Vinicius, who joined Real from Flamengo in 2018, added: “They tried and continue to try to cancel me, to belittle me. But they’re not able to.
“Nobody is going to tell me for whom I can fight, or how I should behave. When I was in [home town] Sao Goncalo, the system didn’t work for me. I was almost swallowed up.
“I won for me, for my family. With a lot of support along the way: Flamengo, Real Madrid, the Brazilian national team, hundreds of my fellow players during those years…the people who share with me my daily routine, who admire me…the best player in the world.”
Real coach Carlo Ancelotti and forward Kylian Mbappe both won individual honours at the Ballon d’Or ceremony but neither was present to receive their award.
After Rodri was named the men’s winner, Vinicius posted on X: “They’re not ready.”
The Ballon d’Or and Fifa Best Awards are the two most prestigious in football, and Vinicius was present to collect his first Fifa prize in Doha.
The award – for football from August 2023 to August 2024 – was decided by a mix of public vote, one journalist from each country and the captain and manager of each national team. Each group’s vote counted for 25%.
Real Madrid were already in Qatar for Wednesday’s Fifa Intercontinental Cup final against Mexican side Pachuca at Lusail Stadium.
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