If you were to ask the average Real Madrid fan who is their player of the year, the majority would pick English star Jude Bellingham, who had joined Madrid from Dortmund in the summer for 103 million Euros.

Well, a reasonable answer would be, ‘that’s fair enough’. The ex-Dortmund sensation enjoyed a remarkable debut season with Los Blancos, helping them win the La Liga title and a memorable 15th Champions League.

Bellingham scored 23 goals in all competitions from 42 games, with 19 in the league.

The Englishman scored 14 of the 19 goals in the first 15 games, beating Cristiano Ronaldo’s previous first-season record of 13.

Bellingham also registered 13 assists, demonstrating his all-round match-winning capacities.

From 90-minute winners to an El-Classico hat trick and Champions League-winning assist, there was little to deny the inevitable hype Bellingham was getting.

Not to mention that the 20-year-old’s media image is remarkably flawless.

He is well-spoken and mature for his age, and he never puts a foot wrong. Jude Bellingham is the perfect poster boy for Real Madrid to take them into the new generation following departures from crucial figures over the years.

In stark contrast to Bellingham, Vinicius Jr. is a player who does not get the same hype and recognition as Bellingham due to his perception by the vast public despite being Madrid’s top performer for the last few seasons.

After winning his second Champions League with Real Madrid, Vinicius became only the second player to score in multiple UEFA Champions League finals before turning 24, the other being Lionel Messi.

In a game where Bellingham had a quiet game by his standards, Vinicius stood up, showing energy on the wing and urging the crowd when the game was slipping from Madrid.

The sealing goal was just the cherry on top for a player who has been ‘amongst the elites’ for a while now.

Vinicius properly arrived on the scene in the 21/22 season and has not looked back ever since.

The electrifying winger, who previously had been criticized for his end product in the final third, refined his craft to an elite level, scoring a breakout 17 goals in La Liga.

Vini also netted four goals in the Champions League that season, including the winning goal against Liverpool in the final.

The Brazillian’s output continued to skyrocket, with 23 Champions League goal contributions in his last 22 games.

He always showed up in the biggest of games. His elite form saw him beat Messi’s knockout stage assists record of 12 in 55 fewer games.

A stat said Vinicius had scored or assisted in 92% of the knockout stages he has played in the Champions League. The only time he failed was against Chelsea in the 2021 semi-finals.

This was no longer the same talented but wasteful teenager from Flamengo who Madrid legend Karim Benzema said was “playing against us” to Benjamin Mendy.

So why does Vinicius not get the media hype and recognition of other top players, such as Earling Haaland, Kylian Mbappe – and even Bellingham?

This is because people still perceive Vini as this wonder kid who arrived from Campeonato Brasileiro and could not score a goal to save his life despite the statistical output that has been evident for the last three years.

Vinicius doesn’t do his image any favours with his antics on and off the pitch, but with a maturity that will disappear from his game.

But we do have to keep in mind the constant racial abuse the Madrid star has to go through, so some of his actions are justified.

It’s time for the public to accept that Vinicius Jr. is undoubtedly one of the best footballers in the world. Despite the headlines, he is the face of Real Madrid and will be for the next decade.

It may not take long for Vini to earn his due respect with the Balon D’or ceremony on the horizon, with the ‘Prince of Madrid’ going in as one of the major favorites.

The football world will eagerly tune in to what would be an exciting vote count to which the name Vinicius Jnr is bound to have been ever-present.