It’s been over a decade and a half since Kaká raised the Ballon d’Or, an accolade that has eluded Brazilian footballers since 2007. In a detailed conversation with ge, Kaká, the last Brazilian to win, explored changes in the award and talked about Brazil’s chances in world football.
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Kaká pointed out that the criteria for winning have evolved to emphasize team achievements rather than individual brilliance alone.
“Today, this individual award has been linked to the collective award. I am very happy about this, because football is truly a team sport and no one achieves anything alone. It is rare to see someone who has won the Ballon d’Or without having been the main protagonist of a collective achievement.”
Neymar
He illustrated this with the example of Neymar, whose stellar performances at Barcelona and PSG were not enough for Ballon d’Or honors, largely because his teams did not secure the Champions League title under his lead.
“I believe that Neymar was not chosen as the best player in the world because he was not the protagonist in a collective achievement. Even though he was very important in Barcelona’s Champions League victory, Messi ended up standing out as the protagonist. If PSG had won the Champions League final against Bayern Munich, Ney would probably have been chosen as the best player in the world that year.”
Vinicius Junior
The focus then shifted to Vinícius Júnior, Real Madrid’s young star, who Kaká believes could end Brazil’s dry spell. His key role in Madrid’s recent Champions League victory marks him as a potential frontrunner for the 2024 Ballon d’Or.
Kaká voiced strong support for Vini Jr, expressing hope that the dynamic forward can maintain his form and visibility, especially with the upcoming Euro Cup, where he could face stiff competition from Europe’s finest.
Kaká’s analysis underlines a narrative in football: individual talent needs the support of team success to achieve the highest honors. As Brazil pins its hopes on Vini Jr, the anticipation builds not just for a potential Brazilian winner but for a revival of Brazil’s storied football legacy on the world stage.
