Just one year after finishing as runner-up in the 2024 Ballon d’Or and leaving the viral message “they’re not ready” on social media, Vinícius Jr. could not maintain his spot among the elite. In the 2025 edition, the Brazilian forward dropped all the way to 16th place in France Football’s final rankings.

Where Did Vinícius Jr. Finish This Year?

The French magazine revealed that the Real Madrid star ended up in 16th position in the men’s ranking, falling outside the Top 10 despite being one of the headline names just a year ago.

The 2024 Precedent

At the 2024 ceremony, Vinícius Jr. finished second in the voting behind Rodri, and his absence from the gala in Paris made headlines. At the time, the Brazilian posted a message in Portuguese: “Eles não estão preparados” (“they’re not ready”), a phrase that became symbolic of his frustration at missing out on the award.

The 2025 Contrast

Twelve months later, the picture was drastically different. While Ousmane Dembélé (winner), Lamine Yamal, and Vitinha claimed the top spots on the podium, Vinícius Jr. failed to make the cut among the world’s ten best footballers in the eyes of the international panel of journalists.