Vinicius: Man City fans' Ballon d'Or tifo was extra motivation

Vinicius Junior got the last laugh.

The Real Madrid superstar said a banner unfurled by Manchester City fans ahead of Tuesday's anticipated Champions League playoff match served as extra motivation for him to deliver a standout performance in the Spanish club's thrilling 3-2 comeback victory.

Fans at the Etihad Stadium unveiled a tifo prior to the first-leg encounter featuring Rodri, who beat Vinicius to last year's Ballon d'Or award, with the Oasis song title "Stop Crying Your Heart Out" on it.

Vinicius and the entire Real Madrid delegation boycotted the Ballon d'Or ceremony in October after learning that Rodri would take home the coveted individual trophy over the Brazilian winger.

"I saw (the banner)," Vinicius told Movistar, as translated by ESPN. "But when opposition fans do things, it always gives me more strength to play a great game, and here I did that. ... (Manchester City) know our history and everything we've done in this competition."

Vinicius was named UEFA's Man of the Match on Tuesday after causing consistent havoc for Manchester City's defense and setting up Jude Bellingham's 92nd-minute winning goal.

"I don't know if Vini saw it," Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti told reporters during his post-match news conference. "But having seen the game, if he saw it, it was a big motivation for him."

Real Madrid, the reigning champions and record 15-time tournament winners, will try to finish the job next week and advance to the round of 16 when they welcome Manchester City to the Santiago Bernabeu for the second leg.