“They Tried To Erase You” – Ronaldo Reacts As Vinicius Jr Wins Best FIFA Player Award

Portuguese football icon, Cristiano Ronaldo has praised Vinicius Junior as a “symbol of resistance and resilience” after the Real Madrid star was named FIFA Men’s Player of the Year.

KanyiDaily recalls that Vinicius Jr received the top honor on Tuesday, December 17, recognizing his massive impact on Real Madrid’s Champions League and La Liga victories.

The award comes just two months after controversy surrounded his and Madrid’s decision to skip the Ballon d’Or ceremony, following the announcement that Manchester City’s Rodri had won.

Throughout the year, Vinicius has faced racist abuse, including an incident in 2023 during a match against Valencia, which led to three fans being sentenced to prison.

In his acceptance speech, the 24-year-old spoke about his journey from poverty to becoming the best player in the world.

Ronaldo, a two-time World Cup champion, also expressed his support, highlighting Vinicius’ resilience in the face of racism and his talent on the pitch.

On Instagram, Ronaldo shared a photo of Vinicius Junior and celebrated his victory as not just a personal triumph, but a win for others who have suffered similar struggles.

Ronaldo emphasized that Vinicius represents countless others who have faced racial abuse. He also criticized the lack of action by authorities to address racism in the sport.

“Speaking of regaining respect for Brazilian football, look at him there. It has been 16 years since the last time the trophy for the best player in the world came to Brazil,” he wrote.

“Now deservedly in Vini’s hands, it means much more than his decisive role in the games and the extraordinary numbers in the 2023/24 season. His talent would be enough to win the award, but his power goes far beyond the field.

“We are talking about one of the most valuable players today, a victim of televised racism with inconceivable frequency. How many anonymous Viniciuses does he represent? How many victims spread all over the place?

“A symbol of resistance and resilience, today Vini also leads the anti-racist struggle in world football, where impunity is as pernicious as the attacks. And those who remain silent are no less racist.

“The omission – especially by entities and authorities that have the legal power to confront and punish such practices – further reinforces the culture of erasure and disrespect towards black people.

“They tried to erase you, my friend. And you rocked. THE BEST PLAYER IN THE WORLD IS BLACK AND BRAZILIAN!”

 

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KanyiDaily recalls that Vinicius Jr had expressed his determination to keep pushing for future achievements after he lost his year’s Ballon d’Or to Manchester City midfielder Rodri.