Marta slams Ballon d’Or choice: why NWSL and Orlando Pride star backs Real Madrid’s Vini Jr

The Orlando Pride and NWSL star once again proved that her influence on the sport goes well off the pitch. Not only an extremely skilled player but also because she has a voice to be reckoned with in matters concerning the sport, the soccer legend did not mince words in her criticism of the absence of Vinícius Júnior's name among the top candidates for the 2024 Ballon d'Or. "What kind of Ballon d'Or is this?" she wrote to her social media in a post that went promptly viral and found resonance among fans worldwide.

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Marta's chagrin speaks volumes: after all, she is the most awarded player in soccer history to have won six world-best titles and knows better than anyone how much such a recognition means throughout the career of an athlete. Her words go beyond just an opinion; it questions what the very core of this award is for and what criteria determine who is the best in the world.

A season of leadership and continuity: Vinícius Júnior

Marta's frustration epitomizes what many have seen from Vini Jr this season. He was one of Real Madrid's brightest stars in the Champions League and remains an integral cog in the machinery that is the team's lineup. His performance has attracted attention not only for flair and speed but also for the growth in maturity he has developed on the pitch, stepping up in decisive moments and becoming a leader for one of the greatest clubs in the world.

For many, the 2023/24 season was the period in which Vini Jr. finally gained complete recognition among the very best; hence, his disregard is causing so much controversy. Marta herself is a sports veteran and an idol to all athletes; her position is straightforward: the best player award should be based on more than just team trophies. It should acknowledge a player's consistent power, performance, and influence throughout an entire season.

Real Madrid Hit Back at Ballon d'Or Criteria

Real Madrid also didn't show restraint on the matter. In a release, the Spanish club made clear that Vinícius Júnior's absence in the Ballon d'Or is a disrespect to its legacy and contribution to the global game. "If the criteria do not designate Vinícius as the winner, those same criteria should designate Carvajal," the club jokily said, but with a very serious question lying beneath it: what kind of criteria actually exist to elect the winner?

Real Madrid's statement underlined that the Ballon d'Or jury is made up of journalists from 100 countries who are given a shortlist of 30 players, drawn up by "L'Équipe" and UEFA ambassadors like Luís Figo. A similar process exists in the female award, with journalists from 50 countries. That structure provides a filter that too often discounts players of tremendous impact and global relevance in favor of those with more direct victories. Too often, some members of the jury hold direct wins above all else.

Team Trophies vs. Individual Talent

Historically, Ballon d'Or has skewed towards whatever titles a player can win with the teams. That's fair enough to an extent, because soccer is a team sport. However, in overweighing titles, it risks bypassing outstanding individual players whose teams may not reach the top. And that is exactly Marta's concern-to the NWSL star, the value of a player needs to go beyond trophies. A player like Vini Jr is the very meaning of 'best in the world': changing the rhythm, dazzling with his skills, bringing consistency to Real Madrid. He does not run behind the ball; he is a playmaker-forever keeping fans at the edge of their seats, fascinating audiences everywhere. He represents the pure spirit of Brazilian soccer that marshals, in one and the same breath, skill and passion that capture the hearts of all.

After all, Marta-the reigning NWSL Shield champion with Orlando Pride-knows more than anyone how the dearth of recognition can affect an athlete. She fought her way through many obstacles early in her career and still faces many on and off the field. Maybe that is why her critique of the Ballon d'Or feels so powerful.