Ancelotti: Vinicius is close to the Ballon d'Or

 

Coach Carlo Ancelotti said on Friday that Vinicius Junior, the Real Madrid player, the Spanish league champion, deserves to win the Ballon d'Or for the first time in his career, because of the wonderful performance provided by the Brazilian striker.

 Vinicius (23 years old) scored 5 goals and provided 5 assists in the Champions League this season to help Real Madrid reserve a place in the final. He also scored 13 goals in the Spanish First Division, which the team officially won last round for the 36th time, increasing its record.

 The 14-time European champion will meet Germany's Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League final at Wembley Stadium on June 1.

 Ancelotti told reporters before he visited Granada, which is threatened with relegation, on Saturday, that Vinicius is "doing a wonderful job."

 He added: "He still has the Champions League final ahead of him, and then he will participate in the Copa America. He is very close (to the Ballon d'Or), and if he achieves positive results in both competitions, he can win it."