Vinicius Junior has made a remarkable impression with a stunning goal from an 80-meter run. He has been compared to the legendary Pele and is praised as a deserving candidate for the Ballon d’Or. Vinicius himself has expressed a desire to spend his entire career at Real Madrid.
Real Madrid seemed to be “down and out,” trailing 0-2 at halftime, but Vinicius revived them in the second half with an exceptional performance, scoring a hat-trick.
Among his three goals, one highlighted his physical strength and superior playing ability. This was the goal that put Real ahead 4-2, marking Vinicius’s second goal of the match.
In the 86th minute, Vinicius received the ball in his own half, 80 meters away from the opponent’s goal. He started to accelerate, easily leaving Emre Can behind. Vini touched the ball nine times, and on his tenth touch, he scored. It was an unstoppable sprint.
After his impressive goal, the Brazilian forward celebrated by taking off his shirt. Federico Valverde rushed over, also helping to pick up Vinicius’s shirt. Upon receiving his jersey back from Valverde, Vinicius emulated Cristiano Ronaldo’s iconic celebration by holding up his number 7 jersey in front of the Bernabeu crowd. In 2017, Ronaldo performed a similar celebration after scoring against Barcelona at Camp Nou.
This goal marked Vinicius’s eighth across all competitions this season, accompanied by five assists. After the match, he stated, “I love Real Madrid. I want to stay with this club for my entire career.”
Meanwhile, Emilio Butragueno, Real Madrid’s institutional relations director, commented that Vinicius’s third goal reminded him of Pele. “Vinicius has scored some incredible goals, and his third goal in this match made me think of Pele, with the way he penetrated the box and faked out defenders. It was a fantastic goal for all of us who love football,” Butragueno said.
The former Real star added, “On Monday, the day the Ballon d’Or winner is announced, I don’t think there will be much doubt about Vinicius standing on the highest podium.”
In the post-match press conference, coach Carlo Ancelotti confidently stated that Vinicius would win the Ballon d’Or in 2024: “It’s rare to see a player perform at such a high level in the second half. Beyond the goals, Vinicius demonstrated energy, intensity, and extraordinary personality.”
“He will win the Ballon d’Or, not just for today’s performance, but for what he achieved last season. This hat-trick will certainly bolster his chances in the Ballon d’Or race. He will be recognized instead of criticized for making a difference.”