In a bold statement, former England manager Sam Allardyce has thrown his support behind Real Madrid’s star forward, Vinicius Jr., as the frontrunner for the 2025 Ballon d’Or, while snubbing Mohamed Salah in the process.
Allardyce, who has managed several clubs throughout his career, including Bolton Wanderers, made waves by dismissing Salah’s chances of winning the prestigious award. According to Allardyce, the Egyptian forward has “no chance” of securing the Ballon d’Or, mainly due to the lingering effects of Real Madrid’s absence from the award ceremony last year.
At 70, Allardyce believes Vinicius Jr. should have been a top contender for the 2024 Ballon d’Or, following an exceptional season in which he scored 25 goals and provided 11 assists across 40 matches. His contributions were pivotal in helping Real Madrid clinch both the UEFA Champions League and La Liga titles.
Despite his stellar performances, Vinicius Jr. fell short to Manchester City’s Rodri, who had an outstanding year, playing a key role in Spain’s Euro 2024 success and helping his club secure the Premier League title. Vinicius, however, faced a disappointing exit with Brazil in the quarterfinals of the 2024 Copa America.
Allardyce’s prediction for the 2025 Ballon d’Or seems to be influenced by the complex relationship between Vinicius Jr. and the Ballon d’Or organizers, France Football. He pointed out the controversial incident last year when Vinicius chose to skip the awards ceremony after learning he wouldn’t be receiving the prestigious honor, a move that left a lasting impression on the event’s organizers.
It seems Allardyce’s bold opinions reflect both his admiration for Vinicius Jr.’s performances and his belief that the 2025 Ballon d’Or could be the Brazilian’s time to shine.
