Psychologist: Ballon d’Or loss and pressure may be affecting Vinícius’s performances

Sports psychologist Antonio Medina says Vinícius Júnior’s dip in form at Real Madrid cannot be explained by a single factor, pointing to the possible interplay of psychological, physical, tactical and environmental pressures. Discussion of his situation has been linked to his loss to Rodri in the 2024 Ballon d’Or voting, without treating that defeat as the sole explanation for what the player is going through.

In Medina’s view, the disappointment of not winning the award may affect a player if their expectations are high, but Vinícius also produced strong performances afterwards. He explained that fear of making mistakes or facing criticism can make a player hesitant and limit the dribbling, initiative and risk-taking that are part of his style.

Medina noted that playing for Real Madrid has put Vinícius under constant scrutiny and assessment since he arrived at the club at a young age, amid high expectations and growing pressure. He cited Lionel Messi’s experiences with Argentina and Eden Hazard’s after his move from Chelsea to Real Madrid, stressing that dips in form do not necessarily mean the end of a player’s career or that they have lost the ability to regain their level.