Ancelotti mocks the absence of Vinícius Júnior among the best in the world

Carlo Ancelotti, Real Madrid coach and speculated future commander of the Brazilian national team, was ironic about the fact that Vinícius Júnior was left out of the finalists for FIFA The Best, an award that honors the best player in the world last season. The Brazilian, even with 23 goals and 21 assists in the 2022-2023 season, was not remembered among the candidates for the honor and, according to the Italian, jokingly, this made him “cry for three or four hours”.

Real Madrid did not have any of its athletes in this year’s final, unlike the 2022 edition. At that time, in addition to Vini Jr. being nominated, Karim Benzema and Luka Modric kept him company and had the recent Champions League title as a major factor of favoritism. The award, however, went to Lionel Messi, who stole the show by leading Argentina to their third World Cup victory.

Asked about the absence of his main player at a press conference before the game against Real Sociedad, in the Spanish Championship, Ancelotti said, ironically: “I saw him the other day and he was crying in the dressing room. He cried for three or four hours” .

Vinícius Júnior did not speak specifically about his absence from FIFA The Best, but, moments after the finalists were announced, he posted a smiling photo on his social media with the caption “Tranquilo, amigos”, in what appears to have been a hint at the award.

The list of nominees for 2023 includes a “battalion” of athletes from Manchester City, current winners of the Champions League. There are no less than seven players: Bernardo Silva, Erling Haaland, Ilkay Gündogan (currently at Barcelona, ​​but who played for the English club last season), Julián Álvarez, Kevin De Bruyne and Rodri among the outfield players, and Ederson, the only Brazil’s representative of the year, competing for the best goalkeeper in the world.

Fans can now vote for their favorites on FIFA platforms, choosing the top 3 for each category. The entity has not yet confirmed the date of the award. The 2022 edition had its ceremony held on February 27th of the current year.