Matthäus: "Rodri deserves the Ballon d'Or more than Vinicius"

Former German national team midfielder Lothar Matthäus has weighed in on the speculation that Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior might be awarded the Ballon d'Or.

"If the rumours about Vinicius winning the Ballon d'Or turn out to be true, it wouldn’t be a big surprise for me. In the voting, players who score goals always attract more attention than others. Having won the Champions League and La Liga with Real Madrid, he has secured titles that justify such recognition.

In my ranking of the year's best footballers, Vinicius would only come in third. I believe Rodri deserves the Ballon d'Or more than Vinicius. He was a key player and leader for the Spanish national team, which won the European Championship, and also became a Premier League champion with Manchester City. These two titles were achieved thanks to his performances, making him the most outstanding player of the year in my eyes.

In second place, I would have Jude Bellingham. Like Vinicius, he won the Champions League with Real Madrid and established himself as one of the best players at the European Championship. His goals helped England reach the final against Spain and secure second place at the Euros.

Therefore, my podium for the world's best footballers is: Rodri, Bellingham, and then Vinicius," Matthäus told Bild.

In the past season, Vinicius won La Liga, the Champions League, and the Spanish Super Cup with Real Madrid. In 49 matches for the team, he scored 26 goals and provided 13 assists.