Vinícius Jr.: Ballon d’Or favourite says exclusively for the whole world: “I want to make history with Real Madrid”
CNN
—
Real Madrid superstar Vinícius Jr. is aiming to reach even greater heights this season, as the Brazilian told CNN Sport in the first part of a global exclusive interview, in which he states: The Royal could win a historic treble this season and added that he hopes to emulate his Brazilian heroes by winning the Ballon d’Or.
Speaking to CNN senior sports analyst Darren Lewis at his Madrid home, Vinícius expressed optimism about The Merengues‘ has a good chance of success in every major competition this season, while the reigning Champions League winners prepare to defend their title.
“Every year our goal is to win every possible title,” Vinícius said of the 15-time European Cup winners before the team won its sixth European Super Cup against Atalanta.
Despite all its successes, Madrid has never won the European treble, consisting of the Champions League, La Liga and Copa del Rey.
Arch-rivals FC Barcelona are the only Spanish club to have achieved this – twice, in 2009 and 2015.
Vinícius explained to CNN why this feat is so rare: “The Copa del Rey always stops us from winning the treble because in January you play against very strong teams. That’s when most of the games are played. So the cup competition makes things a little more complicated.”
The Madrid star is clear that the team’s biggest priority is to win the club’s 16 championships.th Champions League, but added that he was also motivated to “finally win the treble.”
“First comes the Champions League, the most difficult competition – followed by La Liga and then the Copa. Each competition brings its own pressure because the Champions League is the heavyweight because Real Madrid always wants to win there. And not only the players, but also the fans are demanding that we win this competition. Our goal now is to win everything we take part in and finally win the treble.”
To appreciate Vinícius’s impact last season, you have to look at the numbers. Fifteen league goals helped Madrid to another Spanish title.
And then there was his decisive goal that secured Madrid’s second Champions League title in three seasons in a 2-0 win over Borussia Dortmund at Wembley earlier this year.
“I’ve always dreamed of playing for Real Madrid, so I’m enjoying every moment as if it were my last,” he said.
“Everyone wants to win for the best team in the world, to play with the best, to score so many goals in so many finals and to be able to help so much… I’m only 24 years old and I want to carry on like this for a lot longer and make history in this great team I play for today. Not everyone gets that chance, so I’m enjoying every moment in this shirt.”
Vinícius finished the 2023/24 season as Madrid’s top scorer with 24 goals and eleven assists, despite missing two months of the season between November and January.
With his ability to step up at crucial moments and his high numbers throughout the season for arguably the biggest club in the world, it’s no wonder he’s considered the favourite to win this year’s Ballon d’Or – the annual award for the best player in the world.
For Vinícius, winning the award is also a way of paying homage to his Brazilian heritage. He follows in the footsteps of the country’s greatest modern football stars and aims to emulate Marta, Ronaldo Nazário, Ronaldinho, Rivaldo and Kaká, who have each been named the best player in the world during their careers.
“I have to talk about Marta, the greatest player who ever played in women’s football. I have a lot of affection for her because I believe she changed the sport and brought women’s football to the level it deserves. Women’s football is growing day by day and Marta was one of the pioneers,” he said.
“Marta is to us what Pelé was to everyone in Brazil, like Ayrton Senna. She comes from a league where there is only one person in a million.
“Among the male players, I have Kaká as an example, Ronaldo, who has won the award twice, Ronaldinho, Rivaldo and many Brazilian players who have won the Ballon d’Or. But Ronaldo and Ronaldinho are without a doubt the ones closest to me and who tell me every day that I have to win the Ballon d’Or.”
Vinícius told CNN that he recently spent some time with The phenomenonwho trained him personally.
“I was just with Ronaldo when I was in Ibiza, training at his house. He said to me: ‘Train here for a few more days and you’ll be closer to the Ballon d’Or.’ These are players who have done incredible things. To be able to fight for the Ballon d’Or and win an award that they have won would be something truly incredible.”
His teammates Jude Bellingham and new signing Kylian Mbappé will be Vinícius’ biggest rivals for the Ballon d’Or in October, as this newest Real Madrid club is packed with talent from start to finish.
Despite being one of his biggest rivals for football’s most coveted trophy, the Brazilian is delighted to have former PSG star Mbappé in the ranks of the Spanish giants.
“The team is very good and has been for a long time,” he said.
“Now, with the arrival of Mbappé, everyone says the team can become unstoppable, but for now we have to do the best training sessions and try to understand each other as quickly as possible.”
Vinícius has long admired Mbappé from afar and now enjoys playing with the world champion, admitting to being impressed by his style of play.
“I love Mbappé’s style, I love the way he plays and I’m really excited to see what we can achieve this season. He comes after scoring so many goals and winning so many titles. He comes to the club he always wanted to be at and every player always wanted to play for: Real Madrid.”
“God willing, Mbappé will be able to score as many goals for us as he did in his previous team, as he does in the national team, and together with us he can achieve even more.”
While Vinícius assisted on the opening goal and the Frenchman in his official The Royal After making their debut with a 2-0 win in the UEFA Super Cup, the Madrid team slipped up against a determined Mallorca side in their opening La Liga game, picking up just a point in a 1-1 away draw and showing signs that the team needs to gel more before they can really hit their stride.
Despite the misstep at Son Moix and the initial difficulties the team had in the first half of their home opener against Real Valladolid before winning 3-0, the stage is set for an incredibly successful year for Madrid.
Recently, rumors circulated that Vinícius had been offered a staggering $1 billion transfer to Saudi Arabia, and similar rumors were also circulating about his new teammate Mbappé in July 2023.
However, the Brazilian star expressed clear views about his feelings for the future to CNN.
“I always play to be among the best and with each passing day at Real Madrid I feel more confident.
“I have already won two Champions Leagues and I play with others who have already won six – (Dani) Carvajal has also won six and they motivate us every day to play beyond our limits and that with the team we have now, anything is possible.
“We’ve already made it this far (winning two Champions League titles in three years), it was really tough. But staying at the highest level is much more difficult, so I want to stay at this level for a long time and win as many Champions League titles as Carvajal, (Luka) Modrić, Nacho and Toni (Kroos), who have won six.
“We could have one of the best teams in the next decade and now we have to show on the pitch that we can perform. And with every game we play, I and my teammates can get closer to the goal of winning more titles for Real Madrid.”
