Vinicius Jr: Why fans of Real Madrid forward believe Ballon d’Or triumph will come, despite 2024 setback

With Vinicius Jr, it remains clear to many of his supporters it is only ever going to be a matter of when, not if.

Having been tipped from the very start to reach the top of the world, the Real Madrid forward suffered a setback on Monday by finishing second behind Rodri in the Ballon d’Or – having been a clear favourite for most of the build up.

The decision certainly caused a stir with Real Madrid not sending representatives to the ceremony in protest against the award, and journalists and politicians in Brazil describing it as an ‘injustice’.

The 24-year-old’s response to not winning was posting on X: “I’ll do it 10x if I have to. They’re not ready.”

And, before Real’s Champions League match with AC Milan on Tuesday, Vinicius is ready to show this was merely a blip on his rise to the top of the world.

“He has an incredible courage, he always had,” Carlos Noval, a former Flamengo youth football co-ordinator who has known Vinicius since the age of 10, told BBC Sport.

“Along the way, you saw people watching him for the first time and realising right away he was built differently.

“I remember him playing in the Copa Votorantim, which is like the under-15 Brazilian championship, and absolutely killing it. It was like two, three goals each game. He was unstoppable.

“Then, at some point, a Manchester United scout sat by my side and said, ‘I’ve never seen a 14-year-old boy do what he does – take great care of him off the pitch because on the pitch he’s going far, very far’.”

He has gone very far, but it has by no means been a smooth ride.

Even growing up in Sao Goncalo, a city outside Rio de Janeiro controlled by drug gangs and where you simply cannot move freely, did not prepare Vinicius for what he would face in Spain following his move in 2018 from Flamengo to Real Madrid, aged 18.

Since he became a key player in Real’s team, La Liga has referred 21 racist incidents involving the superstar to local prosecutors, as a result of regular abuse from the stands, monkey chants and an effigy hung from a bridge being directed his way.

In June, three Valencia fans were sentenced to eight months in prison for hate crimes against Vinicius, in the first conviction for racism-related cases in Spanish football stadiums.

“I’m not a victim of racism. I’m the tormentor of racists,” the 24-year-old posted on social media afterwards.

“May other racists be afraid, ashamed and hide in the shadows. Otherwise, I’ll be here to get you.”