Real Madrid winger, Vinicius Junior has claimed his fight against racism is the reason he missed out on the Ballon d’Or to Manchester City star, Rodri.
Despite a season that saw La Liga and Champions League trophies in the bag, Real Madrid and Vinicius Jr. were shocked to learn on Monday that he had not won the award.
When it was revealed that Rodri will be named the world’s best male footballer, Los Blancos skipped the awards event in Paris.
In a bold social media post following his failure to win the honor, Vinicius Jr. has subsequently spoken out. He wrote on X: “I’ll do it 10x if I have to. They’re not ready.”
When asked about the numerous instances of racial insults that have been directed at him over his career, Vinicius Jr. broke down in tears back in March. He is reportedly close to “breaking point” on the matter.
If racist abuse persists in Spain, the Brazilian has already demanded that the country be disqualified from hosting the 2030 World Cup and that racists be “sent straight to jail.”
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Following racial taunts directed at Barcelona players Raphinha, Lamine Yamal, and Alejandro Balde during El Clasico at the Santiago Bernabeu, Vinicius has also expressed his support for the three players.
According to Goal, when Vini Jr spoke out on the final Ballon d’Or voting, his management team told Reuters that he was alluding to his battle against racism. His team added: “The football world is not ready to accept a player who fights against the system.”
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