Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti was full of praise for Vinicius Jr after the Brazilian forward's stunning performance helped Real Madrid stage a remarkable comeback to defeat Borussia Dortmund 5-2 in the UEFA Champions League. The young star netted a second-half hat-trick, turning the tide after Real Madrid trailed by two goals at halftime. Ancelotti’s admiration for Vinicius went beyond his goals, as he highlighted the player's character and maturity on the field, describing his performance as "extraordinary."
In his post-match press conference, Ancelotti was confident that Vinicius Jr is on the path to winning the prestigious Ballon d'Or, which is awarded annually to the world's best player. Ancelotti stated, "Vinicius is going to win (the Ballon d'Or), not for what he did tonight, but for what he did last year." The Italian manager pointed out that the 24-year-old’s exceptional contributions over the past season make him a clear contender for the award. He also emphasized that the hat-trick performance against Dortmund will likely be remembered in the future as a key moment in Vinicius’ rise to global prominence.
Ancelotti lauded Vinicius not just for his goal-scoring ability but for his tenacity and impact on the game. “What I can say is that it's rare to see a player who plays a second half like Vinicius did. And not because of the three goals but because of his character; he's extraordinary,” said the manager. He noted that Vinicius is the kind of player who often faces criticism or whistles from opposing fans, precisely because of his ability to change the outcome of a match.
Reflecting on the team’s overall performance, Ancelotti explained that there was no sense of panic in the locker room during halftime, despite being two goals down. Instead, the team remained composed, with Ancelotti making tactical adjustments that paid off. He shifted the system and urged his players to approach the second half with greater intensity and focus on the finer details, like passing accuracy and winning individual battles on the field. The result was a dominant second half, which Ancelotti described as the best his team had played all season.
Ancelotti emphasized that while the team cannot sustain that level of intensity for a full 90 minutes, they must learn to play with more balance and consistency throughout the match. He hopes that the lessons from this victory will help Real Madrid avoid situations where they need to rely on comebacks, stressing the importance of starting games with the same vigor they showed in the second half against Dortmund.
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