Vinícius Júnior aims Ballon d’Or digs after The Best victory

Vinicius Junior hit back at his critics after winning FIFA’s men’s player of the year award on Tuesday, accusing his opponents of trying to “invalidate” and “diminish” him.

Real Madrid and Brazil forward Vinícius, 24, took the 2024 award – which is voted for by a combination of national team coaches and captains, journalists and fans – with 48 points ahead of the Manchester City midfielder. Rodri who earned 43 points and Madrid teammate Jude Bellingham with 37 points.

It comes after Rodri beat Vinícius to the Ballon d’Or, which is organized by France Football and UEFA, which led Real Madrid to boycott the ceremony in protest.

“Today I write to the child who has seen so many idols lift that trophy,” Vinícius posted on Instagram. “His time has come. Or rather, my time has come. The time to say … yes, I’m the best player in the world and I’ve fought hard for it.

“They have tried and tried to invalidate me, to diminish me. But they are not ready. Nobody is going to tell me who to fight for, how to behave. When I was in São Gonçalo, the system did doesn’t care about me. It almost swallowed me.

“I won for myself, for my family. With a lot of support along the way: Flamengo, Real Madrid, the Brazilian national team, my hundreds of teammates over the years… the people who accompany me every day in my routine, those who admires me … The best player in the world.”

Vinícius won The Best – for the first time – after a 2023-24 season in which he helped Madrid win a LaLiga and Champions League double.

Barcelona’s Aitana Bonmatí won the women’s award, with Carlo Ancelotti named the men’s coach of the year.

In October, Vinícius reacted to missing out on the Ballon d’Or: “I will do it 10 times if I have to. They are not ready,” he wrote.

Madrid’s delegation had chosen not to travel to the Ballon d’Or ceremony in Paris as it appeared that Rodri was likely to win, without any of the club’s multiple nominees or officials attending.

President Florentino Perez criticized the Ballon d’Or voting system – which involves 100 journalists from different countries – in a speech at Madrid’s general assembly last month, saying “no one knows who they are” and arguing the award should be “independent organized” and voted on by “people who are well known.”

Neymar was among the stars to praise Vinícius after his triumph on Tuesday, encouraging his compatriot to “keep flying” in a Instagram story.