In a re-play of last season’s final, Real Madrid staged a remarkable comeback in the Champions League against Borussia Dortmund last night. Los Blancos found themselves trailing 0-2 at halftime but turned the game on its head in the second half, ultimately winning 5-2. The star of the night was Vinicius Jr, who scored a stunning hat-trick just six days before the Ballon d’Or ceremony, cementing his status as one of the top contenders for the award.
🏆 MVP 🏆@ViniJr | #UCL pic.twitter.com/HwLfOF3HK5
— Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) October 22, 2024
In his post-game interview, Vinicius expressed his love for the club: “I want to stay here forever. I love Real Madrid.” He also boldly declared the team’s ambitions, saying, “We want to win the Champions League again.” His manager, Carlo Ancelotti confidently stated, “Vinicius Jr. will win the Ballon d’Or, in my opinion. He will get the award.” Ancelotti acknowledged the significance of Vinicius’ performance, adding, “It’s not about tonight it’s what he did last season. Tonight’s hat-trick can help his case for the next Ballon d’Or!”
Real’s captain on the night, Lucas Vazquez, was full of praise for Vinicius, stating, “I told Vini Jr that he’s the Ballon d’Or after every goal tonight.” He also lauded the Brazilian’s impact: “The second half of Vinicius should be shown to all children so they can see how football is played.”
However, there was a concerning moment for Real Madrid as Rodrygo suffered a hamstring issue and is set to undergo further tests. The team remains hopeful that he will be fit for the upcoming El Clasico against Barcelona on Saturday.