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Vinicius would have been at least a million dollar richer if he had won the Ballon d'Or.
Real Madrid's superstar winger Vinicius Junior was expected by many to be crowned the world’s best this year.
But the Ballon d'Or dream didn't come to fruition as Manchester City and Spain’s Rodri Hernandez was handed the golden ball on Monday night.
According to Brazilian outlet ge.globo, with this loss, Vini not only missed a golden opportunity to be Brazil’s first Ballon d’Or winner since Kaka in 2007, but he also forfeited a massive paycheck of €1 million ($1,080,490.00).
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The clause, nestled within his contract, would have granted him the hefty bonus had he brought the Ballon d'Or back to Madrid.
The clause was also reportedly inserted in Karim Benzema’s contract when he won the title with Los Blancos in 2022
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Rodri’s season, complete with a Euro 2024 win and a Premier League victory, evidently swayed voters, leaving Madrid stunned by the snub at the very last minute.
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The Spanish club expressed their disappointment even before the official ceremony, opting to boycott the event in Paris after learning of Vini’s loss hours before the gala.
This action came despite several Madrid players placing prominently in the overall rankings and the club itself winning significant titles this season.
Vinicius vows to return stronger after controversial Ballon d’Or snub
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After Rodri, 28, emotionally accepted the Ballon d'Or in clutches, Vinicius took to X (formerly Twitter) to issue a defiant response, signalling his intent to rise again.
The 24-year-old tweeted, "I'll do it 10x if I have to. They're not ready," hinting at his ambition to claim the accolade in the future.
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Madrid echoed their star’s sentiments, releasing a statement sharply criticising the Ballon d'Or and UEFA, suggesting a lack of respect toward the club and its players.
The electric Brazilian forward had all the stats to make his case: six goals and four assists across just ten Champions League matches, along with 20 goal contributions in 26 La Liga appearances.
But for now, Vinicius has to wait another year for the chance to take home the world’s most prestigious football prize—and the million-dollar bonus that comes with it.
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