24 Hours, 5 Awards: Real Madrid’s Star Vinícius Jr. Secures Legendary Status with 14 Titles at 24

In the past 24 hours, the football world has belonged to Real Madrid and their talismanic winger, Vinícius Jr. On December 19, Beijing time, Real Madrid triumphed 3-0 over Pachuca in the Intercontinental Cup final, claiming their ninth world championship title (4 Intercontinental Cups and 5 FIFA Club World Cups). Among the galaxy of stars at Real Madrid, the 24-year-old Vinícius Jr. shone the brightest, cementing his status as the team’s undisputed leader.

Manager Carlo Ancelotti’s tactical switch to a 4-2-3-1 formation has made Vinícius the unshakable choice on the left wing. In the Intercontinental Cup final, Vinícius demonstrated his brilliance yet again, assisting Kylian Mbappé for the opening goal and converting a penalty in the 81st minute to seal the 3-0 victory.

The Big-Game Player

Vinícius has often been a polarizing figure in world football, but his ability to deliver on the biggest stages is undeniable. The Brazilian has now featured in 12 finals for Real Madrid, winning 11 of them and contributing 8 goals and 6 assists, including a hat-trick and two UEFA Champions League final goals.

After the final, Real Madrid proudly shared a photo of Vinícius with the trophy, highlighting his incredible contributions. For his performance in the final, Vinícius was awarded the Intercontinental Cup Final MVP, the tournament’s Best Player (Golden Ball), and, of course, the championship medal.

A Historic 24 Hours

The past day has been a whirlwind of accolades for Vinícius, who walked away with five major honors:

1. FIFA Best Men’s Player
2. FIFA FIFPro World XI Inclusion
3. Intercontinental Cup Champion
4. Intercontinental Cup Final MVP
5. Intercontinental Cup Golden Ball Winner

This remarkable haul caps off a stellar 2024 for Vinícius. If there’s any lingering regret for the Brazilian star, it would be missing out on the Ballon d’Or. In the latest edition of the award presented by France Football, Vinícius finished second to Manchester City’s Rodri.

After the Intercontinental Cup final, Vinícius subtly expressed his dissatisfaction with the Ballon d’Or voting process, saying, “I can’t change the minds of those who didn’t vote for me.”

The Best Player in the World?

On the pitch, Vinícius has a strong case for being the best player in the world today. In 2024, he has scored 34 goals and provided 16 assists, helping Real Madrid achieve an unprecedented quintuple: UEFA Champions League, La Liga, Spanish Super Cup, UEFA Super Cup, and FIFA Club World Cup.

At just 24 years old, Vinícius has already become a Real Madrid legend. Since joining the club six and a half years ago, he has amassed 14 major trophies:

• 3 La Liga Titles
• 2 UEFA Champions League Titles
• 3 FIFA Club World Cups/Intercontinental Cups
• 2 UEFA Super Cups
• 3 Spanish Super Cups
• 1 Copa del Rey

The New Face of Real Madrid

In the post-Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema era, Vinícius has risen to become Real Madrid’s undisputed leader. His dazzling skills, relentless work ethic, and penchant for clutch performances have made him the cornerstone of Ancelotti’s squad.

Vinícius’ journey to superstardom has not been without challenges. From his early days at Real Madrid, where he faced criticism for inconsistent finishing, to becoming the team’s talisman, his evolution has been nothing short of remarkable.

Now, with 14 titles under his belt and a growing list of individual accolades, Vinícius Jr. is not just the present but also the future of Real Madrid. His achievements at such a young age place him among the all-time greats of the club, and his story is far from over.

As Real Madrid celebrated their latest world championship, it was clear that this is Vinícius’ era. With his eyes set on more silverware and individual honors, the Brazilian winger is on a trajectory to redefine what it means to be a legend at the Santiago Bernabéu.