Vinicius's Unexpected Reaction Following a Sharp Decline in the 2025 Ballon d'Or

Vinicius Jr took an unexpected action on social media following his steep fall in the 2025 Ballon d'Or rankings.

October 24, 2024, was once anticipated to be a historic moment for Vinicius Jr at the Ballon d'Or gala. The Brazilian forward had meticulously prepared everything—from his outfit and guests to his mindset—for a night to shine at the Théâtre du Châtelet. However, it all collapsed when Rodri was announced as the Ballon d'Or winner, becoming the first Spanish player in 64 years to receive this prestigious award.

This shock left a significant mark on Vinicius’s career. From his usual smile on the pitch to his performance levels, everything declined. After controversially finishing as runner-up in the 2024 Ballon d'Or, just one year later, Vinicius plummeted to 16th place in the 2025 voting.

When overtaken by Rodri in the previous voting, the Real Madrid star boldly declared: “I would do it 10 times over if necessary. They are not ready yet.” This defiant statement was seen as a promise for a strong comeback. Yet, a disappointing season for Real Madrid prevented Vinicius from fulfilling this “promise.” The Royal Club only secured the UEFA Super Cup and the Intercontinental Cup in the 2024/25 season.

Immediately after the 2025 Ballon d'Or results were announced, Vinicius made his first move on social media. Though he did not mention the award directly, this action quickly caught fans’ attention as it came at a time when the football world was eagerly counting down to the announcement of the new Ballon d'Or winner, with two young stars, Lamine Yamal and Ousmane Dembélé, fiercely competing.

On his personal Instagram, Vinicius posted a collage of two moments during his physical recovery: one in a swimming pool and another in a sauna. Notably, he paired the post with the song “Him All Along” by American rapper Gunna, featuring four metaphorical lines:

“Scrooge McDuck (the wealthy duck), flooding my room with gold.”

“I bought two, four, five, six, seven, eight carats of jewels.”

“Cash lying on the sofa in California, I’m eager to decorate my house.”

“I’ll crush all mediocre rappers in a minute, I’m just trying to buy some more time.”

At 25 years old, Vinicius still has a long journey ahead. Despite a disappointing season with Real Madrid, no one can deny the talent and ambition of the Brazilian star.

Related article

Lamine Yamal makes Ballon d'Or history Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal became the first player ever to win the Kopa Trophy two years in a row, cementing his status as the brightest young star in world football. See more