Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has said that he is convinced Vinicius Junior would win this year Ballon d’Or award for the best player in the world
He made the declaration after the Brazilian forward scored a second-half hat-trick to help the European champions fought back from two goals down and thrash visitors Borussia Dortmund 5-2 in the Champions League on Tuesday at the Bernabeu.
“What I can say is that it’s rare to see a player who plays a second half like Vinicius did. And not because of the three goals but because of his character; he’s extraordinary,” Ancelotti said.
“Vinicius is going to win the Ballon d’Or, not for what he did tonight, but for what he did last year. These three goals are already going to count for next year’s Ballon d’Or, that’s for sure. He is a player who gets whistled at because he can make a difference.”
In a rematch of last season’s final, Ancelotti said there was no panic in the changing room after Real went into the half-time break two goals down, and that his side had the maturity and experience to understand what they needed to do to come back.
“We lived it calmly, calmly [over the break]. We changed the system and came back playing more intensely,” Ancelotti said.
“Talking about scoring three goals might have seemed utopian, so we talked about small details like passing well, winning duels … We had to win the dynamic of the game, and from there you start to win the game.
