Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior has revealed that he trained at the house of Ronaldo Nazario as he bids to get "closer" to the Ballon d'Or.
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Vini Jr trained at Ronaldo's houseAiming to win 2024 Ballon d'Or Jude Bellingham also considered a frontrunner(C)Getty ImagesWHAT HAPPENED?
Vinicius has revealed that he spent time training at the home of Ronaldo Nazario, as he bids to win the Ballon d'Or. The Brazil international was in superlative form last season, scoring 24 goals and registering 11 assists in 39 games, as Real won La Liga and the Champions League, but he faces a fight with team-mate Jude Bellingham to take home the biggest individual prize in football.
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Along with Bellingham, Vinicius will also have to beat off competition from Rodri, who won Euro 2024 with Spain. Rodri also won another Premier League title with Manchester City, racking up 17 goal involvements for Pep Guardiola's side.
WHAT VINICIUS JR SAID
Vinicius told CNN: “I was with Ronaldo just now when I was in Ibiza and trained at his house and he told me: ‘Train here a few more days, so you are closer to the Ballon d’Or.’ They are players who did incredible things and to be able to compete for the Ballon d’Or and to win an award that they won, that would be something really incredible.”
The Brazilian attacker added: "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. 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.”
GettyWHAT NEXT?
Vinicius will next be in action when Real play Las Palmas on Thursday. They have opened their campaign with a win and a draw, and Vinicius is still looking to open his La Liga goal account for 2024-25.