playing a supporting role to becoming a leading player, decisive throughout the campaign, but especially in those clashes that tip the balance in one direction or the other, starting with the two Champions League finals he has played in. In the last edition of the continental final he was directly involved in eleven of the goals scored by Real Madrid. Five assists and six goals.
The enemy in this race has been at home with Bellingham, Mbappé and Carvajal and a little further away in an old acquaintance like Rodrigo Hernández, who represents the perception of what Guardiola’s Manchester City has been and is.
Vinicius has made mistakes on occasion, but he has also known how to assimilate and work like few others to ensure that his football changed and adapted to what his team needed. From being the protagonist of parodies and all kinds of situations that tried to make him look ridiculous, he has become respected and feared by those who step on the pitch and face him.
The Brazilian has become one of the most important advertising images in the world of football. Nike already has Vinicius among its icons. He has already starred in campaigns around him, such as one against racism and another for the speed of his boots, but now everything is ready to dress him in gold two days after the Ballon d’Or is awarded in Paris.
Nike reference that dresses him in gold
The sportswear brand plans to reopen its store on Madrid’s Gran Vía just two days after the Ballon d’Or awards ceremony, paying tribute to one of its icons alongside Cristiano Ronaldo and Mbappé. And it will do so with the colour gold and the image of the footballer as protagonists. The golden boots are already ready.
The club, coaches and dressing room have confidence in Vini, and he is crucial in winning games. Everyone knows this and they value and care for him in those moments when he puts his own peace of mind and that of the rest of the team at risk.
