Since that dramatic night on October 24, 2024, the global sports community has been closely watching a strange transformation in the career of Brazilian star Vinicius Junior. After being within an inch of touching glory, the "Golden Ball" shifted from a dream that haunted him to a "nightmare" from which he seems to have not yet awakened.
The crowning moment of Spanish player Rodri Hernandez with the prestigious award was the "psychological shock" that disrupted the stability of the Brazilian winger; after an exceptional season leading Real Madrid to the pinnacle of La Liga and the Champions League, capped by a goal in the final match, Vinicius found himself the "runner-up" in a situation he did not anticipate.
Vinicius then tweeted: "I will raise my level tenfold if necessary. They are not ready," but after 500 days from that event, it turned out that his numbers had not improved as promised, but almost dropped to half in most aspects, according to a report published by Cadena Cope.
• Goal Scoring: He used to score a goal every two matches, but now he scores a goal every four matches.
• Dribbling: His attempts have decreased by 25%, maintaining a success rate of 50%, meaning half of his attempts succeed.
• Crosses: They decreased by 20%, while crucial passes remained the same, with an average of a pass every three matches.
The most evident impact is his effect on the team's points through his goals: Prior to that night, his goals contributed to about 20 points for his team; after that, the number dropped to just 8 points.
These numbers clearly indicate the urgent need for the player to raise his level again if he does not wish for the night of October 24, 2024, to remain his closest moment to winning the Golden Ball.
Key Numbers for Vinicius After Losing the Golden Ball
• From scoring a goal every two matches to a goal every four matches.
• Decrease in dribble attempts to 25%.
• Decrease in crossing rate to 20%.
• Contributed through his goals to securing only 8 points for Real Madrid after having contributed to 20 points.
