In the wake of FC Barcelona’s dominant 4-0 victory over Real Madrid, Gavi took a moment to address the Ballon d’Or award, amid some playful banter with Vinícius Jr.
During that match, which marked Gavi’s return to the first team after a nearly year-long absence, he came on as a substitute in the 87th minute, joining the game with Barcelona already leading thanks to goals from Lamine Yamal, Raphinha, and Robert Lewandowski. After the final whistle, Gavi exchanged words with Vinícius, playfully gesturing with four fingers to remind him of the score. Vinícius responded by saying, “Yes, yes, but on Monday, I will go for the Ballon d'Or.” Despite being nominated, it was Rodri from Manchester City who ultimately claimed the prestigious award, a decision that led Real Madrid to boycott the ceremony, claiming Vinícius was the rightful winner.
After the awards event, Vinícius took to social media to express his determination, writing in Portuguese, “Eu farei 10x se for preciso. Eles nao estao preparados,” which translates to, “I will do it 10 times if necessary. They are not ready.”
In contrast, Gavi congratulated Rodri with a sincere, “Congratulations, my friend. Well deserved.” Meanwhile, former Real Madrid player Clarence Seedorf also chimed in, emphasizing his belief that Vinícius deserved the accolade. He remarked to TNT Sports Brasil, “I voted for Vinícius almost a year ago and believe he deserved this award,” while lamenting that “the issues between Real Madrid and UEFA should not influence these types of decisions. It’s a shame.”