**Vinicius Jr: "Critics Keep Trying to Cancel Me"**

 

Vinicius Jr: "Critics Keep Trying to Cancel Me" After Winning FIFA Best Award

Real Madrid forward Vinicius Jr has expressed defiance against his critics, saying they "continue to try to cancel me, to belittle me" after claiming one of football’s most prestigious individual honors.

The Brazil international was named Men's Player of the Year at the FIFA Best Awards on Tuesday, just weeks after missing out on the Ballon d'Or. Despite enduring racial abuse during his time in Spain, Vinicius had a stellar 2023-24 season, scoring a career-high 24 goals and helping Real Madrid win both La Liga and the Champions League.

In an emotional Instagram post, Vinicius reflected on his journey:
"I came, I saw, I won. Today I write this for that boy who saw so many idols lift that trophy…your time has come. That is, my time has come. The time to state that, yes, I am the best player in the world and I fought a lot to get here."

Vinicius and Real Madrid boycotted the Ballon d'Or ceremony in October, with the club stating they "do not go where they are not respected."

He continued:
"They tried and continue to try to cancel me, to belittle me. But they're not able to. Nobody is going to tell me for whom I can fight, or how I should behave. When I was in Sao Goncalo, the system didn’t work for me. I was almost swallowed up. I won for me, for my family. With a lot of support along the way: Flamengo, Real Madrid, the Brazilian national team, hundreds of my fellow players during those years…the people who share with me my daily routine, who admire me… the best player in the world."

Vinicius, who joined Real from Flamengo in 2018, was present to collect his FIFA Best Award in Doha, where he received recognition for his performances between August 2023 and August 2024.

Despite missing out on the Ballon d'Or, Vinicius showed his confidence, posting on X after Rodri was named the winner: "They're not ready."

Real Madrid, already in Qatar for the FIFA Intercontinental Cup final against Mexican side Pachuca, saw Vinicius’s award as a significant milestone in his career.