Rudy Gay is retiring after 17 NBA seasons, the veteran announced Tuesday.

Gay, 38, last played in the 2022-23 season for the Utah Jazz. He had signed a contract with the Golden State Warriors last summer but was waived shortly before the season.

"I needed to humble myself and be like: 'Look, this is over,' Gay wrote in a piece for The Players' Tribune on Tuesday. "But actually coming to grips with it being over, that's ... a process. One I'm honestly still dealing with, and struggle with at times. I'll still be watching games and see some of these guys missing a pass or fumbling the ball out of bounds, and I absolutely am that dude yelling at the TV like: 'I'm better than that clown. Are you kidding me?!?!?' It's not pretty.

"I'm 38 years old. That's nowhere even near mid-career for most people's professional lives. So, the way I see it, I've got a lot of work ahead of me. ... In the meantime, I'm just feeling extremely grateful for all the love, wisdom, and friendship that I've experienced in the game of basketball."

After starring at UConn, Gay was selected with the No. 8 pick in the 2006 NBA draft by the Houston Rockets and traded a few weeks later to the Memphis Grizzlies, where he made the All-Rookie team that season. He ranks fifth in points, fourth in minutes played and fourth in games played in Grizzlies history.

Gay is one of four players to average 10 or more points from the 2006-07 season to the 2020-21 season, along with Carmelo Anthony, Chris Paul and LeBron James.

Gay spent much of his career with Grizzlies and Sacramento Kings and averaged 15.8 points and 5.6 rebounds across 1,120 career games (778 starts). He also spent time with the Toronto Raptors, San Antonio Spurs and, most recently, the Jazz.

"I'm the luckiest man in the world," Gay wrote.

WITH JUST OVER seven minutes remaining against the Utah Jazz on Friday, Kyle Anderson lined up a wide-open 3-pointer from the top of the key. As Anderson hoisted his shot, Draymond Green jumped off his seat on the bench and began hopping in anticipation.

Green, Stephen Curry and the Warriors' bench erupted in celebration as Anderson's shot bounced in.

On the other side of the floor, Lauri Markkanen launched a wide-open 3 from the wing seconds later only to see it bounce off the rim during a dreadful 4-for-17 shooting night.

Had Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. had his way in trade talks with Utah, perhaps Markkanen would've been celebrating with the Warriors, who were on their way to a 41-point win on the road at the Delta Center. Instead, Markkanen, hands on his hips and lips pursed, could only look on in frustration.

Dunleavy tried to find Curry and Green some championship reinforcements in the offseason by talking with the Jazz about Markkanen and with the LA Clippers about Paul George. The Warriors ideally would've loved to have both, but that would've been a long shot at best since both the Clippers and Jazz wanted their share of assets back.

Dunleavy wasn't willing to give up Golden State's young prospects and picks for one star unless it was a deal for a superstar talent who would immediately push the Warriors to the brink of a fifth title in 11 seasons.

George ended up opting out of his contract and signing a four-year, $212 million max deal with the Philadelphia 76ers in free agency. And Markkanen, for his part, signed a five-year, $238 million renegotiated extension with the Jazz, waiting to sign it on the day that made him ineligible to be traded this season.

"That could have been trash, by the way," Green told ESPN earlier this month. "Markkanen coming here, we don't know. We have never seen it. So there was no thought of what could have been because we don't know what that look like."

Green lauds Dunleavy for staying patient and not surrendering the farm for either George or Markkanen. He and Curry have said they are excited to see what they can do with this new cast, currently sitting at 2-1 with a deep 12-man rotation.

That depth will be tested Tuesday, when the Warriors take on the New Orleans Pelicans (10 p.m. ET, TNT) without Curry (left ankle peroneal strain) and De'Anthony Melton (back), who are both out for at least the next two games.

"We've added really good players," Warriors head coach Steve Kerr told ESPN earlier this month. "We didn't go all-in and give away our future at a time where it doesn't really make sense to do that. It makes sense to do that when you've got a chance to go after a franchise-changing player when you're on the cusp of a championship."

Through three games, Buddy Hield has looked like someone who can help fill the perimeter void left behind by Klay Thompson. The Warriors like Melton's two-way skill set and Anderson's smarts. And they believe those vets can mesh with young players like Jonathan Kuminga, Brandin Podziemski and Moses Moody, and complement Curry, Green and Andrew Wiggins.

"As long as we're on the floor, we got a chance," Green said. "Once you get in them playoffs, you watch [opposing] guys fold every day and forget to play basketball. You see that often.

"All we need is a chance."

LATE IN THE first quarter of the Warriors' preseason opener against the Clippers in Hawai'i, Podziemski suddenly found himself with the ball off a turnover and a fast-break opportunity.

The second-year Warriors guard was still steps away from the giant "H" logo at midcourt at the University of Hawai'i's Stan Sheriff Center when he brought the ball back with two hands above and behind his head before unleashing a wicked bounce pass between two Clippers defenders to a streaking Gary Payton II for a fast-break dunk.

It might be just a preseason highlight. But the play is a glimpse of why the Warriors aren't the only team high on the 6-foot-4 versatile guard drafted with the 19th pick out of Santa Clara last year.

The Jazz and Warriors had multiple discussions about Markkanen, but Golden State's offers did not include Podziemski and were light on draft capital, both deal breakers for the Jazz, sources told ESPN's Tim MacMahon.

Sliding the 7-foot Markkanen, who averaged 23.2 points and 8.2 rebounds while shooting 39.9% from 3 last season and also scored 35 points in the Jazz's season opener, into Kerr's offense seemed like a nice fit in theory. But the reality was the cost was too prohibitive for Golden State.

"Most people that negotiate with Danny Ainge lose," Green told ESPN about the Jazz CEO. "So at what cost?"

The Warriors, like the Clippers and other big-spending luxury tax-paying teams, also had to prepare for the more punitive CBA rules and operate accordingly. At worst, the second apron would potentially cost teams access to the $5 million taxpayer midlevel exception, the ability to aggregate salaries in trades and even freeze first-round picks seven years out and move a first-round pick to the end of the first round.

"The most challenging part is we've got a great owner and there's always a willingness to spend," Dunleavy told ESPN earlier this month. "So we'll figure out the CBA stuff. But it's really just the timeline. You can't get years back. You can't make guys younger. And so to balance that and make moves to enable us to really be good and get over the top now is what's challenging."

The second apron is one of several reasons trade talks for George never truly materialized, league sources told ESPN.

Green said on his "Draymond Green Show" podcast earlier this summer that George wanted to join the Warriors, something that would have required the All-Star guard to opt into the final year of his deal worth $48.7 million and then be dealt in a trade. But Green said the Clippers weren't willing to play ball with the Warriors.

"You go into free agency, [George] decided whether he wants to opt in or not," Curry told reporters before camp started. "OK, we definitely should take that meeting and I was a part of that process."

To Green's surprise, because of the second apron, the Clippers weren't interested in taking something back just to avoid losing George for nothing. Sending George to the Warriors to get players like Moody, expiring contracts and some draft capital also would have meant taking on a hefty contract like that of Wiggins, who has three years and $85 million left on a four-year, $109 million deal. That would've kept the Clippers from going after another young star in the future, according to team sources.

League sources also told ESPN that Kuminga's name never seriously came up in talks of any significance between the Clippers and Warriors.

Should a trade for a star present itself before the deadline, the Warriors are expected to be in the mix. They have future first-round picks and swaps to deal, with just the 2030 top-20-protected first-round pick owed to Washington from the Jordan Poole deal. And they have Kuminga, Podziemski and Moody, along with the expiring contracts of Melton, Payton and Kevon Looney, among others.

"There's a time to do that," Kerr told ESPN. "We're seeing teams around the league do that. But for us right now, unless it is one of those franchise-changing superstar players, imagine how reckless that could be. And Mike understands that and he's handled it perfectly."

In the meantime, the Warriors still have Curry, who signed a one-year, $62.6 million extension with the Warriors in late August and later reiterated his desire to remain a Warrior for life. While Curry has dealt with left ankle injuries before, he told Kerr on Sunday night that this latest one is "mild or moderate." He is due to be reevaluated on Friday.

And they have Green, who at 34 is still a maestro with his passing and defense.

"Can't panic," Green told ESPN. "Panic in this league and you win 25 games for five straight years."

THE IDEA OF George in a Warriors uniform is so off-putting to Ty Lue that the Clippers coach interrupts a question about it by blurting out, "Uh, uh."

"I didn't want to face that, no," Lue said Sunday.

"You pair him [defensively] with Kuminga and Draymond, I wouldn't want to see that. I'm glad that didn't happen."

Lue's fear never came to fruition. Instead of finding one more star, the Warriors added several players who make this the deepest roster of the Kerr era, as well as well-regarded assistant coaches Terry Stotts and Jerry Stackhouse.

Kerr has started Curry, Wiggins, Kuminga, Green and Trayce Jackson-Davis in the first three games. Hield, Podziemski, Melton, Looney, Moody, Payton and Anderson come off the bench. No player is averaging more than 26.3 minutes per night, and all 12 rotation players are averaging at least 12 minutes -- though those numbers are skewed by a pair of blowouts to open the season.

Faced with his first competitive game of the season against the defensive-minded Clippers, Kerr played Anderson just four minutes and Green sat the final eight minutes as Looney helped lead a comeback that saw the Warriors cut a 13-point lead down to one.

Kerr will have to replace Curry's 18.3 points, 40.7% 3-point shooting, 6.7 assists and 5.3 rebounds per game by committee as his ankle recovers.

Wiggins, who is listed as questionable for Tuesday's game with a lower back strain, leads the team in scoring with 19.7 points per game while also being active on the glass with 6.7 rebounds per game. Hield struggled for the first time as a Warrior against the Clippers by shooting 3-for-14 but is averaging 19 points per game so far. Podziemski is looking at an increase in minutes in these next few games.

"Somebody texted me like, 'Hey, 12 guys. It's a real democracy,'" Kerr said after the loss to the Clippers. "I said, as soon as we lose, it's going to be communism. So that's the truth. The results dictate the judgment, and that's the business we're in. So I've got to do what I think is best for our team, and generally speaking, that changes throughout the year. We have to be ready to adapt."

Dunleavy will be ready to adjust as well. He has remained in constant contact with Curry and Green and says they are on the same page about wanting to contend but also remaining patient and striking on the trade market when the time and price are right.

"The simple thing is we're knocking on a lot of houses to try and buy them," Dunleavy said. "And if there's some sellers, if there are not some sellers, we'll keep doing it. We'll find something right."

So far, Green and Curry like the moves Dunleavy has made -- and the ones he didn't make.

"In 2022, everybody thought the same thing," Green said. "No one had us as a championship contender going into that year. We made no moves at the deadline and we won it."

"I would like to thank the wider Munster family for all the support they have shown me in my time here but now is the right stage for my family and I to look forward to a new chapter."

Rowntree led Munster to the URC title - their first trophy in 12 years - in his first season in charge.

Munster also secured top spot in the the URC last season but the 53-year-old leaves after a disappointing start to the current campaign.

"We would like to thank Graham for his passion and dedication to Munster Rugby over the past five years, and I would like to wish him and his family the very best for the future on behalf of Munster Rugby," said Munster CEO Ian Flanagan.

"With the All Blacks XV coming to a sold-out Thomond Park this weekend and a number of big games on the horizon in November and December, our focus will be on continuing to support the coaches and the players for the season ahead."

With 20 days of the 2024-25 NHL season in the books, there has been no shortages of twists and turns.

Mark Stone leading the league in scoring? Cale Makar (and other defensemen) on pace for over 100 points? The Winnipeg Jets off to a perfect start through eight games?

To help digest it all, we've gathered a panel of NHL analysts to answer a four-pack of burning questions.

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In which of your preseason predictions are you least confident now?

Ryan S. Clark, NHL reporter: Picking Charlie McAvoy to win the Norris Trophy. The largest obstacle he faces at the moment is the one he has faced the last few years: Can he score enough points? Entering Monday, McAvoy has three points through nine games. It's a drastic comparison to other defensemen such as Cale Makar (16 points), Alex Pietrangelo (11) along with Rasmus Andersson and Neal Pionk (both have 10).

McAvoy has the all-around ability to play in every situation. But any defenseman that's looking to present a strong case to win the Norris must have the points.

Victoria Matiash, NHL analyst: While it doesn't appear as horribly misguided as it did over a week ago, when they were, ahem, 0-5, my prediction that the Nashville Predators would finish top of the Central Division isn't exactly sparkling. The Jets are soaring, the Dallas Stars are dominating, the Minnesota Wild are (somewhat quietly) stringing together a bunch of wins, and the Colorado Avalanche are clearly shaking off their wobbly start.

I still believe Nashville has too strong a collection of talent to miss out on the playoffs altogether, but the strength of competition in that division is already casting a rather dark cloud on my bold prophecy.

Arda Öcal, NHL broadcaster: Before the season started I thought Connor McDavid would go Super Saiyan and collect all the hardware again, but then Kaiju Cale Makar showed up early in the season and rampaged his way to the top of the scoring tables, putting him squarely in the mix for scoring titles. I still think McDavid can end up leading in points and goals at the end of the season, but I'm less confident at the moment than I was before the season started (but really, all it will take is one solid stretch to course correct).

Kristen Shilton, NHL reporter: I put a lot of weight behind the Edmonton Oilers this season, and my confidence in that prediction ebbs and flows like the team itself. It felt like there would be more momentum from that push to Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final last season, and yet Edmonton has looked more disjointed than anything.

Being a .500 team a few weeks into the campaign doesn't mean the Oilers are bad by any means, and they can certainly climb their way back to being a powerhouse in the Pacific or even make my Cup Final prediction look good, but I'm not as bullish on Edmonton now as I was in September.

Greg Wyshynski, NHL reporter: I was convinced that the Utah Hockey Club would make the playoffs in the Western Conference. I needed to find someone who made the cut last season that would not return to the postseason to make room for the newbies. The Winnipeg Jets were a 110-point team under Rick Bowness last season. I didn't see a repeat performance there, and was left somewhat unimpressed with the defense corps sandwiched between the forwards and Connor Hellebuyck.

Well, it turns out the Jets are still quite good under Scott Arniel, last season's associate coach who replaced Bowness, as were are on pace for [checks standings] 164 points through eight games -- an offensive machine built on the foundation of the league's best goaltender. Meanwhile, Utah started strong before tumbling back to .500, and injuries to defensemen Sean Durzi and John Marino might invalidate that prediction, too.

There were 28 players currently on pace to hit or eclipse 100 points this season as of Monday. How many will actually reach that mark?

Clark: Let's go with 15. The most challenging part is figuring out the "unknowns" at the top of the leaderboard.

Can Mark Stone, who has not played in more than 70 games since the 2018-19 season, stay healthy? Could Jared McCann, whose current career best is 70 points, hit the century mark for a Seattle Kraken team that entered Monday 19th in shooting percentage, and 21st in goals per game? How will it work for defensemen such as Andersson and Pionk? Andersson scored 88 points over the last two seasons, while Pionk scored 98 points over the last three.

Matiash: I'll offer up a dozen. Nine skaters eclipsed the mark last season, with a couple more -- Kirill Kaprizov would have in a full season -- were left banging on the door. A few who are on pace right now -- Casey Mittelstadt and Dylan Strome come to mind -- don't boast the career resumes to convince me they'll find themselves flirting with that magical plateau by season's end, although I'd be more than happy for either to show me up on that point. Injuries and games lost will also serve as an unfortunate factor for many.

Öcal: All 28. Give us a historic season. OK, in all seriousness we had nine last season, so let's say we at least break double digits this season. And give us a couple surprise 100-point seasons. Mark Stone leads the league, with 18 points through 10 games. He's never had more than 64 points in a season, and that was in 2014-2015 with the Senators. I say he gets to 100.

Shilton: I'll say 10. The best part of this early season is that defenses are still settling in and that gives scorers a chance to shine while taking advantage. Sustaining that sort of production for all but the elite few is usually not happening. Now, I would love to be wrong on that and see 15 or 16 guys over 100 points by April. History tells us that we're not likely to be rewarded with such an outburst.

Wyshynski: I'll take the under of all unders and say nine players, same as last season. Slumps happen. Injuries happen. The current offensive pace for this season -- 3.23 goals per team per game through 138 games -- would be the highest since the 1993-94 season. While I'd happily be wrong about fading the offensive fireworks this season, I expect the end results are more in line with 2023-24.

What has been the Jets' secret sauce to starting the season 8-0-0?

Clark: There's no one player who's at the controls; it's a collective effort. The Jets are getting the contributions from top-six forwards such as Kyle Connor, Nikolaj Ehlers and Mark Scheifele that are expected. They're also seeing growth from a healthy Cole Perfetti, who has been at the vanguard for a few seasons. The third line of Mason Appleton, Adam Lowry and Nino Niederreiter have been a consistent problem all over the ice. Pionk has provided the Jets with another defenseman beyond Josh Morrissey who can provide contributions.

But what might be arguably the most important aspect of all? It's the fact that we're just now mentioning Connor Hellebuyck, the reigning Vezina Trophy winner. That's how strong they've been, and shows how well Scott Arniel and his staff have prepared to start the season.

Matiash: Balanced scoring, staunch defensive play, Vezina-caliber goaltending, ridiculous production with the extra skater, effective penalty killing, and disciplined conduct -- the Jets are one of the least penalized clubs in the league -- makes for a nearly flawless recipe. If there's an obvious weakness on this team right now, I can't spot it.

Öcal: How about that Lowry-Appleton -Niederreiter third line? It's been the identity line so far for the Jets. All three are either hovering around a point-per-game pace through eight games ... as the third line! Jets head coach Scott Arniel told reporters that this group consists of "straight-line players" who "push the puck forward in their straight line, they get after it. They score a lot of goals in that blue paint area." A new contender for best line in hockey? They have outscored opponents 6-0 at 5-on-5 so far.

Shilton: It's how balanced the Jets are that's made them special. Through eight games they've got four players with 10 points, and consistent contributors on each line. Winnipeg is no one-man show relying on star power (although they've got it) or elite goaltending (which they have in Connor Hellebuyck) to win the day. When a team establishes that depth of attack out of the gate, it sets the tone not only for your own club but how the rest of the league views your team, too.

The Jets have swagger, and you can tell it comes from knowing they're not just a good team, but a deep one as well.

Wyshynski: How about some love for Scott Arniel? The NHL is full of head coaches that needed to faceplant in their first gig before finding success the second time around. Arniel had a 45-60-18 record in parts of two seasons with the Columbus Blue Jackets from 2010-12. After that, he worked under Alain Vigneault in New York, Peter Laviolette in Washington and then under Rick Bowness as an associate coach with the Jets.

His early dedication to diving into Winnipeg's analytics as a way to figure out what went wrong against the Avalanche last postseason has led to improved understanding of the roster and communication within the team. Give credit where it's due: None of us had Scott Arniel as a Jack Adams favorite before the season, but here we are.

What has been your favorite moment of the season so far?

Clark: The Chill Cam in Utah, when the in-arena cameras go to fans and they start chugging beer. During the Utah Hockey Club's first game, there was someone who could not finish their beer and the crowd booed them worse than the visiting Chicago Blackhawks. Seeing how Utah would embrace this particular part of hockey culture was a major question given that the state's approach to alcohol led to it being nicknamed "The Zion Curtain" for years.

The new Chill Cam made one fan admit he'd never seen anything like that in his lifetime at any sporting event in Utah, which made him an even bigger UHC fan.

Matiash: I can't call it a favorite moment because of the devastating events that brought about the action, but John Tortorella inviting Guy Gaudreau to help out at Philadelphia Flyers practice stands out as memorably meaningful. To offer such a personal overture to a man overcome with severe grief and overwhelming loss, someone Tortorella had never met, speaks to the coach's deep sense of empathy and the close knit strength of the hockey community altogether.

Öcal: The classy way the entire league handled tributes to Johnny Gaudreau. But the one that hit me the hardest was at the start of the Columbus Blue Jackets' home opener, when the puck was dropped then slowly passed to an empty left wing, where Johnny Hockey would have lined up, and left there for 13 seconds. Players let the clock tick away out of respect, followed by a standing ovation. A truly special moment to remember a truly special person.

Shilton: I thought the Sidney Crosby/Evgeni Malkin milestone game against the Buffalo Sabres was pretty cool. It's rare in the modern NHL that we see teammates together long enough to where they're hitting those sorts of numbers together. For Malkin to get his 500th goal -- with a Crosby assist, after Malkin assisted on Crosby's 500th two years and -- and for Crosby to have his 1,600th point the same night was a unique feat to witness.

Pittsburgh Penguins fans haven't had much to be excited about the last couple years, but you've got to appreciate how that duo continues to produce at a high level so late into their already illustrious careers.

Wyshynski: Steven Stamkos's return to Tampa. As Lightning coach Jon Cooper said, "Breakups are hard. It's the soap opera of sports." This breakup was no exception. It was surreal to see a franchise that basically walked away from its captain and greatest offensive player embrace his return with an emotional video tribute and scoreboards flashing "Forever 91."

It was memorable to hear Lightning fans go from booing two Nashville goals to cheering Stamkos' name for having assisted on them. It was delicious to see Jake Guentzel, Stamkos's replacement on Tampa Bay's top line, tally two assists of his own, including on Nick Paul's game-winner. Did that emotional night help Stamkos turn the page? "I dunno. We'll see. I'll let you know if that day comes, but I don't think you completely turn the page," he said.

Nick Kyrgios says the physical anguish Andy Murray put himself through to prolong his tennis career was "not worth it" and that he deserved to retire "more gracefully".

The Scot, a three-time Grand Slam winner, retired in August following a straight-set defeat alongside Dan Evans in the Olympic men's doubles quarter-finals.

Murray, 37, had major hip surgery in 2018 and 2019 and the Scot was openly talking about retirement at the 2019 Australian Open.

He managed to play for a further five years but failed to make it past the third round of any of the four majors.

Australian Kyrgios, who has not played competitively since August 2023 amid his own injury problems, says he has no plans to retire but will not put his body through the same turmoil as Murray did.

"I look at how Andy Murray's doing it now, and how Rafael [Nadal] is going out, I don't want to be like that either. I don't want to be kind of crawling to the finish line in a sense," Kyrgios said on The Louis Theroux podcast.

"What Andy Murray's achieved in this sport is second to basically no-one... unless you are Novak [Djokovic], [Roger] Federer, or Nadal, like, the next person is Andy Murray.

"It's like you've achieved everything. You deserve to go out, I think, a little bit more gracefully than he's done.

"I think that the surgeries, the pain, it's just not worth it, in my opinion."

Britain's Katie Boulter made light work of Japan's Aoi Ito to reach the second round of the Hong Kong Open.

Second seed Boulter beat world number 156 Aoi 6-4 6-4.

Boulter has enjoyed a career-best season, winning two WTA Tour titles and reaching a high of 27 in the world rankings.

The 28-year-old thanked the crowd afterwards for their support, saying she "needed a push" after playing in the semi-finals in Tokyo just three days earlier.

"It's at the end of a long season and I am trying to push my body and myself as much as possible," she said.

Boulter will face China's Wang Xiyu for a place in the quarter-finals.

Fellow Briton Heather Watson is in action in Hong Kong later on Tuesday against 2021 US Open runner-up Leylah Fernandez.

Jack Draper, just two days after winning the biggest title of his career in Vienna, will begin his Paris Masters campaign against Jiri Lehecka.

Vinícius Júnior's Real Madrid and Brazil teammates have backed the star forward after he lost out to Manchester City's Rodri in the race to win the 2024 men's Ballon d'Or.

Vinícius, 24, had been widely expected to win the award on Monday, but finished second behind Rodri, with Jude Bellingham finishing third, Dani Carvajal fourth, and Erling Haaland fifth.

Real Madrid boycotted the ceremony organised by France Football and UEFA, with none of the club's nominees for the various prizes -- Vinícius, Bellingham, Carvajal, Kylian Mbappé, Antonio Rüdiger, Federico Valverde, Andriy Lunin, Arda Güler and coach Carlo Ancelotti -- or club officials attending the event in protest.

A club source told ESPN the result was "unfair" and "shameful," calling it "a historic robbery."

Vinicius posted on social media later on Monday, saying "I'll do it 10x if I have to. They aren't ready."

The forward helped lead Madrid to a LaLiga and Champions League double last season, scoring 24 goals in all competitions, including in the Champions League final.

A number of Vinicius' teammates with Madrid and the Brazil national team reacted to the news on Monday, offering their support to the player.

"Football politics," Madrid midfielder Eduardo Camavinga posted on X. "My brother, you are the best player in the world and no award can say otherwise."

"You are the best and no one can take that away from you," Éder Militão -- who plays with Vinícius for club and country -- posted.

"Nothing will take away what you've achieved my brother," Aurélien Tchouaméni said. "We ALL know ... They are not ready for what you're gonna deliver."

While Vinicius excelled for Madrid last season, he had a more difficult time at the Copa América with Brazil, scoring just twice -- in a 4-1 win over Paraguay -- as they were eliminated in the quarterfinals.

"Today, all Brazilians who love football woke up expecting to see another player from our country winning an award for the best in the world after so long," Brazil forward Richarlison posted on Instagram.

"Unfortunately, due to criteria that no one can understand, the award did not come. And don't get me wrong, Rodri is a great player, who deserves to be among the best. But Vini not winning this Ballon d'Or was embarrassing, and the only thing that lost today was football."

A Brazilian has not won the award since Kaká in 2007, with Neymar finishing third in 2015 and 2017.

"I waited a whole year to see Vini Junior deservedly be recognised as the current best player," Brazil legend Marta said, in an angry video posted on Instagram. "And now you tell me that they are not giving him the Ballon d'Or to him? What Ballon d'Or is that!"

"I admire you and root for you more than any victory of mine," West Ham and Brazil midfielder Lucas Paquetá posted on Instagram. "I admire your story and the person you have become! You are the best! even if they say otherwise!"