After a truly stellar performance saw Vinicius Junior bag a hattrick in a turnaround win for Real Madrid against Dortmund on Tuesday night, the Brazilian’s odds of adding to his trophy cabinet with a coveted Ballon d’Or have been cut to 4/9.
With closest rival Rodri set at 7/1, here are five reasons why the Brazilian looks nailed on to be crowned the best-performing player of last season.
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Iconic performances
Vinicius is no stranger to performing under pressure. After an 83rd-minute strike in last season’s Champions League final sealed the deal for Real Madrid, the winger returned to score a hattrick in a repeat of the fixture this week.
Madrid’s main man grabbed another hattrick in the Spanish Super Cup final last season, which allowed Los Blancos to demolish their closest rivals Barcelona 4-1 and secure the trophy.
Two assists and a goal in a 4-0 win over early title challengers Girona also helped add to Vinicius’ collection of iconic performances, edging him closer to his first Ballon d’Or.
Lacking competition
With Rodri now out for the season following his recent ACL injury, Jude Bellingham looks Vinicius’ closest competitor for the award at 18/1. However, despite experiencing a spell on the sidelines last season, the Brazilian still managed 24 goals and 11 assists in all competitions.
Despite almost identical numbers of 23 goals and 13 assists from Bellingham, a disappointing Euros and a dip in form towards the end of the season may have destroyed Bellingham’s chances of winning the award. Vinicius’ unwavering consistency in the wake of his injury is just too much to overlook for the bookies.
Fan perception
Vinicius’s self-improvement at Real Madrid is another factor that adds to his chances of winning the Ballon d’Or. He failed to impress when he first arrived at the Bernabeu, managing only five league goals and one assist in his first two seasons at the club.
To compare, he has notched 25 goals and 16 assists in the most recent two league campaigns. This really shows Vinicius’ upward trajectory and why it is difficult to argue against him being handed the accolade.
Too early for Yamal
Despite a breakout year for Barcelona starlet Lamine Yamal, it is still too early to be considering the 17-year old for the prestigious award. Yamal received plaudits for his performances during the season, but became most recognised for his quality on the ball and expert delivery when playing for Spain at the Euros.
However, during the most recent league campaign, the teenager managed 11 less goal contributions than Vinícius’ 21, meaning the Brazilian leaves the wonderkid in his wake for the time being.
Haaland ghosting
Another potential consideration for the award was Manchester City’s talisman Erling Haaland. The Norwegian managed 38 goals in all competitions last season, but continued to be criticised for his lack of involvement in build-up play.
The striker managed to improve his record against the ‘Big Six' slightly, a scoring percentage which now sits at 0.5 goals per game, but this has done nothing to help his chances of lifting the award, as bookies place him at 50/1.
Lifelong Ipswich Town supporter who recently graduated from Durham University in French and German. Have developed a passion for European football based on my links abroad and am an avid supporter of Werder Bremen and Auxerre. Joined the MFT team in October 2024 and looking to take my first steps into the world of football journalism.
