Jude Bellingham might have been hopeful about his Ballon d’Or chances following Real Madrid’s Champions League victory. However, Rio Ferdinand, the former Manchester United star, believes that Vinicius Junior’s crucial performance in the final has made him the leading contender for the Ballon d’Or, ahead of Bellingham.
The Real Madrid duo were instrumental in their team’s 2-0 win over Borussia Dortmund, with Vinicius capitalizing on a mistake by Chelsea’s on-loan player Ian Maatsen to score the decisive second goal at Wembley.
Before the match, Ferdinand suggested that Bellingham could be a Ballon d’Or contender if he excelled in the London final, according to the Mirror. Despite providing an assist, Bellingham did not leave as significant an impact on the game as Vinicius, who continually challenged Dortmund’s defense.
After the game, Ferdinand seemed to change his Ballon d’Or prediction to favor the Brazilian winger. Captured by TNT Sport cameras, Ferdinand’s immediate reaction to Vinicius’s goal was: “Vinicius has just clinched the Ballon d’Or.”
He asked, “Is the Ballon d’Or secured now? Has he moved ahead in the race for it? He’s been a threat in the second half, and now with a goal, he’s confirmed it. In the most critical moments of this Champions League season, Vinicius has shown up.”
Vinicius has excelled in European competition this season, tallying six goals and five assists. His performance has been especially vital during the knockout rounds, scoring four goals and providing two assists against top teams like Manchester City, Bayern Munich, and RB Leipzig.
With the decisive goal in the final and a double in the semi-final first leg against Bayern that ended 2-2, Vinicius’s impact has led Ferdinand to favor him over Bellingham. Ferdinand believes that winning the Champions League strongly positions a player for the Ballon d’Or, and feels Vinicius has the edge.
He remarked on Vinicius’s strong end to the season, highlighting his crucial goals, but also noted that the Euros and Copa America will significantly influence Ballon d’Or voting. While Bellingham’s chances for the award remain uncertain, Ferdinand sees him as surpassing many of England’s midfield legends at a comparable age.
He praised Bellingham’s maturity and mindset, stating, “We marvel at his mentality. His ability is evident, but it’s his mindset and maturity that set him apart. When discussing England’s midfielders, we’ve had some greats.”
He mentioned “Stevie [Gerrard], [Paul] Scholes, Frank [Lampard],” but emphasized that none have achieved what Jude is doing at his age.