I wanted Vinicius to win the Ballon d’Or, but I’ai changed »

Vinicius Jr, who is considered a top contender for the 2024 Ballon d’Or after an impressive season with Real Madrid, recently received surprising news in Madrid. Despite suffering an injury that sidelined him for several weeks, Vinicius returned to deliver exceptional performances. His form helped Real Madrid, which had lost star striker Karim Benzema, win both La Liga and the Champions League, with many believing the club wouldn’t have achieved these successes without him.

Though he wasn’t able to lead Brazil to Copa America glory in 2024, Vinicius is still a favorite to win the Ballon d’Or. Recently, *Marca* even suggested that *France Football* had already informed the Brazilian forward that he would be the recipient of the prestigious award. Vinicius himself dreams of winning the Ballon d’Or, acknowledging the talk around him as a potential winner. “I don’t like talking about myself or the Ballon d’Or, but everyone has been speaking about it for months. People’s confidence in me has made me believe I can be the best,” he said in an interview with *CNN*. He added that he hopes to follow in the footsteps of Brazilian legends like Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Rivaldo, and Kaká, who have all won the award.

However, prominent Spanish presenter Josep Pedrerol, known for his connection to Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez, recently changed his stance on who should win the Ballon d’Or. Pedrerol, a longtime supporter of Vinicius for the award, now believes that Dani Carvajal, who suffered a severe injury during a match against Villarreal, should receive the honor. Pedrerol shared his change of heart on *El Chiringuito de Jugones*, saying, “I wanted Vinicius to win the Ballon d’Or, but now I think Carvajal, after his injury, should be the one to receive it.”

Carvajal has received overwhelming support since his injury, and Real Madrid has extended his contract until 2026. His wife expressed her gratitude for the support, sharing an emotional message about his strength and resilience: “I still feel like I’m in a bad dream, but you always give your all, and you have so much more to achieve. Thank you for all the love, and to our Real Madrid family, we felt so cared for.”