Vinicius Jr. has been named the Men’s Player of the Year at the FIFA Best Awards after an outstanding 2023-24 season with Real Madrid.
The 24-year-old Brazilian winger, who boycotted the Ballon d’Or ceremony in October after missing out to Manchester City’s Rodri, claimed the prestigious honor in Doha on Monday.
Vinicius played a crucial role in Real Madrid’s success, contributing to both their UEFA Champions League and La Liga victories.
🇧🇷 Vinicius Jr: “It was looking impossible for me to arrive here on this stage… I arrived from a small place, close to poverty and crime. Now I’m here.
I want to thank the people who voted for me, the players, the coaches, the fans. This is very important to me.” pic.twitter.com/VslPMENNXV
— Football Tweet ⚽ (@Football__Tweet) December 17, 2024
He scored 24 goals and provided 11 assists during the season, solidifying his status as one of the world’s top talents.
This is Vinicius’ first FIFA Best award, following the dominance of Lionel Messi, who won the previous two awards, and Robert Lewandowski, who claimed it in the years prior.
The award, which recognizes the best player from August 2023 to August 2024, was decided through a voting process that included the public, national team captains and managers, and journalists from each country, each contributing 25% to the total vote.
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Earlier in the ceremony, Barcelona’s Aitana Bonmati was named Women’s Player of the Year for the second consecutive year, further celebrating excellence in football.
Vinicius’ victory marks a significant moment in his career, especially after the disappointment of the Ballon d’Or snub.
