For Vinícius Júnior, it was a tough pill to swallow after Monday night’s Ballon d'Or gala. The winger, who finished second in 2024, now had to settle for sixteenth place. Not only did the media highlight it, but Vinícius also received a jab from an unexpected source.
Embed from Getty Images
Vinícius Júnior is living through perhaps the most delicate moment of his career since arriving in Europe.
His dramatic fall in the Ballon d’Or rankings from finishing second in 2024 to dropping all the way to 16th in 2025 has triggered widespread debate across Spain, South America, and even among Real Madrid’s domestic rivals. Once hailed as the natural successor to Neymar as Brazil’s global superstar and a player destined to dominate world football, Vinícius now finds himself at the center of questions about mentality, consistency, and his ability to reinvent himself under new circumstances.
Spanish daily Marca did not hold back in its assessment, describing the episode as “Vini’s golden collapse.” The term was carefully chosen: for Marca, the contrast between 2024 and 2025 is nothing short of shocking. Last year, Vinícius was performing at the peak of his powers. He was decisive in La Liga, electric in the Champions League, and widely regarded as the frontrunner for football’s most prestigious individual prize. So strong was the belief that the trophy was his that when it leaked that Manchester City midfielder Rodri would win instead, both Vinícius and Real Madrid refused to travel to Paris for the ceremony. The decision was controversial interpreted by some as arrogance, by others as symbolic defiance but it revealed just how much he and his entourage believed the award should have been his.
That moment, Marca argues, was a turning point. Missing out on the Ballon d’Or in such circumstances was not simply a professional disappointment; it was a psychological blow. Fast forward twelve months, and the contrast could not be starker. Instead of bouncing back with the kind of determination he promised, Vinícius has endured a season of inconsistency, with his influence steadily declining. Marca suggests that the “moral wound” of 2024 still haunts him, and the evidence is on the pitch: where he was once unstoppable, he is now replaceable.
The change of leadership at Real Madrid has only deepened the narrative. Under Carlo Ancelotti, Vinícius was the undisputed focal point of Madrid’s attack, the player through whom most offensive moves flowed. But with Xabi Alonso stepping into the dugout, the philosophy has shifted. The new coach has made it clear that his system will not revolve around a single player, no matter how talented. For Vinícius, this has meant fewer guaranteed starts, more tactical discipline, and less freedom to express the explosive, unpredictable style that once made him a nightmare for defenders. Marca points out that Alonso’s stance has symbolized a larger reality: Vinícius is no longer the untouchable figure he once was.
Across the Atlantic, the Argentine newspaper Olé took a similarly critical tone, dubbing the situation “the bitter experience of Vinícius.” The outlet recalled the Brazilian’s defiant post on X (formerly Twitter) after the 2024 snub: “If necessary, I’ll do it ten more times, they’re just not ready yet.” At the time, those words were interpreted as a promise of redemption a vow that he would return stronger, hungrier, and determined to silence his doubters. Yet, as Olé put it bluntly, “the exact opposite happened.” Instead of a comeback season, 2025 turned into a year marked by diminished decisiveness, missed opportunities, and a visible drop in confidence. The end result: a slide to 16th place, a ranking that highlights how quickly reputations in football can change.
Perhaps the most surprising reaction, however, came not from the press but from within Spanish football itself. Real Betis, one of Madrid’s domestic rivals, seized the opportunity to poke fun at the Brazilian. From the club’s official X account, Betis responded to a Ballon d’Or post with Vinícius’s now-famous line: “If necessary, I’ll do it ten more times, they’re just not ready yet.” The trolling was instantly recognized as a pointed dig, with fans quickly spreading the post across social media. Some applauded Betis for their sense of humor, while others criticized the mockery as disrespectful. Regardless, it underscored just how far Vinícius’s stock has fallen: once feared, now ridiculed.
The broader question now is what this means for Vinícius’s career trajectory. Is this simply a temporary dip in form, the kind of slump every great player experiences, or is it the beginning of a more permanent decline? For a player who, at only 25 years old, was expected to dominate the next decade, the stakes could not be higher. The challenge ahead is not just about goals and assists it is about rebuilding an aura, regaining confidence, and proving to both teammates and critics that he still belongs among football’s elite.
The coming season under Xabi Alonso may well define the future of Vinícius Júnior. If 2024 was the year he knocked on the door of greatness, and 2025 the year it slammed shut, the question now is whether he has the resilience and mentality to force it open again or whether the opportunity has slipped away for good.
Updated: 11:08, 23 Sep 2025
