Real Madrid and Brazil forward Vinicius Junior and Barcelona midfielder Aitana Bommatti have won the highest FIFA award of the year.
Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior has been named the best male player at FIFA’s The Best Awards, while Barcelona playmaker Aitana Bommatti continues to win the award in women’s football.
Vinicius, 24, was so disappointed to lose out on the Ballon d’Or to Manchester City midfielder Rodri in October that he and his Madrid team skipped the ceremony in Paris in protest.
This time, Rodri came in second place, five points behind Vinicius. The Brazilian forward was in Doha on Monday with Madrid in preparation for the Intercontinental Cup final against Pachuca and attended the FIFA awards ceremony.
“I don’t even know where to start,” Vinicius said in Portuguese. “It seemed impossible to come here because it was so far away. I was just a kid playing soccer barefoot on the streets of Sao Goncalo, which was close to poverty and crime.
“Coming here is very important to me. I do this work for so many children who think everything is impossible and who think they will never get here. ”
Vini Jr. has been named #TheBest FIFA Men’s Player 2024!
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) December 17, 2024
Vinicius echoed these sentiments in an Instagram post, perhaps in a thinly veiled criticism of Ballon d’Or voters, journalists from the top 100 countries in the FIFA rankings.
“Today I write to that boy who has seen many of his idols hoist this trophy…your time has come,” he wrote. “I mean, my time has come. It’s time to say… Yes, I’m the best player in the world and I’ve fought hard for it.
“They have tried to invalidate me, they have tried to degrade me, and they are still doing so. But they are not ready. No one will tell me.”
Vinicius has suffered racist abuse in Spain and said at one point earlier this year that he had “lost the will to play”, but added that he would “keep fighting”.
Bommatti won the Women’s Player of the Year award, marking her second consecutive win in FIFA’s version of the prestigious Ballon d’Or award.
The 26-year-old Spanish midfielder won the Ballon d’Or for the second year in a row and won the Spanish League, Spanish Cup and Champions League with Barcelona in 2024.
“I am grateful to have received this award. As I always say, this is a team effort,” said Bonmati. “It’s been a great year, but it’s very difficult to repeat it. I’m grateful to the club, my teammates and everyone who helps me improve every day.”
FIFA said the winners were determined by an “equally weighted voting system” among fans, current captains and coaches of all national teams, and members of the media.
The shortlist for both awards was 11, with nominees selected based on performance from August 21, 2023 to August 10, 2024.
Vinicius had the best season of his career, scoring 24 goals in 39 appearances for Madrid, helping the Spanish team win a record 15th European Cup and his second Champions League title.
He also scored in the final, becoming the youngest player to score twice in a Champions League final.
Madrid teammate Jude Bellingham finished third ahead of Dani Carvajal and Lamine Yamal, while Lionel Messi, who won the award two years ago, finished sixth.
Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti was named the men’s manager of the year, while American coach Emma Hayes won the women’s award.
Hayes led the USWNT to a gold medal at the Paris Olympics in August. Their standout player, Alyssa Neher, won the Female Goalkeeper Award. The men’s award went to Aston Villa and Argentina national team goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez for the second consecutive year.
Alejandro Garnacho won the FIFA Puskas Award for Best Goal for his sensational overhead shot in the match between Manchester United and Everton in November 2023.
Marta won the first FIFA Malta Award, which bears her name, for her goal for Brazil against Jamaica in June.
