Real Madrid president Florentino Perez, who recently criticized Uganda’s Ballon d’Or voting for sidelining Vinicius Junior, might find solace in how the nation voted at the 2024 FIFA The Best Awards.
In contrast to the Ballon d’Or controversy, Uganda’s three representatives placed the Brazilian winger among their top three choices.
Uganda’s FIFA The Best Votes
The three representatives who voted on behalf of Uganda made it clear that Vinicius Junior’s contributions were appreciated this time around:
Uganda Cranes Captain Khalid Aucho:
1. Vinícius Jr
2. Lionel Messi
3. Rodri
Uganda Cranes Coach Paul Joseph Put:
1. Jude Bellingham
2. Rodri
3. Vinícius Jr
Media Representative Stephen Mayamba (FUFA Communications Officer):
1. Rodri
2. Jude Bellingham
3. Vinícius Jr
Vinicius’ placement in the top three of all three ballots starkly contrasts with his eighth-place ranking in Uganda’s Ballon d’Or vote, which had drawn Perez’s ire.
Perez’s Earlier Criticism
Perez, furious after Vinicius missed out on the 2024 Ballon d’Or, publicly called out journalists from Uganda, Namibia, Albania, and Finland for failing to give Vinicius a single vote.
Speaking about Uganda’s vote, he remarked, “If the journalists from Uganda had not voted, Vinicius would be the Ballon d’Or [winner]. These countries did not give Vinicius a single vote.”
At the time, Uganda’s Ballon d’Or vote ranked Rodri first, followed by Jude Bellingham and Dani Carvajal.
Vinicius Junior was placed eighth, a decision that fueled Perez’s belief that the voting process lacked fairness and prestige.
Vinicius also had the backing of compatriots Danilo and Dorival Junior as their first choice, while Argentina skipper Lionel Messi had him in third place behind Lamine Yamal and Kylian Mbappe.
