In 2023 there was already a full-blown Ballon d’Or. Nobody would have taken him away from Lionel Messi’s hands, given that he had won the World Cup in Qatar 2022. Realistically it is the last victory of his career, assuming he doesn’t win again in 2026, at the age of 39, as a protagonist. It won’t be objectively easy, but that doesn’t mean it won’t happen. It is very likely that the era of Christians and Leos is now over, leaving room for substantial uncertainty. Because if it is true that Vinicius Jr did very well last season, winning La Liga and the Champions League, he was not as decisive against Brazil. And whoever was in the Copa America, that is Lautaro Martinez, finished seventh.
Then there is the Real Madrid question: Vinicius second, Bellingham third, Carvajal fourth, Kroos ninth. It is very likely that Los Blancos’ season, without a dominator like Ronaldo or an absolute protagonist like Benzema, has scattered the votes because yes, Vinicius Jr is a great champion, but not the champion recognized by everyone as the man of the franchise.
It can also be said that Rodri was the first to win a competition that lasted a year and a half, that is, from the end of the World Cup to this year’s European Championship. A Champions League won with a goal in the final, two Premier League titles, a European Championship as best player. How can you say it wasn’t the best? Maybe not the strongest, but then again, Vinicius Jr. probably isn’t.