Vinicius Junior Wins 2024 The Best FIFA Men’s Player Award
Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior has clinched the prestigious 2024 The Best FIFA Men’s Player Award after an exceptional year filled with remarkable performances, goals, and silverware.
The Brazilian forward, who many felt was unfairly snubbed for the Ballon d’Or, received well-deserved recognition at FIFA’s annual awards ceremony.
Vinicius was instrumental in Real Madrid’s success during the 2023/24 season, guiding the club to both the UEFA Champions League and La Liga titles. Across all competitions, he netted 24 goals and has already scored 13 goals in the current season.
A highlight of his year came in the Champions League final, where Vinicius delivered a crucial second goal in Real Madrid’s 2-0 victory over Borussia Dortmund. The win secured Madrid’s historic 15th European crown.
This marks Vinicius Junior’s first-ever The Best FIFA Men’s Player Award, making him the first Brazilian to win the title since the award’s inception in 2016. Previously, Neymar came closest by finishing third in 2017.
The shortlist included ten standout nominees, featuring Manchester City’s Rodri and Erling Haaland, but Vinicius emerged victorious, underlining his remarkable year.
Real Madrid’s dominance was reflected in the shortlist, with teammates Jude Bellingham, Toni Kroos, Dani Carvajal, and Federico Valverde all making the cut, alongside Paris Saint-Germain’s Kylian Mbappe.
Other key award winners on the night included Emiliano Martinez, who claimed the Best Men’s Goalkeeper award, Carlo Ancelotti as Best Men’s Coach, and Barcelona’s Aitana Bonmati as Best Women’s Player. Meanwhile, Alejandro Garnacho took home the FIFA Puskás Award for the best goal.