Vinicius Junior of Real Madrid was named FIFA Best Men’s Player of the Year at a ceremony in Doha on Tuesday, while Barcelona midfielder Aitana Bonmati claimed the Women’s award for the second consecutive year.
The accolade comes just two months after the 24-year-old Vinicius finished second in the Ballon d’Or rankings. Real Madrid had notably skipped the Ballon d’Or ceremony after learning that Manchester City’s Rodri was set to win, but the Brazilian was present in Qatar to collect the FIFA award, as his team prepares for the Intercontinental Cup final against Mexico’s Pachuca.
Vinicius expressed his gratitude on stage, reflecting on his journey from a challenging background: “It was impossible to think of getting here. I grew up in a world of poverty, of organised crime. It’s for all the children who grow up in that world.” He thanked his family, his teammates, Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti, and his national team for supporting him. He also emphasized his desire to stay at Real Madrid for many years, calling the club “the best in the world.”
The Brazilian attacker succeeds Lionel Messi, who had won the award the previous two years. Last season, Vinicius scored 24 goals and provided 11 assists across 39 matches, leading Real Madrid to both La Liga and Champions League titles. He played a key role in the Champions League, finishing as the team’s top scorer with six goals, including a vital strike in the final against Liverpool. He also scored a hat-trick in Real Madrid’s Supercopa win over Barcelona in January.
While Vinicius enjoyed a stellar club season, his Copa America campaign with Brazil was less successful, as they were eliminated by Uruguay in the quarter-finals after he scored two goals in the group stage.
Aitana Bonmati, 26, was honored as the FIFA Best Women’s Player for the second year in a row. From a video link at Barcelona’s Olympic Stadium, Bonmati expressed her pride and gratitude. She had a remarkable 2023/24 season, leading Barcelona to an unprecedented continental quadruple, winning the Spanish league, Copa de la Reina, Supercopa de Espana, and a second consecutive Women’s Champions League. She also helped Spain win the Nations League, capping off her exceptional year with a goal and player-of-the-match honors in Barcelona’s 2-0 Champions League final victory over Lyon.
Finally, Manchester United’s Alejandro Garnacho won the Puskas Award for the best goal of the year, for his stunning bicycle kick against Everton in the Premier League.