Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior has said the display of a banner highlighting Rodri’s Ballon d’Or win before kick-off at Manchester City motivated him even more to win the UEFA Champions League play-off first leg on Tuesday night.
Vinicius was named man of the match after providing the assist for Jude Bellingham’s stoppage time winner and Brahim Diaz’s late equaliser in Real Madrid’s dramatic 3-2 victory over Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium.
Spain midfielder Rodri claimed the prestigious Ballon d’Or prize ahead of the Brazil winger last October, with Real Madrid boycotting the ceremony in Paris because they felt their player had deserved the award.
The large banner unfurled by City fans on Tuesday night at Etihad Stadium showed Rodri kissing the Ballon d’Or alongside the words “Stop crying your heart out”.
“I saw the banner,” Vinicius Jr told Movistar.
“Whenever the opposing fans do things like that they give me more strength to have a great game and here I have done it.”
This was the fourth successive season that the two teams have met in the knockout stages of Europe’s elite competition.
Real Madrid won on penalties when the pair faced off in the quarter-finals last year and Carlo Ancelotti’s side went on to win their 15th title.
“They know our history, everything we do in this competition,” Vinicius Jr added.
“It is the fifth time we come here, it is always very cold, but this time we have won and we have to continue this.”
The two sides meet in Madrid in the second leg next Wednesday.
