Vinicius Junior Trains at Ronaldo Nazario’s House to Boost Ballon d’Or Hopes

Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior has revealed that he trained at the home of legendary Brazilian footballer Ronaldo Nazario in an effort to boost his chances of winning the prestigious Ballon d’Or. The young winger, who had an exceptional season last year, is determined to add his name to the list of Brazilian greats who have won the coveted award.

Vinicius shared details of his unique training session during an interview with CNN, where he explained that Ronaldo encouraged him to continue his training at his house in Ibiza. “I was with Ronaldo just now when I was in Ibiza and trained at his house,” Vinicius said. “He told me, ‘Train here a few more days, so you are closer to the Ballon d’Or.’”

Vinicius is aiming to win the 2024 Ballon d’Or after a stellar performance last season. He scored 24 goals and provided 11 assists in 39 games, helping Real Madrid secure both the La Liga and Champions League titles. Despite these achievements, he faces stiff competition from his Real Madrid teammate Jude Bellingham and Manchester City’s Rodri.

Reflecting on his ambitions, Vinicius expressed his admiration for the Brazilian legends who have won the Ballon d’Or before him. “I have Kaká as an example, I have Ronaldo who won the award twice, I have Ronaldinho, Rivaldo, a lot of Brazilian players who have won the Ballon d’Or,” he said. “But without a doubt, Ronaldo and Ronaldinho are the ones I’m closest with, who tell me every day that I have to win the Ballon d’Or.”

Vinicius’s desire to follow in the footsteps of these football icons is clear. Winning the Ballon d’Or would place him among the elite ranks of players who have dominated the sport, a dream he is working hard to achieve.

The 23-year-old winger is preparing for his next match with Real Madrid, as they face Las Palmas on Thursday. Real Madrid has started their 2024-25 La Liga campaign with a win and a draw, and Vinicius is eager to open his goal account for the new season.