Why Vinícius Jr. deserves the Ballon d’Or.

Why Vinícius Jr. deserves the Ballon d’Or.

Why Vinícius Jr. deserves the Ballon d’Or.
By: PGS | July 21, 2024 8:15 am
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With the conclusion of the 23/24 season and all ensuing major international tournaments, the big question on everyone’s mind is, who will with the Ballon d’Or? The most prestigious individual award in all of football, the Ballon d’Or is often as hotly contested as team achievements. For the majority of the last 15 years or so, the Ballon d’Or had been dominated by two men: Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, and the only two players that broke this duopoly were Karim Benzema and Luka Modrić, two other legendary players considered to be 2 of the very best ever. Yet, all four of these players are more or less done with their time as being at the very pinnacle of the game, and a new era has begun. This year, none of them are even in contention, and the three favourites for the award are 24-year-old Real Madrid winger Vinícius Jr., 21-year-old Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham, and 28-year-old Manchester City midfielder Rodri Hernandez. All three superstars had incredible success on a team level last season, with the Real Madrid duo taking home the league and Champions League double alongside the Supercopa de España, while Rodri won the Premier League with Manchester City and Euro 2024 with Spain. All three also had incredible campaigns from an individual standpoint, and are deservedly seen as being the best candidates to win the Ballon d’Or. Yet, the question still remains: who deserves to win the Ballon d’Or?

To answer this question, you have to first look at what the Ballon d’Or truly rewards; the best individual campaign from a player over the course of a calendar season. It values overall quality of play, consistency, importance to team success, big game credentials and statistics. When looking at the criteria and using them to gauge the seasons the three have had, then it becomes clear that one candidate stands above the others, and that he deserves the Ballon d’Or the most out of any player in the world, and that candidate is Vinícius Jr.

The 23/24 season was a truly special one for Vinícius Jr. Scoring 24 goals and providing 11 assists in just 36 appearances for Real Madrid (a career high goals tally), Vinícius Jr. was the teams leader in attack, producing the goods when it mattered the most. On a per game basis, Viní’s numbers were spectacular, with the Brazilian winger completing over 3.5 take-ons, creating around 2 chances and shooting around 3 times per 90 minutes player. While his numbers and performances are already great at a glance, when you dig deeper and see who he truly shone against, then it becomes clear how out of this world he really was this season.

Vinícius has long established himself as one of the best big-game players in the world, and this season was no different. Overall, his performances in big games were some of the best we’ve seen from any superstar in recent memory.

In the two finals he played, he produced hat-trick vs Barcelona to win the Supercopa de España, and he scored a goal in the UCL final that was accompanied by one of the best UCL final performances ever.

In other huge ties, such as the semi-finals against Bayern Munich, he scored a brace in the first leg, and produced one of the greatest performances in UCL history in the second, albeit without a goal contribution. He was also named MOTM for both games. In the quarter-finals against Manchester City, he produced two assists in the first-leg, while in the Round of 16, he scored Real Madrid’s only goal in the 1-1 home draw against RB Leipzig.

These performances, the stages they’ve come on, and the underlying numbers he produces, all show the caliber of player that Vinícius Jr. truly is. Arguably the scariest opponent for any defender to come against, Vinícius’ blend of flair, incredible pace, and pure relentlessness makes him a near unstoppable player. His performances against Bayern, Dortmund, Girona all display the sheer scale of devastation he can cause. A player who never ever shies from the moment, Vinícius’ best quality might be his flat-out refusal to give up. He will take his man on every single time he gets the ball, he will take on as many markers as his opponents throw at him, and his combination of trickery, his ability to create with his crosses, trivelas, through balls and link-up play, and his great finishing, make him a true nightmare for any defense to try and handle. A true game-changer, Viní can take a game by the scruff of the neck and completely flip it on its head on his own. A player who will always leave his impact on the game, whether on a good day or bad one, Vinícius will always be at the center of everything his team does in attack.

Furthermore, his goal and assist catalogs have been truly spectacular as well. He has had incredible assists with both feet, trivela through-balls, goals with his shoulder and chest, goals from outside the box, goals after beating multiple opponents, goals after rounding the keeper, he has done it all this season.

Another indicator of how good Vinícius has been have been the figures in football who have supported his claim to the sports preeminent individual award. It is natural for Real Madrid figures such as Carlo Ancelotti, Jude Bellingham and Rodrygo to back him for the award, but a whole host of legendary figures have backed him for the prize. Names such as Jose Mourinho, Neymar, Ronaldo Nazario, Karim Benzema, Rio Ferdinand, Roberto Carlos, Guti, Rivaldo, Cafu, Felipe Scolari, Julio Baptista, Sergio Aguero, Bruno Guimaraes, Gabriel Martinelli and Yan Couto have all supported Vinícius as being the rightful winner of the Ballon d’Or.

All of this isn’t to say that Bellingham and Rodri haven’t had fantastic campaigns. Bellingham has been truly world class, breaking multiple records and proving to be extremely clutch for Real Madrid, with late winners and equalizers against a plethora of sides.

On top of this, his debut campaign showed why he is one of the most, if not the most, complete midfielder in the world. Arguably the best goal threat from midfield in football right now, Bellingham is also a fantastic dribbler, an excellent creator who has shown he can create from out-wide and deeper positions, and a very hard working defender who, when needed, will buckle down and put in a shift that most DMs would be proud of. His impact on Real Madrid’s pressing has also been remarkable, with his athleticism and defensive nous has transformed Real Madrid into a side that can consistently defend from up top.

His England performances are also worthy of praise. A winner in the group-stages, a last minute overhead kick equalizer in the Round of 16, Bellingham continued his clutch form to the national team as well.

Rodri too had a truly exceptional year, with his Manchester City side winning their record-breaking 4th Premier League title in a row. With Spain, he won the Euros as well, and was one of the best players for all of these achievements. However, one argument that many have made, and validly so, is that Rodri was not clearly the outright best player for his teams. While Jude Bellingham did win the LaLiga POTY award, considering the whole body of work across all competitions, it is my opinion, and one that is shared by many Madridistas, that Vinícius Jr. had a slightly better campaign. For Manchester City, the general consensus was that Phil Foden was their best player for the 23/24 season. Upon winning the Euro 2024 Best Player award, most fans thought Rodri was the undeserved winner, with teammates Nico Williams and Lamine Yamal being seen as the more deserved winners.

Taking into account all of the aforementioned, then Vinícius’ case to be named the best player in the world stands out above the rest. An incredible campaign with team success, amazing statistics, massive big game performances, and a stunning catalog of goals and assists. His performances have truly gone to a different level this season, and he deserves to be seen as the best player in the world right now. In conclusion, Vinícius Jr. should be the winner of the 2024 Ballon d’Or.

It’s still early, but the response must come fast

It’s still early, but the response must come fast
By: Ardit Lipa | October 27, 2024 9:30 am
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Real Madrid suffered a tough defeat in the biggest match of the season so far – falling 4-0 at the Santiago Bernabéu against the biggest rivals, Barcelona.

The defeat – not only did stop Real Madrid from going 43 games unbeaten in La Liga, but also gave a reality check to everyone in the team & outside of it, of where the team really stands, showcasing perfectly every flaw that this star studded team has.

Instead of focusing on the negatives that are quite obvious, we will try to find the positives – a task that realistically, seems very difficult.

But are there any positives to take from last night? From the game, no. Mentally, yes.

Even though the difference at the top is now 6 points for Barcelona, the league is still with 27 games ahead & the chances for response are big. But, instead of focusing on the rival – Real Madrid should focus on themselves & try to make things better.

Since the season has started, the performances have been average at best – and even the wins, have not been very convincing, often secured by a goal difference and in the last minutes of the game.

It’s not a matter of quality – because if you take a look at the individuals – it is the best team in the world, but it’s matter of performance and attitude & the attitude has clearly been missing by the team’s main stars that so far, have not shown their best version, none of them.

Aside of that – the coach, has isolated some players totally, not giving them the chance to prove themselves, such as Arda Güler & Endrick, who in the limited minutes have shown that they can make a difference, and you can expect them to atleast be trusted when you’re attacking and chasing a 2-0 result.

Generally, a lot of things should be improved – like performance, attitude and dividing the minutes to different players – and if you’ve been a fan of Real Madrid for too long, you know that the team always responds, and it should not be expected different this time. BUT, this doesn’t mean that there shouldn’t be overreaction – because the signs are really worrying, and the response – unlike other times, MUST be immediate.

The positive, is that it’s only October & there are almost 50 matches in all competitions left to play, so the margin for improvement is really, really big.

Now, it’s time to put all the questions on the table and find the answers to all of them – one by one.

The trust is big, as always. As Toni Kroos said – at the end we are Real Madrid.

Neymar backs Vinícius Jr. for Ballon d’Or after an impressive season

Neymar backs Vinícius Jr. for Ballon d’Or after an impressive season
By: TheMadridZone | October 14, 2024 12:21 pm
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Neymar Jr. has publicly voiced his support for Vinícius Jr. to win the prestigious Ballon d’Or award. In an emotional moment, Neymar stated, “I am supporting Vini Jr. to win the Ballon d’Or. He had a great season and no one deserves it more.”

Vinícius Jr., who played a pivotal role for both Real Madrid and the Brazilian national team, has been in outstanding form throughout the season. His performances have captured global attention, making him one of the frontrunners for the award, and with Neymar’s backing, his candidacy grows even stronger.

Real Madrid target Trent Alexander-Arnold and Jonathan Tah to bolster defense amid injury crisis

Real Madrid target Trent Alexander-Arnold and Jonathan Tah to bolster defense amid injury crisis
By: TheMadridZone | 12:19 pm
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Real Madrid are targeting Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold and Bayer Leverkusen’s Jonathan Tah to strengthen their defense in light of recent injuries. Manager Carlo Ancelotti has informed the club that reinforcements are crucial to maintaining their competitive edge this season.

Alexander-Arnold’s playmaking ability and defensive versatility have made him a vital asset for Liverpool, while Tah’s strength and reliability in the Bundesliga have been key to Bayer Leverkusen’s success. With both players on Real Madrid’s radar, the Spanish giants are looking to bolster their squad depth as they face a challenging season ahead.

Trent Alexander-Arnold or Alphonso Davies, who does Real Madrid need more?

Trent Alexander-Arnold or Alphonso Davies, who does Real Madrid need more?
By: PGS | August 2, 2024 6:54 am
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Real Madrid are reportedly interested in two of the world’s best fullbacks: Trent Alexander-Arnold and Alphonso Davies, and the club are aiming to sign them for free in 2025, when their respective contracts end with their clubs. In an ideal scenario, the club will be able to sign both, as both are phenomenal talents that would improve the club. However, a scenario could arise in which the club would be forced to choose between one or the other. The club’s modus operandi when signing players in recent years has been to encourage their targets not to renew, sign them for free to save up on transfer fees, and offer them high wages. This method was used to first sign David Alaba, and Antonio Rüdiger and Kylian Mbappé have also been signed with the same method. The club is now aiming to do the same with Trent and Davies, and the club could be in a situation in which they will have to decide which way to pour more resources. Both are elite talents around their prime, and both will demand high wages. So, if the club is in a position to choose only one, the question arises; who does Real Madrid need more?

The answer, in the opinion of the author, is Trent Alexander-Arnold.

While Trent and Davies are both known to be exceptional offensive talents, their styles of play are very different. Davies is a monster in transition, a super quick player who originally started as a winger and later transitioned into a fullback. He is a player who loves to take players on, something that is reflected in his monstrous 3.1 take-ons completed p90 (comparable to prime Marcelo numbers). In a footrace, there are very few players in the world who can keep up with the Canadian, and his main way of attacking comes from beating his man and creating chaos with his dribbling and speed.

Trent on the other hand, is not the athlete Davies is, but is a passing wizard. Slower, and a worse dribbler than Davies (only 1.2 take-ons p90), Trent’s main strength is his final ball. Attempting 7.1 crosses p90 and completing 2.3, compared to 1.4 attempts with 0.5 completed for Davies, their differences are clear to see. Trent is seen as one of the best passers and crossers in the world, and is also an elite set-piece taker. His passing range and technique put midfielders to shame, and his passing in transition is some of the best in the world.

So, why do Real Madrid need Trent more than they do Davies? The answer is the stylistic profiles of both Trent, and the players at hand at Real Madrid. Trent Alexander-Arnold can be seen as almost being tailor-made to fit this current Real Madrid side. A truly devastating passer in transition, a player who completes 30 forward passes a game, 1 through ball and 6.2 long balls, Trent is a one-man transition weapon. For comparison, Toni Kroos completed 9.8 long-balls a game last season. While Trent’s long passing is not Kroos’, with Kroos’ departure, having someone of Trent’s quality will go a long way in helping fill that void. While Davies also has his offensive talents, the gap between him and Trent in these departments is immense. Davies completes 16 forward passes p90, only 0.4 long balls and 0.2 through-balls. Davies’ skills in transition are his ball-carrying and speed, while Trent’s are his precision passing and ability to spread the play immediately.

Analyzing these different skills in the context of Real Madrid, it becomes clear that Trent’s skillset is a better fit. Firstly, there is the task of replacing Kroos’ passing. While no player in football can do that, Trent’s ability to switch play, find targets on the run with pinpoint precision, and set-off attacks in transition will go a long way in helping mitigate some of the effects of Kroos’ departure. Then, you have to look at the attackers that will be starting for Madrid. Vinícius Jr., Kylian Mbappé and Rodrygo are as fast an attack as you will ever see. All three are incredibly fast and are truly devastating in transition. Imagine a counter-attack with the three on the break, and Trent finding them with his long-passing. An attack like that would truly be unstoppable.

Furthermore, Trent would also be an incredible outlet option on the right. All three aforementioned players and Jude Bellingham naturally gravitate towards the left. Naturally, there will be an overload there that will force opposition defenses to crowd that area, leaving the right open, something we saw every game during the threepeat era. A quick switch to an open Trent who will have ample space to cross or shoot would be a truly elite weapon in Real Madrid’s locker. Jude would also be an elite crossing target, but Trent’s crossing is so good that even without tall targets in the box, he has managed a remarkable number of assists for Liverpool. None of Salah, Mane and Firmino were truly great aerial targets, but Trent found them consistently regardless, and the same can be expected with his Real Madrid targets. With this skillset, Trent is also a much better creator than Davies, creating 2.7 chances p90, compared to 1.6 for the Canadian. Trent also helps mitigate the effects of losing a set-piece taker, as Trent has been the primary corner and free-kick taker for Liverpool, and has done an exceptional job so far.

These stylistic profiles are also why Davies is not as big of a need as Trent is. What he excels at, Vinícius, Mbappé and Rodrygo also excel at. Being a left-back, Davies would also play in the flank that these three like to play-in, and while having an elite attacking fullback on that side would be a plus point, not having him would not be a problem either. The right side on the other hand, is relatively lacking in attacking talent, mainly with the starting XI. All of Madrid’s natural right-sided attackers are expected to come off the bench, with Brahim, Endrick and Arda, the teams three left footed attackers, will not be bonafide starters. As a result, the main threat on the right will come from Fede Valverde’s runs. Right now, Carvajal provides width and is elite at it, but signing Trent adds another, truly world class, weapon on the right, and sets-up a long-term replacement for Carvajal as well.

On the defensive side of things, an equally important part of their game, both Trent and Davies have come under criticism. Seen as attacking fullbacks with average defensive games, Trent and Davies both have deficiencies on their part. Trent is infamous for his propensity to leave the back-post unguarded and lose his marker, while Davies is often criticized for his lack of positional discipline. Both are not elite defenders, but are not bad either. Statistically, they produce similar defensive numbers, with Davies completing slightly more tackles p90 (2.1 vs 1.7), while Trent has very slight leads in interceptions (1.3 vs 1.2) and clearances (1.8 vs 1.7). Yet, despite their defensive weaknesses, Madrid fans do not need to be concerned. Defending is far more reliant on the team’s structure than individual talent, and with a midfield of Tchouaméni, Camavinga, Jude and Fede in front of them, they will have more than enough cover to go on their marauding runs.

Age is also a factor. Dani Carvajal may have had the season of his career last season, but he will be 33 by the time the 2025 summer rolls around, and Lucas will have reached 34. Ferland Mendy on the other hand, will have just turned 30, and Fran Garcia will be reaching his 25th birthday. Taking into account this aspect as well, Trent is the better, more needed option for the team next summer.

As said before, the ideal scenario would be signing both, but if the club was to be faced with the decision, then Trent should be the club’s choice.

Arda Güler cuts his vacation short

Arda Güler cuts his vacation short
By: Ardit Lipa | July 26, 2024 12:01 pm
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Arda Güler has cut his vacation short to return training for the new season.

Real Madrid’s 19-year old gem had a really positive EURO 2024 with Türkiye, exceeding everyone’s expectations while reaching the quarterfinals & going out just in the quarterfinals.

Going that far in the tournament, Arda Güler was scheduled to have a longer vacation, but the Turkish star has decided to cut them short & will return to Madrid tomorrow, where he will start training with the team and travel to USA on Sunday for the preseason tour.

Arda spent his vacation in Bodrum in Türkiye & Maldvies, where he was seen constantly individually training – preparing for the new season.

Güler had a first season full of unlucky injuries, but in the limited minutes he had at the end of the season – he scored 6 goals, impressing everyone & also was fantastic in EURO 2024, letting it be known that he can have a much bigger role in 2024/25.

The Turkish star wants to start strongly in preseason, to slowly gain a place for himself & get more minutes. With other players coming later to preseason, Arda Güler will be a starter in the preseason games vs Milan (August 1st), Barcelona (August 4th) & Chelsea (August 7th).

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