Real Madrid star Vinícius Júnior was forced to revisit a frustrating moment in his career ahead of the UEFA Champions League clash with Atlético Madrid. Last autumn, the Brazilian was widely regarded as the frontrunner for the Ballon d’Or, only for the prestigious award to unexpectedly go to Rodri.

Vinícius Reflects on the Ballon d’Or Snub

“There are people who vote, and they pick whoever they think deserves it,” Vinícius admitted. “I have my own opinion, my teammates have theirs, and I feel a lot of support to keep pushing forward.”

“I never really dreamed of winning the Ballon d’Or, but of course, when you get that close, you want to win it. But I’ll have plenty more chances to win individual awards and, more importantly, to lift trophies with Real Madrid. That’s what matters most. I’ve already won the Champions League twice, and I’m here to win even more,” the Brazilian forward added.