Brazilian football legend Ronaldo De Lima praised compatriot Vinicius Junior, declaring that “the best player in the world is Black” following Vinicius’ win as the FIFA Best Men’s Player of the Year for 2024. Ronaldo’s comments came after the announcement of the award on Tuesday night.
Ronaldo shared his support for Vinicius on social media, saying, “They tried to erase you, my friend, and you danced on them.” He emphasized that Vinicius, who is 24 years old, represents a beacon of excellence, referring to him as the “best player in the world” and celebrating his Brazilian and Black identity.
Vinicius won the prestigious award after missing out on the 2024 Ballon d’Or to Manchester City’s Rodri in October. Despite this setback, Vinicius and his Real Madrid teammates chose to boycott the Ballon d’Or gala, feeling that he had been unfairly overlooked.
