Real Madrid fans have shown massive support for Vinicius Junior as they were filmed chanting for the Brazilian forward to win the 2024 Ballon d’Or during the club’s trophy parade on Sunday, May 12.
The 14-time European champions secured their 36th La Liga title on Saturday, May 4, after FC Barcelona’s 4-2 setback at the hands of Girona.
Real Madrid then proceeded to defeat Bayern Munich in the UEFA Champions League semi-final and also followed it up with a 4-0 victory over Granada.
Afterward, Carlo Ancelotti’s men paraded with the La Liga trophy through the city of Madrid. They visited the town hall before finishing at Plaza de Cibeles to meet with the fans.
The players gathered at Cibeles, a traditional place where Real Madrid fans celebrate trophy triumphs with the team.
At the end of the parade at Cibeles, the players stood on a balcony above the fans with a microphone. Madrid defender Nacho echoed the fans’ “Ballon d’Or for Vinicius” son during the Brazilian speech at the trophy parade. In response to the chant, Vinicius Junior laughed with his fellow teammates.
Note that Vinicius is one of the main contenders for the 2024 Ballon d’Or alongside fellow teammate Jude Bellingham.
He’ll be looking forward to beating the likes of Kylian Mbappe of Paris Saint-Germain, and Jude Bellingham for the prestigious individual award.
Carlo Ancelotti has backed Vinicius Junior to win the Ballon d’Or. The Real Madrid boss admitted that his star winger is close to winning the individual honor.
Why Vinicius Junior has an edge to win the Ballon d’Or
If the 23-year-old performs excellently well and Real Madrid beats Borussia Dortmund in the UEFA Champions League final on June 1, he might be considered the favorite to win the individual trophy due to his stellar performance in the club’s recent success.
However, the award takes into consideration how individual performances helped teams win big trophies. The ability to shine out during important moments of the season often gives a player an upper hand and this is where Vinicius Junior comes in.
The 23-year-old has been a standout for the Spanish powerhouse and also come alive in the knockout stages of the Champions League, getting a goal involvement in every round.
He scored against RB Leipzig in the second leg of the Round of 16, bagged two assists against Manchester City in the quarter-final, and then scored a brace in Germany in the last four.
This season in La Liga, the Brazilian winger has also recorded an incredible run, scoring 13 goals in 27 appearances, and dishing out five assists. He has also added six yellow cards to his name.
What’s next for Vinicius Junior?
The 23-year-old winger will be looking to win the Champions League final at Wembley Stadium in London on Saturday, June 1, as well as enjoy international success for Brazil in this summer’s edition of the Copa America.
