Vinicius Junior, named Best FIFA Player after receiving the Ballon d’Or

Real Madrid and Brazil star Vinicius Junior has been crowned Male Player of the Year at the FIFA Best Awards.

The 24-year-old winger, along with Real Madrid, notably skipped the recent Ballon d’Or ceremony after being overlooked in favor of Manchester City’s Rodri.

However, Vinicius took home this prestigious honor during the ceremony held in Doha.

Vinicius was instrumental in Real Madrid’s successful 2023-24 season, where they won both the Champions League and La Liga.

Throughout the campaign, he contributed 24 goals and 11 assists.

Barcelona midfielder Aitana Bonmati also had a night to celebrate as she retained the Women’s Player of the Year award for the second consecutive year, while Carlo Ancelotti and Emma Hayes were recognized as the best coaches of the year .

For Vinicius, this is his first FIFA Best award and adds a positive aspect to a season that previously included a boycott of the Ballon d’Or in October.

Real Madrid’s best moment. pic.twitter.com/gPLtcZ7eVP

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) December 17, 2024

The FIFA Best Awards and Ballon d’Or are widely regarded as the two most prestigious individual honors in football.

Lionel Messi had won the FIFA best award the previous two years, and Robert Lewandowski had won it the previous two years.

This year’s award, which recognized performances from August 2023 to August 2024, was determined through a voting process divided into four groups: public fans, journalists (one per country) and national team captains and managers national Each group’s vote accounted for 25% of the final decision.

Vinicius’ Real Madrid teammates were already in Qatar preparing for the FIFA Intercontinental Cup final against Mexico’s Pachuca, which will take place at the Lusail Stadium on Wednesday.

Men’s Team of the Year

The FIFPro Men’s World XI featured five Premier League stars along with five Real Madrid players, including the recently retired Toni Kroos, and a Barcelona representative.

The full lineup included:

• porter: Emiliano Martínez (Aston Villa)
• defendersRubén Dias (Manchester City), William Lintasa (Arsenal), Dani Carvajal (Real Madrid), Antonio Rudiger (Real Madrid)
• midfielders: Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), Toni Kroos (Real Madrid), Rodri (Manchester City)
• in front: Erling Haaland (Manchester City), Lamine Yamal (Barcelona), Vinicius Junior (Real Madrid).