Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior and Barcelona’s Bonmati win FIFA Best Awards | Football News
Real Madrid, Brazil striker Vinicius Junior and Barcelona midfielder Aitana Bonmati receive top FIFA Best awards.
Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior was named player of the year at world football’s governing body FIFA’s ‘The Best’ awards, with Barcelona playmaker Aitana Bonmati continuing to clean up the women’s football awards.
Vinicius, 24, was so disappointed he lost to Manchester City midfielder Rodri After winning the Ballon d’Or in October, he and his Madrid team refused the ceremony in Paris in protest.
This time Rodri ended up in second place, five points ahead of Vinicius. The Brazilian striker attended the FIFA ceremony to receive his award after traveling to Doha with Madrid on Monday the Intercontinental Cup final against Pachuca.
“I don’t even know where to start,” Vinicius said in Portuguese. “It was so far away that it seemed impossible to get here. I was a child just playing football barefoot on the streets of Sao Goncalo, near poverty and crime.
“Coming here is something very important for me. I do it for a lot of kids who think everything is impossible and believe they can’t do it.”
Vini Jr. is #The best FIFA men’s players 2024! 🏆
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) December 17, 2024
Vinicius echoed these sentiments in an Instagram post in which he took a barely concealed swipe at presumably the Ballon d’Or voters – journalists from the top 100 countries in the FIFA rankings.
“Today I write to the boy who saw so many idols lift this trophy…Your time has come,” he wrote. “Or rather, my time has come. It’s time to say… yes, I am the best player in the world and I fought hard for it.
“They tried and are still trying to devalue me, belittle me. But they are not prepared. Nobody will tell me who I should fight for, how I should behave.”
Vinicius was has been subjected to racist insults in Spain and once said earlier this year that he was “I lose my desire to play“, but added: “I will continue to fight.”
Bonmati won the Player of the Year award, making it two consecutive awards in FIFA’s version of the older and more prestigious Ballon d’Or award.
The 26-year-old Spanish midfielder has won the Ballon d’Or two years in a row and won the Spanish League, Spanish Cup and Champions League with Barcelona in 2024.
“I am grateful to receive this award. As I always say, this is a team effort,” said Bonmati. “It was a great year that will be very difficult to repeat. I am grateful to the people who help me get better every day, from the club to my teammates who always help me get better.”
FIFA said the award winners were chosen through an “equal voting system” by fans, the current captains and coaches of all national teams and members of the media.
There was a shortlist of 11 players for both awards, with candidates selected based on their performances from August 21, 2023 to August 10, 2024.
Vinicius had the best season of his career, scoring 24 goals in 39 appearances for Madrid and helping the Spanish team to a record-equaling 15th European Cup – and his second Champions League trophy.
He also scored in the final, becoming the youngest player to score in two Champions League finals.
Madrid teammate Jude Bellingham finished third ahead of Dani Carvajal and Lamine Yamal, while Lionel Messi – who had won the award the previous two years – came sixth.
Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti was named the men’s best coach and United States coach Emma Hayes won the women’s award.
Hayes steered the USWNT to it Olympic gold in Paris in August. Their showstopper Alyssa Naheher was awarded the women’s goalkeeper award. Aston Villa and Argentine goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez won the men’s prize for the second year in a row.
Alejandro Garnacho won the FIFA Puskás Best Goal Award for his sensational overhead kick for Manchester United against Everton in November 2023.
For her goal for Brazil against Jamaica in June, Marta won the first FIFA Marta Award named after her.
