Following Real Madrid's dramatic come from behind win over Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday night, coach Carlo Ancelotti proudly proclaimed that his forward, Vinícius Júnior, will win the next Ballon d'Or, due to be awarded on Monday.
The award is given out by France Football each year to the player who is voted to be the best individual performer for each season, and is one of the most prestigious individual prizes in men's soccer.
Speaking on Tuesday night, after Vinícius scored a hat-trick of goals to spark an impressive comeback to beat Champions League finalists Borussia Dortmund, Ancelotti explained, "he will win the Ballon d'Or, not for tonight, but for last season. These are three goals that will help him for the next Ballon d'Or".
The coach went on to add that, "I can say that it is rare to see a player who makes a second half as he does. Apart from the goals, with an energy and intensity, with an extraordinary character."
Last season, which is the period reflecting the Ballon d'Or which is to be awarded on Monday evening in Paris, Vinícius scored 24 goals and registered 11 assists in 39 appearances for Real Madrid, winning La Liga, the Champions League and the Spanish Super Cup.
He also scored a further two goals in seven appearances for his national team, Brazil, during that time period, despite his team crashing out of the Copa América at the quarter-final stage during a game in which Vinícius was serving a suspension.
Should Vinícius Júnior be awarded the Ballon d'Or on Monday, he will become the latest Los Blancos player to do so, joining a club which includes Cristiano Ronaldo, who won four times while with the club, and Alfredo Di Stéfano, who won twice.
Other winners include Vinícius' current team-mate Luka Modrić, former colleague Karim Benzema, and a number of other legendary players including Fabio Cannavaro, Luis Figo and Raymond Kopa. This would be the 11th Ballon d'Or for a Real Madrid player, with Vinícius becoming the eighth man to join the club.
He would also become the fifth Brazilian to win the award, following Ronaldo Nazário in 1997 and 2002, Rivaldo in 1999, Ronaldinho in 2005, and Kaká in 2007. Of that list, two previously played for Real Madrid, albeit not during the years in which they were awarded the trophy.
Vinícius was the star of the show in the win over Borussia Dortmund which puts Real Madrid back towards the top of the Champions League table following their defeat to French side Lille earlier in the season.
It was an intriguing game in which the German team took a 2-o lead in the first half, much to the anger of coach Carlo Ancelotti, who reflected, "in the first half we were timid. We didn't put pressure on the ball. We scored two goals with very little. It was quite clear what we had to do. We did well in the second half. There was more pressure on the ball, it was the best second half of the season".
The comeback ensured a third consecutive win for the team, who have beaten Villarreal and Celta Vigo in their last two matches ahead of the Saturday night's Clásico against FC Barcelona in La Liga.
"I think we have to learn from this second half. With a very high intensity," Ancelotti added. "The goal is to start like that, not to wait for two goals. I don't think we can play 90 minutes like we played the second half, but we have to be a bit more balanced. And we are going to achieve it."