Manchester City taunted Real Madrid with a Rodri Ballon d'Or banner before their Champions League playoff first leg.
The Spanish international won the award in October, beating the Brazilian. Vini Jr and Real Madrid skipped the ceremony after learning he had lost.
On Tuesday, Manchester City fans unveiled a large banner at the Etihad Stadium featuring Rodri kissing the Ballon d'Or with the words: "Stop crying your heart out."
Vini Jr. got the last laugh as Jude Bellingham's last-minute goal gave his team a massive 3-2 victory.
"I saw the banner," Vinicius Jr. said to Movistar via BBC Sport.
When the opposing fans do something like that, it gives me even more motivation to perform at my best and I've managed to do just that.
The hosts took the lead twice through Erling Haaland's goals, but Kylian Mbappe and Brahim Diaz's goals evened the score before Bellingham scored the winner.
This is the fourth consecutive year these two teams are facing off, with one of them advancing to the next round. Pep Guardiola's team will need a significant victory in the second leg to eliminate the current champions.
More to follow