Real Madrid forward Vinicius Jr. stated on Monday that he will continue to fight against racism, even if his activism played a role in his not winning the Ballon d’Or.
Vinicius finished second in the prestigious voting, behind Manchester City‘s Rodri.
After the ceremony, he took to social media to express his determination, posting, “I will do it 10 times if I have to. They’re not ready.”
Vinicius’s management clarified that his remarks were a reference to his ongoing battle against racism in football, suggesting that this activism may have contributed to his Ballon d’Or defeat, as “the football world is not ready to accept a player who fights against the system.”
The 24-year-old has faced racial abuse multiple times in Spain, leading to legal convictions for racist insults in notable cases.
Despite the disappointment surrounding the Ballon d’Or, Real Madrid celebrated a successful night, winning the men’s club of the year award, while manager Carlo Ancelotti was honored as men’s coach of the year for leading the team to both the European and Spanish league titles in a nearly flawless season.
The Ballon d’Or awards are determined by votes from a panel of journalists representing the top 100 FIFA-ranked countries, and France Football, the organizer of the event, was not immediately available for comment on Vinicius’s statements.
Article updated 2 months ago. Content is written and modified by multiple authors.
