The timing couldn’t have been better for fans with Real Madrid tickets, who anticipate Vinicius Jr. as the next Ballon d’Or winner.
Vinicius Junior’s stunning hat-trick in Real Madrid’s thrilling 5-2 comeback victory over Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League was a powerful reminder that he is a front-runner for the world’s best player title.
It was a phenomenal performance for all the fans who were lucky in the secondary ticket marketplace with Real Madrid tickets as the team returned after trailing 2-0.
In a rematch of last year’s Champions League final, Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund met again in the all-new UEFA Champions League group stage.
And a hat-trick from Vinicius Jr. saw them steamroll Dortmund in the second half to win 5-2.
Although the hat-trick will not count towards the final decision, Vinicius has already made a strong case. Last season, he played a pivotal role in helping Real Madrid clinch the Spanish League, the Supercopa de España, and the Champions League, amassing an impressive tally of 24 goals and 11 assists in 39 appearances.
The Brazilian’s name gained even more momentum after the Champions League final held in London this past June, where he scored the decisive goal and was named the tournament’s best player.
Everyone with the Real Madrid tickets echoed the same sentiment – Vini was their best player last year.
Notable figures such as manager José Mourinho and former player Rio Ferdinand, who provided commentary during the match, called Vinicius the clear favorite. Ferdinand became a running joke for having repeated the phrase “Ballon d’Or” nine times in 30 seconds after the goal.
The last Brazilian to win the Ballon d’Or was Kaká, back in 2007 (the women’s award only began in 2018 and has been won solely by European players and American Megan Rapinoe).
Should Vinicius take home the award, he would break a remarkable streak, becoming only the third player since 2008 to win the honor, apart from Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. The other two are his current club teammate Luka Modric, who won in 2018, and former Real Madrid star Karim Benzema in 2022.
Just imagine the celebrations in the locker room if this happens next week.
Well, maybe not for other Real players like Jude Bellingham and Kylian Mbappé, who were also in contention just months ago. The Englishman Bellingham was the favorite amongst the fans with Real Madrid tickets from the secondary ticket marketplace, but his futile efforts during the Euros threw him down the list.
Even with the fresh season, Bellingham seems to be having trouble finding his balance with this Rela Madrid team, which he had free-flowing last season.
Fans with Real Madrid tickets argue that including Mbappe in the lineup has lessened Bellingham players’ role in attack, and he now is predominantly a back-room player.
But Carlo Ancelotti must remember the Bellingham masterclass that pivoted Real Madrid to the La Liga title last season and how his talent is currently wasted.
Another candidate for the race was Bellingham’s new teammate Jude Bellingham.
But the last nine months have been disastrous for the French superstar, for the country, and for Real Madrid. While he’s over his rough patch of going goalless, his impact on Real Madrid has been less significant.
The closest contender on Monday is Rodri, who triumphed in the Premier League with Manchester City and the Euros with Spain. Nevertheless, Vinicius Jr.’s name is the most talked about here, and it genuinely seems unfair if he does not win this time.
Fans with Real Madrid tickets await the good news.
It’s worth noting that this is one of two accolades for the best player in the world. France Football organizes the Ballon d’Or, while football’s governing body oversees the FIFA Best. The Ballon, d’Or winners, are selected by a panel of journalists from countries ranked in the top 100 by FIFA based on performance from the previous season.
In the women’s category, Spanish star Aitana Bonmatí is among the favorites to win for the second consecutive time.
Additionally, it’s striking to see the limited number of categories for female players compared to their male counterparts, who also compete for the best goalkeeper, best young player (under 21), and top scorer from last season.
Furthermore, the ceremony takes place during the women’s national team calendar, meaning many top talents will be unable to attend.
Praise from Jamie Carragher
Jamie Carragher praises Vinicius Junior after his hat-trick against Borussia Dortmund, claiming Real Madrid already had the world’s best player before signing Kylian Mbappe.
In the recent UEFA Champions League pre-game talk show on CBS, the former Liverpool great praised the Brazilian.
The most thrilling Champions League match on Tuesday was between last year’s finalists, Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund. Despite Dortmund taking a 2-0 lead at halftime, Real Madrid mounted an incredible comeback to win 5-2, largely thanks to a hat-trick from the brilliant Vinicius Junior.
Luka Modri? played until the 71st minute, but Vinicius stole the show, earning a perfect 10 rating from Sofascore for his performance.
After the game, Vinicius, who continues establishing himself as one of the world’s top players, expressed his joy: “The coach always tells me I can do even more. I’m 24 years old, and I want to stay here forever. I want to give a lot to this team that has given me everything. I’m happy the fans chant my name for the Ballon d’Or, and scoring goals for them is a dream come true.”
Vinicius’ performance also impressed former Liverpool player and current CBS analyst Jamie Carragher, who couldn’t help but praise the Brazilian winger.
“Real thought they bought the best player in the world, but they had him in the team all along,” Carragher said, referencing the summer arrival of Kylian Mbappe but emphasizing Vinicius’ importance.
This win revitalizes the fans’ spirits with options from the secondary ticket marketplace, encouraging them to keep coming back.
As coach Carlo Ancelotti pointed out, the Los Blancos’ start was good but could have been better. There’s more time to make things right.
Ticket listings are now available in limited quantities in the secondary ticket marketplace.
