Brazil and Real Madrid forward Vinicius Jr said he will not stop fighting against racism despite speculation that his activism may have hurt his chances in the Ballon d’Or race. Sources close to the player told Reuters that Vinicius thinks his outspoken stance on racism influenced his second-place finish with Manchester City midfielder Rodri taking the top honor.
After the result was announced, Vinicius posted on his social media: “I will do it 10 times if I have to. They’re not ready.” Real Madrid had boycotted the Paris ceremony in anticipation that their star forward would not be victorious. Later, the management of Vinicius explained that his statement underlined his deep commitment to fighting racism, adding: “the football world is not ready to accept a player who fights against the system.”
The star has been subject to a number of racial abuses in Spain, with historic convictions carried out for racist insults against him. His Real Madrid teammate Eduardo Camavinga took to social media to show support for the winger, declaring him “the best player in the world.” Vinicius, meanwhile, received support from disappointed Brazilian legend Marta, who called out: “I waited all year for Vini Jr to be deservedly recognised.”
Not to be deterred, Real Madrid celebrated other successes, with the club winning Men’s Club of the Year and manager Carlo Ancelotti claiming Coach of the Year after his sterling campaign.
The Ballon d’Or awards, organized by France Football, are voted on by journalists from FIFA’s top 100-ranked countries, but the organization has yet to comment on the claims surrounding Vinicius’s activism and their impacts on the results.
