"It's a shame" - Former Real Madrid star hits out follwing Vinicius Jr's Ballon d'Or snub

Former Dutch midfielder Clarence Seedorf has stated that he thinks Real Madrid and UEFA have a problem; otherwise, Brazilian attacker Vinicius Jr. was the clear winner of the 2024 Ballon d'Or. The 2024 Ballon d'Or ceremony took place at the Theatre du Chaletet in Paris on Monday, October 28.

Manchester City star Rodri won the prestigious accolade in the men's category while Aitana Bonmati won the prize in the women's division. However, many fans and football stars expected Real Madrid's Vinicius Jr. to win the men's accolade.

Rodri won the 2024 European Championships with Spain, the UEFA Super Cup, the FIFA Club World Cup, and the Premier League with Manchester City. He made 63 appearances across all competitions (club and national), bagging 12 goals and 14 assists, playing primarily as a defensive midfielder.

Meanwhile, Vinicius won the UEFA Champions League, LaLiga, and the Spanish Super Cup with Real Madrid. The Brazilian attacker made 49 appearances across competitions, scoring 26 goals and assisting 11. However, Rodri winning the Ballon d'Or title led to mixed reactions from the football world.

Former AC Milan and Real Madrid star Clarence Seedorf backed Vinicius Jr. for winning the prestigious accolade. He stated that the 24-year-old was the deserving winner and it's a shame that he didn't get the prize. Seedorf said (via The Athletic):

"I think there's problems between Real Madrid and UEFA. Vinicius Jr. is the one who definitely deserves the award. It's a shame."

The Brazilian attacker was second on the list while his Los Blancos teammate Jude Bellingham came in third.

Real Madrid star Vinicius Jr reacts on social media after Rodri wins Ballon d'Or

Vinicius Jr. took to social media after Rodri was named the winner of the Ballon d'Or trophy on Monday. The 24-year-old took to X (formerly Twitter) and wrote:

"I will do it 10 times If I have to. They're not ready."

His staff later provided further clarification on the post to Reuters. The Brazilian forward's staff stated that the football world is not ready to accept a player who puts up a fight against the system.

Vinicius has been a victim of racism on several occasions and has also advocated against the issue. Nevertheless, Real Madrid were named the Men's Club of the Year while Italian tactician Carlo Ancelotti won the Men's Coach of the Year award.