Aguero Sticks by Vinicius as Ballon d’Or Contender Despite Poor Copa America Run
Former Argentina striker Sergio Aguero remains convinced that Vinicius Junior will still win the 2024 Ballon d’Or, even after a disappointing performance at the recently concluded Copa America.
The Brazilian winger scored twice as he helped the Selecao reach the knockout stages of the tournament, despite being suspended for the quarter-final defeat to Uruguay. Prior to the tournament, Vinicius Jr was seen as a strong favorite to take home the prestigious individual honor, with Real Madrid having secured the LaLiga and Champions League titles.
Aguero, speaking about Vinicius’ chances, stated, "Viní Jr. didn’t disappear in Copa America. It’s just that Brazil are going through a tough time and he needs a good team." He added that when he looks at the whole season, he believes Vinicius had an incredible run, surpassing French star Kylian Mbappé in terms of overall performance.
Although acknowledging that Mbappé is a more complete player, Aguero highlighted that Vinicius brought a different dynamic to the pitch this season, often posing a threat to opposition defenses whenever he received the ball in midfield.
Additionally, Aguero praised the performances of Vinicius and midfielder Jude Bellingham at Real Madrid, saying, "This season, Viní and Bellingham were key for Real Madrid, I love Bellingham and I’d rather he got the Ballon d’Or, but you have to acknowledge that Viní was widely superior this season."
Only time will tell if Aguero’s predictions come true, but for now, Vinicius Junior remains a leading contender for the most prestigious individual honor in international football.
