Brazil national team head coach Dorival Júnior has this week moved to throw his backing behind compatriot Vinícius Jr, in the race for the next Ballon d’Or.
Chatter surrounding wide-man Vinícius’ candidacy for the ‘Golden Ball’ has of course begun to mount over the course of recent weeks.
As much comes with the Brazilian time and time again having come to the fore when Real Madrid have needed him most, often taking the attacking load completely on his own shoulders.
Such endeavours have given rise to a stellar haul of 23 goals and 11 assists across all competitions, despite the fact that Vinícius spent a significant stretch of the campaign sidelined through injury.
Not only that, but he is now just a solitary victory away from leading Los Blancos to a domestic and European double.
Calls, in turn, have begun to mount across not only Real Madrid’s fanbase, but beyond, too, for the 23-year-old to be crowned world football’s very best player.
And, as alluded to above, on Monday, Vinícius’ backing was added to, by none other than his national team manager.
Drawn on the subject of his star attacker’s candidacy for the Ballon d’Or during an exchange with the media, Dorival Júnior revealed his take that it would mark a ‘great surprise’ if the award is not coming the way of Vinícius:
“Vini for Ballon d’Or? Of all the players involved in the Euros and Copa América, no one had a year with greater balance than Vini Jr. For everything he has already done throughout this period, it would be a great surprise if he does not win it.”
Conor Laird | GSFN
