Real Madrid and Brazil sensation Vinicius Junior has claimed the coveted Men’s Player of the Year title at the FIFA Best Awards.
The 24-year-old winger, who chose to skip the recent Ballon d’Or ceremony, emerged victorious during the ceremony in Doha.
Vinicius played a key role in Real Madrid’s successful 2023-24 season, where they clinched both the Champions League and La Liga trophies, contributing 24 goals and 11 assists throughout the campaign.
Meanwhile, Barcelona midfielder Aitana Bonmati retained the Women’s Player of the Year award for the second consecutive year, with Carlo Ancelotti and Emma Hayes being recognized as the top coaches of the year.
This marks Vinicius’ first FIFA Best award, bringing a positive highlight to a season that included the Ballon d’Or boycott in October.
The Best moment for Real Madrid. ⚪️✨ pic.twitter.com/gPLtcZ7eVP
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) December 17, 2024
The FIFA Best Awards and Ballon d’Or are renowned as the most prestigious individual accolades in football.
Previous winners include Lionel Messi and Robert Lewandowski, with this year’s award covering performances from August 2023 to August 2024, determined through a voting process involving fans, journalists, and national team captains and managers.
Vinicius’ Real Madrid teammates were in Qatar preparing for the FIFA Intercontinental Cup final against Pachuca.
Men’s Team of the Year
The FIFPro Men’s World XI featured a mix of Premier League and Real Madrid stars, with the lineup including players like Emiliano Martinez, Ruben Dias, Erling Haaland, and of course, Vinicius Junior.