Karim Benzema has endorsed Vinicius Junior for the 2024 Ballon d’Or, hailing the Brazilian’s exceptional performance throughout the season.
Vinicius Junior played a crucial role in Real Madrid’s triumph in both the UEFA Champions League and La Liga cementing him as a strong contender for the prestigious award.
With Real Madrid finishing the season with an impressive 95 points in La Liga, Vinicius Junior’s contribution was pivotal in securing the title.
Meanwhile, his standout performance in the Champions League final, where he scored a crucial goal to seal the victory against Borussia Dortmund, further solidified his credentials for the Ballon d’Or.
Vinicius Junior notched his second UEFA Champions League final goal for Real Madrid, doubling his impressive tally after securing victory against Liverpool in the 2022 clash.
Following the remarkable 2023/24 season, Vinicius finished the season with 24 goals and 10 assists in 39 appearances with Los Blancos.
Meanwhile, the competition for the prestigious Ballon d’Or is intensifying, with top contenders like Jude Bellingham and Kylian Mbappe in contention for the coveted award.
While Jude Bellingham’s exceptional debut season at Real Madrid makes him a favorite for the accolade, the 2022 Ballon d’Or winner Karim Benzema has a different viewpoint.
Taking to Instagram, the Frenchman shared a photo of Vinicius Junior’s pivotal Champions League final goal, indicating his belief in the Brazilian star’s deserving candidacy for the prestigious award.
Neymar also praised his Brazilian teammate Vinicius Jr for his outstanding display, highlighting his impact in crucial moments for the team.
The Brazilian wrote on his social media: “Congratulations my team is very happy for you..Best in the world footballer”.
This came after Neymar expressed his disagreement with the Ballon d’Or rankings for the 2021/22 season, particularly regarding his Brazil team-mate Vinicius Junior, who finished in eighth place.
Due to Vinicius Junior’s standout performance for Real Madrid in their La Liga and Champions League wins in 2022, Neymar believed he deserved a spot in the top three.
This endorsement from two football icons, alongside Real Madrid’s boss Carlo Ancelotti reflects the admiration and recognition of Vinicius Junior’s talent.
How Vinicius Junior Can Win The Ballon d’Or
Vinicius’ strong performances in European competition, combined with his consistency for Real Madrid in La Liga, make him a strong contender for the Ballon d’Or.
Lionel Messi’s 2023 Ballon d’Or seems to be his last and his rival Cristiano Ronaldo is potentially out of the competition for the 2024 Ballon d’Or award.
While Haaland and Mbappe have seen their form dip and fail to meet expectations, Manchester City have also struggled to win as many trophies as the previous season and PSG have fallen short in their pursuit of the Champions League.
In contrast, Vinicius has been consistently performing well for Real Madrid.
With Bellingham also in the mix, the race for the award is more open than in recent years.
Vinicius could very well be the next recipient of the prestigious award if Bellingham fails to lead England to Euro 2024 glory in Germany.
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