Between winning their 15th Champions League title at Wembley on June 1 and Tuesday’s 5-2 victory, also against Borussia Dortmund, a lot has changed at Real Madrid. But one thing has remained the same: Vinicius Junior remains their most decisive player.
Not even the arrival of Kylian Mbappe has been enough to take the spotlight away from the Brazilian. Between goals, assists and forced penalties, he has 15 goal contributions in 14 games this season. For Mbappe, that figure stands at 10 in 13.
Perhaps it was no coincidence that, with the score at 2-2 and Mbappe about to score, a late touch from an opponent took the ball to Vinicius Jr, who made no mistake.
The 24-year-old’s hat-trick in Real Madrid’s dramatic comeback win over Dortmund helps explain why Vinicius Jr is the overwhelming favourite to win the Ballon d’Or on Monday in Paris (although the award is given on merit from the previous season).
None of those in the running have been told who the winner is yet and, in an attempt to ensure it is only known on the day of the gala, France Football will do its interview with the winner just after the ceremony.
In any case, nobody had any doubts about the winner on Tuesday at the Bernabeu. As the game finished, a chant remained, one that has become a musical thread in the stadium: “Ballon d’Or, Vinicius Ballon d’Or…!”
Is that Ballon d’Or confirmed? 👏
A full pitch run and stunning finish by Vinícius Júnior to lock in the comeback in Madrid 🔥
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“In the celebrations, I have told Vinicius that he is the Ballon d’Or,” said Lucas Vazquez, scorer of his side’s third goal after making two mistakes that enabled Dortmund, led by ex-Madrid player Nuri Sahin, to lead 2-0.
Emilio Butragueno, Real Madrid legend and director of institutional relations, was even more blunt: “In his third goal, Vinicius reminded me of Pele.”
However, despite this match ending in such joy for Madrid, it was far from straightforward.
The Bernabeu was dressed to the nines, with a huge tifo marking territory in the south end. “Our crown, our cup,” it read.
But Dortmund overlooked all that symbolism and mystique — for an hour at least. They were far superior in the first half and took a 2-0 lead, prompting despair from Eder Militao at team-mate Vazquez — in the starting line-up in the absence of the injured Dani Carvajal — and boos from the stands for their own players.
Surely the Germans did not sense the fire that was coming at them. The spark was ignited in the 37th minute: Madrid missed a triple chance and yet the Bernabeu celebrated as if it had been a goal.
The most ecstatic then was Antonio Rudiger, who later scored the goal that brought his team back into contention at 2-1. The centre-back lived up to his nickname, ‘El Loco’, and lost his head in celebration.
He produced a great header after a masterful assist from Mbappe. The Frenchman was about to get his first real taste of what it can be like on these occasions when Real Madrid play at the Bernabeu on a big Champions League night.
“When we got to the dressing room (at half-time) we were all very quiet,” said Vinicius Jr. “We only listened to the coach… and only one thing was said: if we score the first goal, we’re going to come back again.”
Last season, the instigator for a comeback might have been Jude Bellingham but this time, Vinicius Jr carried the team on his shoulders.
In just 30 minutes, he sealed his first hat-trick in the Champions League to send the whole stadium into delirium.
His equaliser in the 63rd minute came with a prolonged VAR delay, during which he kept cheering the fans, as if raising the decibel levels might help the video referee decide in his favour.
Vazquez made it 3-2 in the 83rd minute but what followed was all about Vinicius Jr. He made it 4-2 after Bellingham won the ball, with the Brazilian running the length of the pitch before producing a fine finish.
He raced to the corner and halfway there, threw off his shirt, sent it flying, and shouted, as his idol Cristiano Ronaldo did, “Here I am!” Then he showed that same shirt to the crowd, held high.
Vinicius Junior is hoping to win the Champions League for the third time (Burak Akbulut/Anadolu via Getty Images)
From then on, the chants calling for the Ballon d’Or for him were mixed with the traditional oles to accompany passes or the classic, “This way, this way, this way Madrid wins!”
There was still time for another superb individual effort, a solo goal in the 93rd minute to complete his hat-trick.
Only one team has ever come from two goals down to win by three in the Champions League: Real Madrid at Anfield in 2023.
“The Champions League is our competition, we want to win it again,” said Vinicius Jr.
That will be seen later.
For the moment, the Brazilian took home the ball signed by his team-mates, the trophy for being the game’s best player… and he should be making room at home because on Monday, barring a surprise, the Ballon d’Or awaits.
Before that, on Saturday, he will once again be his team’s great hope of winning the first Clasico of the season.
(Top photo: Jose Breton/Pics Action/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
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