Despite Brazil's exit from the 2024 Copa America, Vinicius Jr's Ballon d'Or prospects remain strong. Here’s why Brazil’s elimination does not diminish Vini Jr’s chances for the prestigious award.

The Ballon d'Or is an Individual Award

The Ballon d'Or, awarded by France Football, recognizes individual excellence rather than team achievements.

According to France Football, individual performance and the candidate's impact are the primary criteria, with team success and fair play as secondary considerations.

The award now focuses on the European season from August to July, rather than the calendar year or career achievements.

2024 Ballon d'Or Contenders and Their Performances

If team achievements are still considered important, it's worth comparing Vini Jr's performance with other top contenders for the 2024 Ballon d'Or.

Kylian Mbappe is a major contender, having scored 44 goals and provided 10 assists in 48 games for his club. However, in the Euros, he scored only one goal and provided two assists in five games, exiting in the semi-finals

Jude Bellingham, another favourite, scored two goals in six Euro games.

Lionel Messi, with an incomplete 2023/2024 league season of just 12 games before the Copa America, has one goal and one assist in the tournament.

In contrast, Vinicius Junior, despite Brazil's early exit and his suspension, has two goals from three Copa America games.

Among the contenders, Vini Jr has the best goal contributions-to-games ratio in international tournaments. How can he not be a contender due to Brazil's exit?

Vini Jr's Stellar Season and Ballon d'Or Credentials

Vini Jr has had an outstanding season, justifying his candidacy for the Ballon d'Or. For Real Madrid, he scored 24 goals and provided 11 assists, totaling 35 goal contributions in 39 games.

His performances were crucial against teams like Manchester City, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Girona, and Dortmund, leading to victories in La Liga, the Spanish Super Cup, and the UEFA Champions League.

Given his exceptional club season and superior international performance compared to other contenders, Vini Jr undeniably deserves strong consideration for the 2024 Ballon d'Or.

You can check out today’s games on MSport here.