Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior has expressed his disappointment on finishing second in the voting for the Ballon d'Or award, which was won by Manchester City's Rodri. Real Madrid also won the award for club of the year and Carlo Ancelotti was named the best coach. Paris Saint-Germain's Kylian Mbappe and Bayern Munich's Harry Kane shared the Gerd Muller Trophy for best goalscorer, after scoring 52 goals each in the previous season.
Vinicius Junior's Disappointment with Ballon d'Or Finish
Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior has publicly expressed his disappointment after finishing second to Manchester City's Rodri in the voting for the Ballon d'Or award. This prestigious award recognizes the best player in the world for the previous year.
Background
The Ballon d'Or has been awarded annually since 1956 and is considered one of the most coveted individual honors in football. It is presented by the French magazine France Football.
Vinicius Junior had a stellar season with Real Madrid in 2022, winning the UEFA Champions League and La Liga titles. He scored 22 goals in all competitions, including the winning goal in the Champions League final.
Other Awards at the Ceremony
In addition to the Ballon d'Or, Real Madrid was also named the club of the year. Carlo Ancelotti, the team's manager, was recognized as the best coach.
Paris Saint-Germain's Kylian Mbappe and Bayern Munich's Harry Kane shared the Gerd Muller Trophy for best goalscorer after scoring 52 goals each in the previous season.
Vinicius Junior's Reaction
Despite his disappointment, Vinicius Junior congratulated Rodri on his victory. However, he expressed his belief that he had a strong case for the award.
"I'm disappointed with the result, but I'm still very proud of what I've achieved this season," Vinicius Junior said. "I think I had a great season and I deserved to win."
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