'They tried to erase you' — Ronaldo hails Vinicius after FIFA The Best victory

Brazilian football legend Ronaldo De Lima has expressed his pride and admiration for compatriot Vinicius Junior, who was recently crowned the FIFA Best Men's Player of the Year for 2024.

The Real Madrid man beat out Manchester City midfielder to win the award.

Ronaldo took to social media to celebrate Vinicius' achievement, highlighting the significance of a black Brazilian player receiving the award.

The former Real Madrid and Barcelona forward wrote:

"They tried to erase you, my friend and you danced on them. The best player in the world is Black and Brazilian."

Vinicius' win comes after being overlooked for the Ballon d'Or award in October, which was won by Spain's EURO 2024 winner Rodri.

The 24-year-old and the entire Real Madrid delegation cancelled their plans to attend the gala because they felt Vinicius was robbed.

However, this will feel like sweet redemption for a player who has had a sensational 2024 and deserves all the praise and accolades.