Ancelotti taps Vinicius Jr. for Ballon d’Or after stellar season

Vinicius Jr’s exceptional skill on the field has sparked discussions about his potential to secure his first Ballon d’Or, with Real Madrid’s manager Carlo Ancelotti expressing on Friday that the young forward is fully deserving of the award.

This season, Vinicius has been a key player for Madrid, scoring five goals and providing five assists in the Champions League, leading his team to the final. Additionally, he scored 13 goals in LaLiga, contributing to Madrid’s victory in securing their 36th title.

Madrid, having won the European championship a record 14 times, is set to face Borussia Dortmund at Wembley for the Champions League final on June 1. Ancelotti praised Vinicius’s contributions and hinted that upcoming performances in the Champions League and Copa America could bolster his chances for the Ballon d’Or.

Ancelotti recalled his first impressions of Vinicius as a highly talented individual when watching him on TV before coaching him. Since then, Ancelotti noted, Vinicius has honed his skills significantly, becoming better at dodging defenders and improving his goal-scoring ability, all while maintaining an impressive work ethic and focus in training.

While Vinicius has been a standout performer, Ancelotti also emphasized the crucial role of the entire squad, especially in a season marred by injuries to key players.

Vinicius, who joined Real Madrid from Flamengo in 2018, has proven to be among the world’s best, vital in Madrid’s successes both in the domestic league and in Europe. However, Ancelotti reminded everyone of the collective effort of the team.

Looking ahead to the Champions League final, Ancelotti mentioned some uncertainties regarding player fitness. French midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni is doubtful after sustaining an injury in the semi-final against Bayern Munich. Ancelotti confirmed that Thibaut Courtois and Eder Militao would play to get needed game time, and he is considering his options for the goalkeeper position, ensuring readiness across his squad.

Ancelotti concluded by acknowledging the need for player rotation in upcoming games, pointing out that recovery efforts for Tchouameni were ongoing and other players like Antonio Rudiger and Nacho would also be rotated to manage the team’s fitness levels effectively.