Venus Jr is nowhere near Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo honestly that comparison is a bit unfair Messi and Ronaldo put the bar too high for Balon door like we unintentionally expect the other player to perform like them to win the award for the last 15 years they dominated World football stacking up goals assists and trophies like it was just another day comparing any other player to them is asking for the impossible but the real question is who actually is the best player in the world right now his name is venicius JR hold on before you jump
into the comments to attack me I suggest you watch this video Until the End you'll probably end up agreeing with me the truth is venius JR is on the verge of winning an award that many thought was out of his reach but Vinnie's story is different it's not about surpassing Messi or Ronaldo but about his own Journey there was a time when even with in Real Madrid people had their doubts about him a few years ago nobody even considered Vinnie one of the best in the world he was just the Brazilian kid at Real Madrid
who was fast could dribble but couldn't finish who doesn't remember that moment when Ben Zama was caught telling his teammates not to pass the ball to him at that moment Venia seemed like a lost kid among a team of stars someone who would never reach the elite level expected of a real Madrid player the doubt was overwhelming venius looked like a failed project someone the club had invested a lot of money and hope in but who wasn't delivering what was expected fans were calling for more experienced signings and questioning if the club's 45 million EUR
bet on a 16-year-old was a mistake but what few knew was that behind the scenes venicius was working in silence while many doubted him he was sharpening every aspect of his game training hard to overcome his flaws and criticism Vinnie's Story begins in s Gonzalo a poor region of Rio De Janeiro he grew up with few resources but with an incredible talent for football which was noticed from an early age by the time he was 10 he was already a standout in flamingo's Youth Academy where his ball skills set him apart from the rest then
in 2017 at just 16 years old he burst onto the scene in the Copa s Paulo the biggest Youth Tournament in Brazil this competition is known for revealing stars like Neymar and casemiro and there Venus showed the world he had something special he was called up to Brazil's U7 team where he shown once again becoming the top scorer and best player of the tournament the football world was watching it didn't take long for Scouts from Europe's biggest clubs to take notice of the young Brazilian soon he was choosing between the two biggest clubs in the
world Real Madrid and Barcelona in a bold move Real Madrid closed a $45 million deal with flamingo before venicius had even debuted professionally that price tag for a 16-year-old caught the attention of the football World expectations were enormous and the path for venius seemed set he had raw talent and fearlessness but did he have what it took to shine on the biggest state ages his arrival at Real Madrid wasn't easy being under 18 and without a European passport he had to stay at Flamingo until he came of age in July 2018 during this time he
played for flamingo's Senior Team but didn't make an immediate impact in his first professional season he scored just four goals in 32 matches a disappointing number for those expecting an instant phenomenon the next season he improved scoring six goals and providing three assists in 17 games however it was clear the young player still had much to develop he was being shaped in a high press environment and it was obvious his journey would be filled with obstacles finally in July 2018 venicius Jr joined Real Madrid the plan was for him to be slowly integrated into the
team but with Cristiano Ronaldo's departure Vinnie was thrown into the first team sooner than expected despite his youth he quickly became one of the most exciting players on the team when Real Madrid went through tough times venius was a Beacon of Hope with his spectacular dribbles and creative plays but there was one big problem he couldn't finish and this was what divided fans and critics venius could dribble past any Defender but when it came to finishing he faltered in his early Seasons at Real Madrid he missed many clear chances the height of the criticism came
in 2020 when his own teammate Kareem Benzema was caught telling teammates not to pass to venius saying he was playing against the team the statement was a bombshell in the media and shook the young players Confidence from that moment many began to doubt if he really had what it takes to become one of the best in the world venius Jr was criticized not only for his lack of goals but also for not having the composure to play for a giant club like Real Madrid his numbers were modest in the 1920 season he scored just five
goals in 38 games a performance far below expectations for a player of his caliber many thought he would never reach the level of Neymar to whom he was always compared after all Neymar could not only dribble but also score goals when it mattered most venius was at a Crossroads either he would transform or he would be forgotten and it was in this uncertainty that he chose to fight his career began to change in 2021 when Carlo ancelotti took over as Real Madrid's manager ancelotti is known for his ability to develop young talents and with Vinnie
he found a player ready to take a leap forward early in the season Vinnie started on the bench but when he came on it was clear something had changed in a match against aloes he scored a goal with a calmness never seen before in the next game against Levante he scored two stunning goals showing he had worked hard during the preseason to improve his finishing anchel noticed and from there decided to bet on venius as a starter and the Brazilian did not disappoint in the 2122 season he exploded he scored 22 goals and provided 20
assists in 52 games numbers that impressed even the harshest critics his passing accuracy in the Champions League was 80% with an average of 27 passes per game for an attacker who was once seen as just a dribbler these numbers showed he had transformed into a complete player he became one of the most dangerous players in big matches in the Champions League final against Liverpool he scored the winning goal helping Real Madrid claimed their 14th European title it was a crucial moment the crowning of the boy from s gonsalo on football's biggest Club stage and when
compared to other top contenders for the award like like Keelan mbappe and erling Holland venicius holds his own his pace and dribbling skills are unmatched yes mbappe and Holland are incredible finishers but venicius brings something different to the game his ability to create chances for himself and his teammates his explosive speed and his incredible teamwork in the 2023 24 Champions League season he hit a top speed of 34.7 kilm H out pacing many of the elite forwards that speed makes him a constant threat in any match but what truly sets venicius apart in the race
for the balandor is his Evolution and maturity on the field unlike earlier in his career when composure was an issue today he is a player who knows how to perform in the big moments last year he not only won La Liga but also lifted the Champions League trophy and became Real Madrid's top scorer with these accomplishments venicius Jr's resume is already that of a true champion however despite all this success his biggest obstacle to winning the Balon door might be his performances with the Brazilian national team when he plays for his country venius doesn't seem
to be the same player perhaps due to the tough period Brazil is going through on the international stage a Copa America Victory with Brazil would likely have sealed his Balon door win but but they were knocked out in the quarterfinals on penalties by Uruguay a match venicius missed due to suspension after receiving two yellow cards in the group stage the last Brazilian to win the Balon door was Kaka in 2007 with only Neymar making the top three since then meanwhile the competition is fierce Euro Champion Spain put rodri in a strong position in the race
he is regarded as the best defensive midfielder in the world and his increased involvement in goals and assists including the decisive goal that secured Manchester City's premier league title has brought him even more recognition among fans and ballondor voters another major Contender is Jude Bellingham the 21-year-old English midfielder shown in his first season at Real Madrid after his transfer from barua Dortmund last summer he ended the season with an impressive 27 goals including last minute winners in both classicos against Barcelona in La Liga plus 17 assists helping his Club win both the Spanish league and
the Champions League his standout moment at Euro 2024 was his bicycle kick and stoppage time that sent England's round of 16 tie against Slovakia into extra time had he inspired England to overcome Spain in the final he would have had a strong chance of becoming the first Englishman to win the balandor since Michael Owen in 2001 Messi 2 doesn't seem out of the race with eight Balon door wins throughout his career he's the most successful player in the history of the award his most recent Triumph was last year after leading Argentina to World Cup victory
further cementing his legendary status this year he remains a favorite at Major Bing houses however many believe another win would be a surprise given his recent form at this Summer's Copa America Messi couldn't replicate his usual Brilliance though he scored a crucial goal in the semi-finals against Canada his impact on the rest of the tournament was limited to make matters worse an injury sidelined him for the final hindering Argentina's chances moreover his stint at inter Miami hasn't yielded the expected results in terms of trophies further diminishing his Balon door chances this year despite his impressive
career his recent lack of silverware and underwhelming performances may work against him in the voting still despite missing out on Euro 2024 and Brazil's lackluster Copa America campaign venicius Jr remains somehow one of the favorites to win the coveted balandor not because he had a single Unforgettable moment but because no player has done something truly extraordinary for both club and Country now let's dive deeper into his style of play and performance to better understand his talent when it comes to endurance venius is one of the hardest working players on the pitch in the 2023 24
Champions League he covered 99.3 kilm in 10 matches an impressive average of 9.9 kilm per game this shows his commitment and energy in every match which is crucial for a player aiming to be the best in the world and we can't forget his assist numbers while he's not known as a playmaker throughout his career he's racked up about 84 assists in 344 matches an average of 24 assists per 100 games his growth isn't just individual he's become a player who elevates the entire team but when we look at the history of the Balon door it
doesn't just reward the best stats it celebrates the most decisive play ERS with a history of winning major trophies and if there's one thing venius has proven in recent Seasons it's that he's a key player venius Jr has come a long way from his early days at Flamingo to becoming one of Real Madrid's pillars he faced criticism dealt with pressure and instead of letting it break him he used every obstacle as motivation to get better his journey is proof that with hard work and dedication you can can overcome any barrier and achieve the highest dreams
he shows us that perseverance can turn doubt into certainty and uncertainty into glory and that's why many believe he's destined to win the Balon door of course there are other great players in the race mbappe with his speed and skill Holland with his Killer Instinct and even veterans like rodri but venicius has something the others don't his incredible story of overcoming the odds his constant growth and his impact in the most decisive moments he represents the new generation of world football even though he doesn't come close to Legends like Messi and CR7 so the answer
to our initial question is clear benius Jr is on the right path to winning the Balon door he's evolved learned from his mistakes and today he's a complete player capable of shining in the biggest moments the journey hasn't been easy but maybe it's exactly that story full of challenges and twists that makes him so special but of course only time will tell if he can achieve this feat until then the debate continues is venius JR the best in the world can you predict the top three for the Balon door drop your predictions in the comments
and don't be afraid to be bold
