Real manager Carlo Ancelotti has described Vinicius Jr “as an extraordinary character” and insisted he “will win the Ballon d’Or” based off his performances last season.
Vinicius Jr scored a sensational hat-trick against Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League on Tuesday to help his side come from 2-0 down to win 5-2 at the Santiago Bernabeu.
He could not have timed his treble better with the Ballon d’Or, widely regarded as football’s most prestigious individual trophy, awarded on Monday, 28 October.
The talk is that the 24-year-old is the favourite to win the prestigious accolade having led Real to a La Liga-Champions League double last season, scoring in the Champions League final and also later being named as the competition’s best player.
Off the pitch Vinicius Jr won the second ever Socrates Award last year, given to the footballer who has performed the best humanitarian work worldwide.
Many on social media feel the race for the Ballon d’Or has already been won after rumours emerged that Nike are to release special Mercurial Vinicius Jr, external golden boots two days after the ceremony.
Either way, Vinicius Jr’s performance against Dortmund in the Champions League league phase can only help his cause.
There are 30 names on the Ballon d’Or’s shortlist, including Englishmen Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden, Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka and Cole Palmer.
His closest challenger appears to be defensive midfielder Rodri who helped Manchester City win the Premier League title and Spain lift the European Championship last campaign.
But, according to the UK bookies, Vinicius Jr is the odds-on favourite.
He scored 26 goals and made 12 assists in 51 appearances for club and country last season, and would become just the third person not named Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo to win the Ballon d’Or since 2007.
The others are team-mate Luka Modric in 2018 and Karim Benzema in 2022.
