Ancelotti Exposes the Shocking Impact of Vinicius Jr's Ballon d'Or Snub

Ex-Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti has acknowledged that Vinicius Junior was impacted by losing out on the 2024 Ballon d'Or, though he praised the Brazilian's resilience while forecasting greater achievements ahead for the attacker.

The driving force behind Real Madrid's attack that secured La Liga and Champions League titles in 2024 was considered the clear frontrunner for that year's Ballon d'Or. Following Vinicius's hat-trick performance against Borussia Dortmund just six days prior to the prestigious ceremony in Paris, the Santiago Bernabéu crowd sang: "Ballon d'Or, Vinicius Ballon d'Or."

However, when the moment arrived, Manchester City's Rodri was declared the world's finest player.

Speculation about this surprising result emerged on ceremony day, leading Vinicius and the complete Real Madrid delegation to boycott the event in defiance. Shortly after the award announcement, the 25-year-old shared on social platforms: "I'll do 10x if I have to. They're not prepared."

Throughout the following 12 months, Vinicius has actually experienced a decline in performance rather than the dramatic enhancement in output many expected.

Vinicius Before and After 2024 Ballon d'Or Ceremony

Stats via FBref.

Kylian Mbappé's summer 2024 signing, a player naturally suited to Vinicius's preferred left flank who inevitably reduced his teammate's involvement, partially explains this notable decline. Nevertheless, Ancelotti has disclosed that the rejection from France Football officials did contribute.

"It might have influenced him somewhat," the Italian manager, who coached Vinicius both before and after the Ballon d'Or disappointment, shared with AS. "But currently Vini is approaching his peak form. He's performing excellently and proving influential.

"Vini possesses strong mentality; he doesn't linger on errors or negative feedback he encounters. He moves forward rapidly. I'm confident Vini will reach the World Cup in excellent shape."

Ancelotti: Vini Is Top Class

Both before and after the Ballon d'Or disappointment, Vinicius has found it challenging to replicate his exceptional club performances for Brazil. The winger has managed only eight goals across 43 international appearances for the Seleção. Richarlison, by contrast, cannot match his countryman's club statistics yet has already accumulated 20 international strikes.

Now appointed as Brazil's national team coach, extracting Vinicius's finest performances ranks among Ancelotti's primary objectives. In the same AS discussion, the 66-year-old strategist conceded: "It's accurate. With the national squad, he [Vinicius] hasn't managed to achieve the standard he typically displays at Real Madrid."

Nevertheless, Ancelotti remains optimistic that Vinicius's natural talent will emerge, particularly following his effectiveness in a flexible attacking quartet that functioned well during October's international fixtures. "In these recent matches, he has progressed and performed admirably with the Seleção, finding the net and creating assists," the coach contended. "No one can question his abilities. Vini is elite level."