Vinícius Júnior, Real Madrid and Brazil’s dynamic winger, was named the Men’s Player of the Year at the FIFA Best Awards.
At just 24, Vinícius has already made his mark, playing a pivotal role in Real Madrid’s 2023-24 campaign, which saw them win both the Champions League and La Liga titles. His impressive stats include 24 goals and 11 assists.
This recognition came just after he and his club boycotted the Ballon d’Or ceremony following his snub in favor of Manchester City’s Rodri. However, in Doha, Vinícius earned the prestigious FIFA Best award.
Earlier in the ceremony, Barcelona midfielder Aitana Bonmatí was crowned Women’s Player of the Year for the second consecutive year.
This is Vinícius’ first FIFA Best award, making it a more positive conclusion to his season than his October Ballon d’Or boycott. The FIFA Best Awards and the Ballon d’Or are the two highest honors in world football.
The award, which recognizes performances from August 2023 to August 2024, was decided through a mix of public votes, a journalist from each country, and the captains and managers of national teams. Each group’s vote accounted for 25%.
Meanwhile, Real Madrid were already in Qatar for their FIFA Intercontinental Cup final against Mexican club Pachuca, held at Lusail Stadium on Wednesday.
Team of the year
The Men’s Team of the Year featured five Premier League players, five from Real Madrid (including the retired Toni Kroos), and one from Barcelona. The selected players included:
- Goalkeeper: Emiliano Martínez (Aston Villa)
- Defenders: Ruben Dias (Manchester City), William Saliba (Arsenal), Dani Carvajal, Antonio Rudiger, Jude Bellingham, Toni Kroos (all Real Madrid)
- Midfielders: Rodri, Erling Haaland (both Manchester City), Lamine Yamal (Barcelona)
- Forward: Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid)
Martínez was also named Goalkeeper of the Year after his stellar performances in Argentina’s Copa America victory.
Puskás award
The Puskás Award for the best men’s goal of the year went to Alejandro Garnacho for his stunning bicycle kick against Everton in November 2023, which helped Manchester United secure a 3-0 win. The goal was widely praised for its technical brilliance. Mohammed Kudus of West Ham was also nominated for his solo effort against Freiburg in the Europa League.
In an exciting development, the newly introduced Marta Award now recognizes the best women’s goal, separating the two categories.
“I’m very proud to win this award,” Garnacho said in a pre-recorded interview. “It’s a proud moment for me and my family. It was a special goal and I will always remember it.”
Coach of the year
Carlo Ancelotti, who guided Real Madrid to Champions League and La Liga titles in the 2023-24 season, won Coach of the Year. The 65-year-old Italian earned the prestigious award for the first time, in what has been a remarkable career. Most previous winners have been from the Premier League, including Claudio Ranieri, Jurgen Klopp (twice), Thomas Tuchel, and Pep Guardiola last year.
