Real Madrid forward fires back at Manchester City fans over Ballon d'Or banner – ‘Gives me more strength'

Yahoo

12-02-2025

Vinicius Jr. played a crucial role in Real Madrid's victory over Manchester City, earning the Man of the Match award for his outstanding performance.
However, the night was not without controversy, as the Brazilian forward found himself at the centre of a clash with the home fans at the Etihad Stadium.
City supporters made sure to remind him that he had missed out on the Ballon d'Or, using a banner to mock him.
During the match, Manchester City fans displayed a banner featuring Rodri kissing the Ballon d'Or trophy.
Alongside the image was a phrase referencing the Oasis song Stop Crying Your Heart Out, with an additional dig at Real Madrid labelling them as 'crybabies.'
The gesture was clearly aimed at Vinicius, as Rodri had been placed ahead of him in the final Ballon d'Or rankings.
Despite the attempt to rattle him, Vinicius remained unfazed. He later spoke about the incident, acknowledging that rival fans often attempt to provoke opposition players.
However, rather than being affected by such actions, he insisted that they only fuel his determination to perform even better.
Our visitors have arrived 📍#ManCity | #UCL pic.twitter.com/ib02J4vDvy
— Manchester City (@ManCity) February 11, 2025
'I see the banner, but whenever the opposing fans do things, it gives me more strength to play a great game,' said the Real Madrid forward as quoted by Mundo Deportivo.
The forward also addressed his own reaction towards the City supporters, stating that he preferred not to engage too much but was aware of the competitive history between the two clubs in the Champions League.
'I try not to do anything, but they know our history and everything we can do in this competition,' he added.
Adding to the tension, Manchester City's official social media account posted an image shortly after the game that many interpreted as a subtle jab at Vinicius.
The picture showed him holding a camera and appearing to take a photo of Rodri with the Ballon d'Or trophy.
Whether this was an intentional dig or just a coincidence remains unclear, but it certainly added another layer to the rivalry between the two clubs.
Ultimately, Vinicius had the last laugh on the night, helping Real Madrid secure an important win at the Etihad.