Jenni Hermoso's brother reveals: Vinícius Jr. was told in advance he would win the 2026 Ballon d'Or

A shocking revelation has just been posted on Instagram by Rafa Hermoso, brother of female footballer Jenni Hermoso. According to the post, Brazilian star Vinícius Júnior of Real Madrid was told in advance that he would win the 2026 Ballon d'Or, but the final result did not match expectations. The post quickly sparked a massive backlash on social media, raising doubts about the transparency of football's most prestigious individual award. Rafa Hermoso, whose sister was a World Cup-winning Spanish international, claimed that Vinícius Jr. was fully convinced he would receive the golden trophy. He even prepared a special display space at his home to showcase the award. According to Rafa's account, a dinner was held at Vinícius's residence with the participation of Jenni Hermoso and her close circle to plan the award moment. However, when the official gala night arrived, everything changed inexplicably. "They told him he would win it," Rafa Hermoso wrote on Instagram. "He believed, he prepared, but then everything collapsed." The status quickly went viral, attracting millions of views. But the problem is: the entire story is based on a single source—a social media post from a person with no official authority. There is no confirmation from France Football, the Amaury Group, or UEFA—the co-organizers of the award since 2026. This has divided the online community. One side sees it as evidence of a lack of transparency in the voting system; the other warns about the risk of fake news based on an unverified Instagram post. Many sports media experts emphasize that although the story's details are vivid (dinner, display space, stage plans), they do not replace hard evidence. This is a classic example of the 'verisimilitude device'—a technique often seen in transfer rumors and award speculation. Vinícius Jr., 24, had an outstanding season with Real Madrid, with brilliant performances in La Liga and the Champions League. He was one of the strongest contenders for the 2026 Ballon d'Or, alongside Jude Bellingham and Rodri. However, the final result went to Rodri—the Spanish midfielder of Manchester City—a controversial but officially announced decision. Vinícius's failure to win the award angered many Real Madrid fans, and Rafa Hermoso's story added fuel to the fire. From an analytical perspective, this is a classic 'expectation-crushed' narrative, engineered to amplify a sense of injustice around Vinícius's loss. However, the key point is: emotional impact is very high, while evidential basis is extremely low. If this information is false, the person who released it will face legal and reputational consequences. If true, this would be one of the most serious leaks in the history of the award. Currently, Real Madrid, Vinícius Jr., and France Football have not issued any official comment. Observers believe this could be a publicity stunt by the poster, or a deliberate effort to pressure the voting system. Either way, this story raises a big question: can the Ballon d'Or maintain its credibility when unverified information can easily spread and shape public opinion? In this context, fans need to stay sober. An Instagram post is not a verified news report. As a famous saying in the transfer world goes: 'The hottest news is not necessarily the most accurate news, but the most accurate news usually comes later.' Wait for official confirmations before drawing final conclusions.