Why isn’t Real Madrid’s Vinicius Júnior a candidate for the 2025 Ballon d’Or?

Real Madrid star left out of top award conversations as club’s season fails to deliver titles
Vinícius Júnior is once again absent from the list of serious Ballon d’Or 2025 contenders, even after another statistically strong season with Real Madrid. The Brazilian forward, once tipped as a future winner, finds himself overshadowed by names such as Lamine Yamal, Raphinha, and Ousmane Dembélé in this year’s award discussions.
Lack of Titles Hurts Vinícius’s Ballon d’Or Bid
While individual brilliance often plays a major role in Ballon d’Or voting, team success remains a decisive factor and that’s where Vinícius has fallen short in 2025. Real Madrid ended the 2024/25 campaign without a major trophy, which significantly weakened the Brazilian’s case for world football’s top individual prize.
In La Liga, Barcelona clinched the title with several games to spare, leaving Madrid trailing in both form and consistency. The club’s Champions League run also ended in disappointment, with a heavy 5–1 aggregate defeat to Arsenal in the knockout stages.
Club World Cup Exit Adds to Disappointment
Madrid’s poor form continued into the FIFA Club World Cup, where the Spanish giants were thrashed 4–0 by Paris Saint-Germain in the semifinals. Vinícius Júnior had little impact in the tournament, recording only one goal and one assist in six matches.
For a player expected to lead Real Madrid’s attacking line, this underwhelming performance on the global stage further diminished his Ballon d’Or prospects.
Strong Stats, But No Spotlight
Despite the lack of trophies, Vinícius Júnior’s numbers remain solid. He recorded more goals and assists than in the previous season, which had once placed him in serious contention for the award. However, consistency without silverware has not been enough to compete with players from more successful teams.
Even Kylian Mbappé, in his first full season at Real Madrid, delivered outstanding numbers 44 goals and 5 assists in 59 matches but has also fallen out of the award conversation for the same reason: no major trophies.
Manchester United and Saudi Clubs Show Interest
Off the pitch, Vinícius Júnior’s future is the subject of growing speculation. Following previous interest from Saudi Arabian clubs, Manchester United is reportedly considering a significant offer for the Brazilian, who remains one of the most valuable players in world football.
As of August 2025, Vinícius is valued at approximately €170 million, and Real Madrid has yet to make a definitive statement on whether they would entertain offers before the close of the summer transfer window.