Despite an outstanding year with Real Madrid and notable performances in the UEFA Champions League, Vinicius Jr. fell short in the 2024 Ballon d’Or race, with Manchester City and Spain midfielder Rodri taking home the honor. This year’s result adds to Brazil’s wait for a Ballon d’Or winner, prompting fans to ask: who was the last Brazilian to claim the prestigious award?
The last Brazilian player to lift the Ballon d’Or was Kaka, who won it in 2007 after a stellar season with AC Milan. That year, Kaka triumphed over two future legends, Manchester United’s Cristiano Ronaldo and FC Barcelona’s Lionel Messi, marking a historic achievement for both the player and Brazil.
During the 2006-2007 campaign, Kaka scored 18 goals and provided 11 assists in 48 matches with AC Milan. His role as a playmaker was crucial in leading the Italian side to European glory. In the UEFA Champions League semifinals, he scored two goals in the first leg and one in the second against Ronaldo’s Manchester United, sealing a 5-3 aggregate victory.
In addition to the Ballon d’Or, an accolade awarded exclusively by France Football magazine at the time, Kaka’s performance earned recognition from other entities. He received the FIFA World Player award, World Soccer’s Player of the Year, and was named FIFPro’s World Best Player, solidifying his place as one of the era’s top players.
Kaka: The predecessor to the Messi and Ronaldo dynasty
Kaka’s 2007 Ballon d’Or victory marked the beginning of an era defined by two names: Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. His win served as the prelude to a historic 15-year stretch in which Messi claimed eight Ballon d’Ors and Ronaldo six. Only Luka Modric in 2018 and Karim Benzema in 2022 managed to break the duo’s dominance.
Benzema backs up Vinicius
After learning he wouldn’t claim the award, Vinicius Jr., along with several Real Madrid teammates, chose not to attend the 2024 Ballon d’Or ceremony in Paris. The decision caught the attention of his former teammate Karim Benzema, who showed his support for the Brazilian winger.
In a display of camaraderie, Benzema shared a photo on his Instagram story of him and Vinicius in their Real Madrid jerseys, captioned “Trop fort,” meaning “Too strong” in French.