Devastating 'zinger' from Manchester City to Vinicius Jr. over the Ballon d'Or

The clashes between Manchester City and Real Madrid are beginning to establish themselves as a 'classic' in European football. The two teams have faced each other in the last four editions of the Champions League and their matchups are always, at the very least, electrifying. However, the rivalry between the institutions transcends the playing fields, as the Ballon d'Or that Rodri rightfully snatched from Vinicius Jr. has sparked a rivalry between the two clubs. 

The absence of the Madrid players at the gala organized by France Football did not sit well with the Mancunians, who took advantage of the whites' visit to the Etihad Stadium to remind the player of what happened on October 28, 2024. Through their social media, the English posted a photograph of the Brazilian arriving at the stadium with a giant poster of Rodri holding the Ballon d'Or 2024 in the background.

As if that weren't enough, the 'citizens' fans displayed a huge tifo while the players took to the field and the Champions anthem played, which included a giant image of Rodri kissing the trophy and the message 'Stop crying your heart out', referencing the title of a song by the British band Oasis, known fans of the club.

Vinicius Jr. responded to the fans

The tension between the stands and Vinicius did not end there. Throughout the match, the home supporters booed the '7' of Madrid with every touch and dedicated chants of "Where is your Ballon d'Or?". The forward, far from staying silent, pointed to the logo of the 15 Champions won on the side of the Madrid jersey and stared at it, making sure it was clearly visible.

At the end of the match, the Brazilian spoke about it and stated that "I try not to do anything, but they know our history and they know everything we can do in this competition. I think it was the fifth time we came to play. It’s always very cold, but we have to keep going in this line." Next Wednesday, February 19, they will face each other again, this time at the Santiago Bernabéu.