Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has predicted Vinicius Junior will win the next Ballon d’Or after the Brazilian forward scored a hat-trick to lead a thrilling 5-2 victory over Borussia Dortmund in the Uefa Champions League on Tuesday.
Trailing 2-0 at half time in a rematch of last season’s final – which Real won 2-0 – Vinicius struck three times in the second half to inflict further anguish on Dortmund.
First-half goals in quick succession by Donyell Malen and Jamie Gittens had given Dortmund a two-goal lead at the break.
“Things were very quiet when we got to the dressing room 2-0 down at half time,” Vinicius, 24, told Movistar. “But we listened to the boss [Ancelotti] and agreed one simple thing: if we can score first then we’ll fight back and win once again.”
The 15-time champions duly struck back early in the second period via Antonio Rudiger and Vinicius, before Lucas Vazquez sent Real ahead and Brazil forward Vinicius netted two more inside the final 10 minutes.
After the surprise defeat at Lille last time out, Madrid’s hunt for a record-extending 16th Champions League crown is back on track as they move to ninth in the standings, on six points.
Malen swept the Germans into the lead on the half-hour following a deft pass from Serhou Guirassy that split open the defence.
Madrid defender Eder Militao was then left beating the turf in frustration four minutes later when Gittens flew in at the back post to double Dortmund’s lead.
Rudiger halved the deficit with a powerful header from a Kylian Mbappe cross on 60 minutes.
Vinicius equalised two minutes later by tucking away a stray ball, the goal being awarded by VAR after Mbappe was shown to have been onside in the build-up.
A rare Dortmund foray forward resulted in a fine Thibaut Courtois save, with the holders then racing straight down the other end and Vazquez lashing home on 83 minutes.
Vinicius then completed his hat-trick in the 86th and 93rd minutes, his second coming after a lung-busting sprint down the line from inside his own half.
“It’s rare to see a player perform like Vinicius did in the second half, not just with the goals, but with an extraordinary energy, intensity, and character,” Ancelotti said. “I think he’s going to win the Ballon d’Or for what he did last year, helping us win the Champions League, not for today’s three goals, which will count towards next year’s Ballon d’Or.”
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