Vinicius Junior has become the target of online jokes after finishing 17th in the 2026 Ballon d’Or rankings. Fans have brought back his famous statement from 2024, although its original meaning has often been overlooked.

Vinicius Faces Online Mockery After His 2024 Ballon d’Or Statement Resurfaces

Vinicius Junior has become the target of online mockery after finishing 17th in the final 2026 Ballon d’Or rankings.

The Real Madrid winger’s disappointing position has caused a major debate on social media, with fans bringing back a famous statement he made two years ago.

While Harry Kane celebrated winning the prestigious award in London on October 26, Vinicius found himself facing criticism for a very different reason.

Vinicius finishes 17th in the 2026 Ballon d’Or rankings

Vinicius was one of the strongest candidates for the Ballon d’Or in 2024 after helping Real Madrid win the Champions League.

However, he finished second behind Rodri, who was playing for Manchester City at the time.

Since then, his position in the rankings has dropped significantly.

• 2024: 2nd place
• 2025: 16th place
• 2026: 17th place

His 17th-place finish in 2026 is his lowest position since he first appeared among the Ballon d’Or nominees in 2022.

Vinicius also finished behind several major stars, including his Real Madrid teammates Kylian Mbappe and Jude Bellingham.

Fans bring back Vinicius’ famous statement

Following his defeat to Rodri in 2024, Vinicius posted a short but powerful message on X.

“I’ll do it 10 times if I have to. They’re not ready.”

The statement quickly became famous, with many supporters interpreting it as a promise to return stronger and win the Ballon d’Or.

However, after Vinicius finished 17th in 2026, social media users began sharing the old message again.

Some fans mocked the Brazilian by comparing his confident words with his falling position in the Ballon d’Or rankings.

The reactions quickly became another talking point following the awards ceremony.

The real meaning behind Vinicius’ statement

However, there is an important detail that many online comments have ignored.

According to Reuters, representatives of Vinicius explained in October 2024 that his statement was connected to his fight against racism.

They said the Brazilian wanted to continue speaking out against discrimination, even if his actions created difficulties in his career.

This means the message was not simply a promise to win the Ballon d’Or ten times, as some social media users have suggested.

Vinicius faces pressure to return to his best

Despite the online criticism, Vinicius remains an important player for Real Madrid.

However, his recent Ballon d’Or results show how much his position among the world’s leading players has changed since 2024.

After going from second place to 17th in just two years, the Brazilian now faces the challenge of returning to his best form and competing for football’s biggest individual award again.