Which Madrid Superstar Will Take Home the Ballon d’Or?
After a brilliant campaign led by stars Vinicius Júnior and Jude Bellingham culminated in a Champions League Final win, it is all but certain that one of the Madrid Marvels will win the prestigious Ballon d’Or. The Ballon d’Or is the highest individual honor in world football and is given to the player who is deemed to have performed the best in the entire world throughout the season. Both players have had extraordinary seasons, showcasing their unique talents and pivotal roles in Real Madrid's success. And with Bellingham assisting the Vinicius goal to secure their Champions League win, both showcased why they deserved the illustrious award on the biggest stage, but only one can win it. So this begs the question, who deserves it more?
On the one hand, you have Vinicius Júnior, who dazzles fans and opponents alike with his electrifying pace, skillful dribbling, and clinical finishing, becoming the team's talisman in crucial moments by scoring vital goals and creating numerous chances. Vinicius transferred to Real Madrid from Flamengo in the summer of 2018 for a reported fee of nearly $50 million, making it the second-most expensive sale in the history of Brazilian football at the time, surpassed only by Neymar. It was the largest sum ever received by a Brazilian club for a transfer and the highest amount ever paid to a footballer under the age of 19. After a relatively underwhelming first three seasons saw him having 12 goal involvements in his 82 league games for the club, he broke out in his fourth season having 30 goal involvements in 35 league games and the decisive game-winning goal in the Champions League Final. He has only built on this success with this being his best season of all, having 35 goal involvements in 39 games throughout all competitions. Most impressive was his crazy Champions League run, being the only player to rank top five in both goals and assists this year, having 11 goal involvements in 10 games, which led the Champions League.
On the other hand, you have Jude Bellingham who has been a revelation in midfield. He signed for Madrid just this past summer for a club record $145 million from Dortmund. In just his first season, the young Englishman has shown maturity beyond his years, dominating the midfield with his vision, composure, and versatility, making him one of the most influential players in the squad. Bellingham's ability to dictate the tempo of the game, break up opposition play, and contribute both defensively and offensively has been instrumental in Real Madrid's journey to the top. His assists and key passes have often set the stage for Vinicius to shine, tallying an impressive 36 goal involvements in 42 in just his first season. Although his goal involvement ratio isn’t quite as high as Vinicius’, Jude does exceed Vini in some other key areas. For starters, he boasted a ridiculous 8.05 match rating, the most in a La Liga season since a certain Argentine named Lionel Messi. Bellingham also created more chances, provided more game-winning goal involvements, and maybe most importantly was there for crucial stretches in the season when Vinicius was out with an injury. All this led him to win La Liga Player of the Season while playing well out of position with Madrid’s lack of a star striker. However, although Jude led the Champions League in assists and boasted an impressive nine-goal involvements in 11 games, it was clear Vinicius was the better player throughout the competition, especially in the knockout rounds in games like the finals where Jude was rather underwhelming when it mattered most.
So where does all of this leave us in the race for the Ballon d’Or? Although the oddsmakers are slightly favoring Vinicius at the moment, I would take Bellingham by a narrow margin. It's truly a thrilling contest with no clear frontrunner. As the club season draws to a close, all eyes now turn to the international stage, where the fate of these two titans will be further shaped to see who can secure their case for the award. Vinicius, representing Brazil in the Copa América, seeks to continue the tradition of Brazilian brilliance in the tournament and bring home the 10th Copa América trophy for his country. Meanwhile, Bellingham takes to the field for England in the Euros, aiming to guide his nation to their first European Championship triumph, which would be their first major trophy since 1966. If Bellingham can lead England to Euros glory and lead a memorable campaign, I believe he will emerge clutching the Ballon d’Or in his grasp, a crowning achievement to cap off an extraordinary season. However, as the sun sets on the Bernabeu and these two extraordinary players leave each other’s side, the race remains wide open, with both Vinicius Júnior and Jude Bellingham making compelling cases for their Ballon d’Or candidacy.
