The Bitter Memory of Last Year’s Ballon d'Or

October 24, 2024, remains one of the toughest days in Vinícius Jr.’s career. He had everything prepared for the Ballon d’Or gala, but his hopes collapsed when Spaniard Rodri Hernández took the award, becoming the first player from Spain to win it in 64 years. Since then, the Brazilian’s energy has dimmed, and his performances have declined.

That drop in form was reflected in the 2024/2025 edition of the award, where Vinícius finished 16th. At that time, he posted a defiant message: “I’ll do it ten more times if necessary. They are not ready.” Yet that promise went unfulfilled after an irregular season for Real Madrid, which only managed to win the UEFA Super Cup and the Intercontinental Cup, far from the lofty expectations set at the start of the campaign.

A Social Media Message After Dembélé’s Triumph

As Ousmane Dembélé was crowned and Lamine Yamal took the spotlight in the latest Ballon d’Or ceremony, Vinícius resurfaced on social media. The Brazilian shared a montage on Instagram featuring two images: one in the pool and another in the sauna, showcasing part of his daily recovery routine.

What stood out was the music accompanying the post. He chose the track “Him All Along” by U.S. rapper Gunna, highlighting lines such as:

“Scrooge McDuck flooded one of my rooms with gold”
“I bought two, four, five, six, seven, eight-carat stones”
“Cash on the California couch, can’t wait to dress my house”
“I’ll crush all of you insignificant rappers in a minute, I was trying to prolong it.”

The cryptic post left room for interpretation: some viewed it as a casual lifestyle reference, while others saw it as a subtle response to his drop in the Ballon d’Or rankings.

A Future Still to Be Defined

The image of a relaxed yet defiant Vinícius contrasts with the pressure he faces at Real Madrid. While his talent is unquestionable, the rise of Kylian Mbappé has left him in a secondary role. With his contract renewal still pending and the need to regain his smile on the pitch, the Brazilian now faces the challenge of proving he can still be one of the world’s biggest stars.