Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior claimed the FIFA Best Men’s Player of the Year award at a ceremony in Doha on Tuesday, while Barcelona midfielder Aitana Bonmati retained the Women’s prize for a second consecutive year.
The prestigious award for Vinicius comes two months after the 24-year-old finished second in the Ballon d’Or voting, where Manchester City midfielder Rodri took top honors. At the time, Real Madrid notably opted to skip the Ballon d’Or gala after learning Rodri would win. This time, however, Vinicius was present in Qatar to collect his prize as Real Madrid prepared for their Intercontinental Cup final against Mexico’s Pachuca on Wednesday.
“It Was Impossible to Think of Getting Here”
“Thank you very much. I don’t know where to start. It was impossible to think of getting here,” an emotional Vinicius said on stage. “I grew up in a world of poverty, of organized crime. This award is for all the children who grow up in that world.
“To my family, to the club, to my teammates, to Carletto (Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti), who always helps me—thank you. I hope to be at Madrid for many years because it is the best club in the world. Thank you to Flamengo, my first club, my national team, and my country, which always supports me in my work.”
Vinicius succeeds Lionel Messi, who won the previous two editions of the FIFA Best Men’s Player award.
The Brazilian forward enjoyed a phenomenal season, leading Real Madrid to a La Liga and Champions League double. He registered 24 goals and 11 assists across all competitions, showcasing his brilliance on the European stage. Vinicius was pivotal in Real’s Champions League triumph, scoring a decisive goal in the final as Los Blancos beat Borussia Dortmund 2-0 at Wembley on June 1.
While Jude Bellingham dominated headlines domestically, Vinicius emerged as Real Madrid’s standout performer in Europe. He topped the club’s scoring charts in the Champions League with six goals, including a brace in the semi-final against Bayern Munich and the clinching strike in the final.
Vinicius also dazzled on the domestic front, scoring a hat-trick in Real’s 4-1 Supercopa de España final victory over rivals Barcelona in January. Despite his club heroics, Vinicius endured a challenging Copa America campaign with Brazil, exiting in the quarter-finals against Uruguay.
Bonmati Dominates Women’s Football
Meanwhile, Aitana Bonmati solidified her place as the world’s best female player, picking up the FIFA Best Women’s Player award for the second year in a row. The 26-year-old Spaniard, who also holds two Ballon d’Or titles, delivered a video message from Barcelona’s Olympic Stadium.
“I’m grateful and proud to receive this award,” Bonmati said.
Bonmati enjoyed a historic 2023/24 season, spearheading Barcelona’s quadruple triumph. The Catalan club claimed the Spanish league, Copa de la Reina, Supercopa de España, and the UEFA Women’s Champions League. Bonmati starred in the Champions League final, scoring and earning the Player of the Match honor as Barcelona defeated Lyon 2-0 to secure their third title in four seasons.
She also led Spain to victory in the UEFA Nations League, further cementing her dominance on the international stage.
Garnacho Wins Puskas Award
Manchester United forward Alejandro Garnacho won the Puskas Award for the best goal of the year. The Argentine’s stunning bicycle kick against Everton in the Premier League captured global acclaim and secured him the prestigious honor.
