Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland was expected to be the next Ballon d'Or battle after Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, but it's time to recognise the brilliant Vinicius Jnr as the top contender... even above Jude Bellingham

Real Madrid superstar Vinicius Jnr is finally getting the recognition he deserves after his puzzling omission from best player in the world debates. 

An opening has emerged over recent years as the incredible careers of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo wind down, yet it is another pair of superstars that have often been described as the ones to take their place.

Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe have taken centre stage, with many expecting that the pair will dominate the Ballon d'Or battle for many years to come. 

Despite his success at Real Madrid, Vinicius has always been regarded as a step below the pair, struggling to break into the conversation as the world's best.

But after leading Real Madrid to yet more Champions League glory in their 2-0 win over Borussia Dortmund, it's time to recognise Vinicius as the top contender to challenge for the throne left behind by Ronaldo and Messi. 

The 23-year-old scored Madrid's second to help Los Blancos win a record-extending 15th Champions League trophy at Wembley Stadium on Saturday. 

He continues to cement his place as the man for the big occasion, after also scoring the decisive goal that led Madrid to victory over Liverpool in the final in Paris two years ago.  

This season, he also scored a hat-trick in the Spanish Super Cup final against Barcelona, and netted two hugely important goals against Bayern Munich to send Madrid into the Champions League final.

It is this sort of impact which has led to him becoming the favourite to win the next Ballon d'Or award. 

His Real Madrid team-mate Jude Bellingham is also in the running, after enjoying a stunning debut season at the Santiago Bernabeu.  

However, Bellingham was quiet in the Champions League final, and unless he can lead England to glory at Euro 2024, his Real Madrid team-mate Vinicius will comfortably have the edge over the 20-year-old midfielder. Then again, Vinicius could still maintain his place as the favourite for the award should Brazil win the Copa America. 

Bellingham has also backed his team-mate for the Ballon d'Or, as he said: 'I always felt that the Ballon d'Or and those kind of things were like for strikers and wingers, the flashy players.

'I know I can entertain a crowd but no one can do it like Vini. I've said before that when he is at his best, he's the best player in the world. I know he likes to say the same about me and that's the kind of relationship we have. 

'You don't always have to be friends with your team-mates but it helps when you can be so close off the pitch as well, and then on the pitch it reflects. We have a good understanding of each other's movement and if he was to win it I'd feel just as proud as if I'd won it because I know that I've helped contribute to his success.'

Another high-profile backer of Vinicius is Thierry Henry, who believes the Brazilian is the best player in the world.

Henry, agreeing with comments made by Jamie Carragher, told CBS Sports: 'It can change. Because, we all know, people talk about Ballon d'Or all the time - Copa America and the Euros will dictate that. 

'It will not stop because of this game, even if Vinicius scores or Bellingham scores and Real Madrid win - the Euro or the Copa America will have an impact on who get the Ballon d'Or. But, right now, this guy is ahead for me.'

It raises the question of why Vinicius has been overlooked in the debate to take over Messi and Ronaldo's place as the best in the world. 

While Haaland and Mbappe exploded onto the scene, Vinicius has taken some time to get to where he is. 

Vinicius scored just six LaLiga goals across his first two full seasons with the club.

Karim Benzema famously was caught telling Ferland Mendy during the 2020-21 season to not pass the ball to Vinicius because the Brazilian was playing so poorly.

The Frenchman, who won the Ballon d'Or in 2022, said: 'Brother don't play to him. On my mother's life. He is playing against us.'

That criticism appeared to spur Vinicius on to improve, as he went on to form a prolific partnership with Benzema - but it was the Frenchman who was considered as the main star.  

Benzema's move to Saudi Arabia last summer has opened the door for Vinicius to  become the main star of Madrid's attack, even though his highlight-reel skills and star power has already been there to show over the last three years. 

The 23-year-old has had his challenges to contend with off the pitch as well, facing relentless racist abuse since arriving in Spain at the age of 18.

Back in March, the emotional burden of years of taunts and death threats came to a head in a press conference where he broke down in tears while describing the vile abuse he has received.  

He said: 'I receive a lot of insults while the racist is free; he is not punished. Every day that goes by I feel more and more sad about it. But I struggle on because they have picked on me. I fight so that in the near future it won't happen to anyone else.' 

Despite the abuse, he has continued to maintain a stunning level of form on the pitch, scoring 24 goals in all competitions this season, while also providing 11 assists. 

Haaland and Mbappe's stunning scoring rate is probably the strongest reason as to why they have been thrust into the position as the ones to take over from Messi and Ronaldo.  

Mbappe, meanwhile scored 44 goals for PSG as they sleepwalked to the title, has already won the World Cup with France, and scored an iconic hat-trick in the 2022 final where Les Bleus lost to Argentina on penalties. 

But Vinicius belongs in the top bracket of world footballers, and is expected to beat Haaland and Mbappe to be the first of the trio to win the Ballon d'Or award - despite being two years younger than the Frenchman, and only nine days older than the Man City striker.  

Vinicius will be joined at Real Madrid by Mbappe, who has left Paris Saint-Germain at the end of his contract, and has now signed a five-year contract with the Spanish giants. 

Despite the imminent signing of the Frenchman, Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti has claimed that he already has the best player in the world in the form of Vinicius. 

Vinicius will likely have the advantage over Mbappe in the Ballon d'Or race this year, and with the Brazilian and Bellingham in the Madrid ranks, the Frenchman will have a big task on his hand to become the top man at the Santiago Bernabeu next season.