There’s a long and glorious history of the greats in life using failure, rejection and criticism to spur them on to heights that, perhaps, they wouldn’t have achieved without facing what they considered to be gross unfairness. The question now is whether Vinícius Júnior is about to join the ranks of those who suffered “the slings and arrows of life’s outrageous fortunes” and retorted, defiantly, with: “Is that really all you’ve got?”
The fascination, after his and Real Madrid‘s furious reaction to last week’s Ballon d’Or snub, is augmented by the fact that other people, no matter how talented, take slights, put-downs and setbacks personally, allow adversity to corrode their focus and allow the permanent chip on their shoulder to clip their ability to soar. Is that what the Brazilian is made of instead?
A quick reminder of the context here: Madrid’s star player was reportedly furious at not having placed first in the Ballon d’Or voting, having thought he would win outright and having prepared extravagant fiestas to celebrate his taking of the throne. Also, Madrid’s president, Florentino Perez, cancelled the club’s attendance at last week’s Paris gala and subsequently, he, Vinícius, and the entire staff of the European and Spanish champions came under extreme criticism for what was considered “crybaby” behaviour.
Vinicius swiftly used social media to proclaim: “I’ll do 10 times more if I have to. They’re not ready.” A post viewed over 128 million times! Now, if he’s preparing to inflict a tempest of brilliance on Madrid’s rivals to “show” those who have done him “an injustice,” it’s worth reflecting on how just such circumstances have had a catalytic impact on a few high-achievers in these situations.
Hopefully he’s now developed the maturity and has sufficiently good counsel around him from people like Carlo Ancelotti and Luka Modric, to avoid letting this sting that he’s feeling increase his tempestuousness rather than motivating a tempest of outstanding football. Deep down, I suspect that had his employer not cancelled the expedition to Paris, Vinicius would’ve attended the gala and, even if his face had looked like he was chewing a wasp, I think he would’ve sucked up his medicine while Rodri received the coveted golden award.
The 24-year-old is genuinely at something of a crossroads. We know that there was a gargantuan offer from Saudi Arabia for him to abandon LaLiga; we also know that he, sometimes justifiably, feels abused and improperly protected. Until now, he has processed brilliantly those times when it feels like everything is against you.
Vinicius is instinctively a showman at heart, but he has harnessed that inclination to evolve into a devastating effective, decisive and, often, inspirational attacker. How he chooses to channel his fury, and disappointment at this setback is going to form a very interesting second act in the career of an extraordinary, iconic and, to me, extremely exciting sportsman. But don’t believe for one second that there isn’t a wrong path to go down when, you stare the world in the face and say to yourself: “I will f—— show them!”
I desperately hope that Vinicius chooses well.
