Vinicius Jr., the talented winger for Real Madrid and Brazil, has been crowned the FIFA Best Men’s Player of the Year for 2024.
The 24-year-old earned the prestigious award after a stellar season, which included helping Real Madrid win both the Champions League and La Liga titles during the 2023-2024 campaign.
He scored 24 goals and provided 11 assists, cementing his place as one of the world’s top footballers.
Despite missing out on the Ballon d’Or to Manchester City’s Rodri, Vinicius Jr. was recognized with this honor at the FIFA Best Awards in Doha. His achievement marks his first FIFA Best accolade and offers a positive conclusion to what was a bittersweet year following the Ballon d’Or ceremony in October, where he and his club chose to boycott the event.
Vinicius, reflecting on his journey, shared, “It seemed impossible when I played barefoot in the streets of Sao Goncalo and now I’m here.”
Alongside Vinicius, Barcelona midfielder Aitana Bonmati took home the Women’s Player of the Year award for the second consecutive time.
The FIFA Best Awards, which cover football from August 2023 to August 2024, are determined by a combination of public voting, journalists, and national team captains and managers, each of whom has a 25% influence on the outcome.
Rodri, who played a crucial role in Spain’s Euro 2024 victory, finished second in the men’s category, while Vinicius’ Real Madrid teammate Jude Bellingham came third.
Notably, the voting revealed some interesting choices from national team coaches and captains. England’s Harry Kane voted for Rodri, while Brazil’s captain and coach backed Vinicius Jr., who ultimately claimed the top prize.
