Following Barcelona's 4-0 victory over Real Madrid, Barcelona midfielder Gavi recently shared his thoughts on the Ballon d'Or, days after Vinicius Jr. made pointed comments about the award. In that match, Gavi rejoined the first team after a lengthy recovery, entering late in the game with Barcelona firmly in the lead. Upon entering, he exchanged words with Vinicius Jr., gesturing with four fingers to emphasize the scoreline. In response, Vinicius reminded Gavi of his nomination for the Ballon d'Or, though ultimately the award went to Manchester City’s Rodri.
Real Madrid’s decision to skip the ceremony highlighted their belief that Vinicius was the rightful winner. Following the event, Vinicius posted a message in Portuguese, implying his determination to prove himself, which loosely translated to, “I’ll do it ten times if necessary. They’re not ready.” Gavi, however, congratulated Rodri, publicly stating, “Congratulations, my friend. Well deserved.”
Former Madrid player Clarence Seedorf also weighed in, expressing his belief that Vinicius should have won and suggesting that tensions between Real Madrid and UEFA might have played a role in the outcome. He emphasized to TNT Sports Brasil that such conflicts should not interfere with decisions about individual awards.