Brazilian football has shown tremendous support for Vinicius Jr. following his loss in the Ballon d’Or race.
The Confederacao Brasileira de Futebol (CBF) publicly backed the young star on the very day that it was announced Rodri had taken home the prestigious award instead.
Many believed Vinicius deserved the title, given his outstanding performances and contributions on the field over the past season.
One perspective that had not yet been shared was that of Brazil’s coach, Dorival Junior. During a press conference on Friday following the announcement of the national team call-ups for the November matches, he expressed his strong support for Vinicius.
Unfair to Vinicius
He shared his belief that the result was “unfair” to the young forward, who he thought should have received more attention for his efforts and impact.
“From my point of view, it is an unfair situation, because it is an individual award,” he said.
While he acknowledged Rodri as a remarkable Spanish talent, Dorival felt that Vinicius’ contributions last season were exceptional and should have been more widely recognised.
“I have nothing against whoever won it, on the contrary, it is a recognition of one of the great Spanish footballers, but Vini, for the work he did, should have received different attention.”
Dorival continued, stating that if there was one player who displayed a decisive, sharp, and lethal game style last season, it was undoubtedly Vinicius Jr. In his view, the Brazilian forward captivated fans with his talent, leaving a mark with every performance.
“If there was a decisive, sharp, lethal player, who showed his talent to everyone, I am convinced that this was Vinicius Jr. for everything he did last season.”
Talk with Vinicius
Interestingly, Dorival also mentioned that he had spoken with Vinicius a day before the Ballon d’Or ceremony.
Although he considered calling him afterwards, he decided to wait for a face-to-face conversation, which he plans to have with him during the upcoming FIFA international break.
For Dorival, the real honour Vinicius has achieved goes beyond trophies. In his opinion, the respect and admiration from the Brazilian people are invaluable and highlight the profound impact Vinicius has made on his nation.
“The greatest prize Vinicius has won has been the recognition and respect of his people, of his citizens.
“The vast majority of the Brazilian people have realized the injustice that has been done to this player, who could have been deservedly awarded,” he noted.
This support reflects a shared sense of pride and recognition that many Brazilians feel Vinicius fully deserves.