Neymar says Brazil and Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior should have been 'top three' in Ballon d'Or

Neymar has criticised the Ballon d’Or rankings after Brazil team-mate Vinicius Junior only finished eighth. Real Madrid and France forward Karim Benzema won the award ahead of Sadio Mane and Kevin de Bruyne. Ad Vinicius enjoyed an impressive 2021/22 season with Real Madrid, scoring 21 goals and providing 20 assists in La Liga and the Champions League.

He also netted the winner in the Champions League final against Liverpool. Ballon d'OrMessi's Ballon d'Or ranking dismissed by Argentine manager Gorosito — 'That's funny'33 MINUTES AGO However, in the Ballon d’Or rankings, he finished behind Benzema, Mane, De Bruyne, Robert Lewandowski, Mohamed Salah, Kylian Mbappe and Thibaut Courtois. “Benzema deserved it,” wrote Neymar on Twitter.

“But for Vini to be eighth is not possible. He should at least be top three.” Neymar, who missed out on the 30-man shortlist entirely, also included several laughing emojis in the message. Despite Neymar’s verdict, Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti was not too unhappy with Vinicius’ position.

Why Real Madrid are the model superclub Courtois: Winning Ballon d'Or impossible for goalkeepers «I think it's fair because this allows him to try to improve what he did last year, in which it was almost all new for everyone to see him with that continuity (in the team) and quality. “It will motivate him to do even better.» Real Madrid goalkeeper Courtois won the Yashin Trophy for the best goalkeeper but expressed his frustration at finishing seventh in the Ballon d’Or. «I see it as impossible, for a goalkeeper, it is impossible to win this award.

I don't know if as a goalkeeper you can do more than what I did last year,” he said. »I'm not saying I would have won it. But I'm not even on the podium