The Brazil national team coach has launched a campaign for his player Vinicius Junior to be the leading candidate for the 2024 Ballon d’Or.
For Dorival Silvestre Júnior, there’s no doubt. The winner of the next Ballon d’Or must, regardless of anything else, be Real Madrid’s player Vinicius Junior. He assured that it would be very surprising if the forward didn’t lift the highest individual award in world football. He also stated that neither the Copa América nor the European Championship should interfere with this election.
The Canarinha coach explained the reasons why the Madrid forward should be rewarded: “The season he has had leads straight to the trophy. Of all the players involved in both competitions (Euro and Copa América), nobody has had a more balanced year than Vini. I think this election is ongoing, if it hasn’t already happened,” he said on the sidelines of a charity match organized to raise funds following floods in southern Brazil.
As for the impact of the Euro and Copa América, he added: “I think it can hardly be altered by a single competition, even if it’s the competition that ends the year and has great importance in our context. For everything he has already done throughout this period, it would be very surprising if it (winning the Ballon d’Or) didn’t happen.” Dorival Júnior clearly defends his star player, who is expected to be one of the mainstays of Brazil during the upcoming Copa América this summer.
Although Vinicius Junior suffered an injury that forced him to miss several weeks at the beginning of the season, his stats are excellent (23 goals, 11 assists), and he has also shone in big Champions League matches. “I don’t think any competition can take away his chance. It only enhances it. Because of his potential, his condition, the moment he’s in… It’s this consistency he has shown throughout the year that has allowed him to be recognized as the best player in the world,” the coach added.
Leave a Reply