Vinicius Jr has been named the 2024 FIFA Best Men’s Player of the Year.
You might recall that Vinicius Jr and Real Madrid decided to skip the 2024 Ballon d’Or ceremony after Manchester City’s Rodri claimed the top prize. However, Vinicius attended the FIFA Best Awards ceremony held in Doha on December 17, 2024.
The winger played a crucial role in Real Madrid’s success during the 2023-2024 season, scoring 24 goals and providing 11 assists that were vital to their triumphs in both the Champions League and La Liga.
This victory marks Vinicius Jr’s first win at the FIFA Best Awards, ending Lionel Messi’s two-year reign and Robert Lewandowski’s win in 2020.
The award results are based on performances from August 2023 to August 2024 and are determined by a combination of public votes, one journalist from each country, and votes from national team captains and managers, each contributing 25% to the final outcome.
The 2024 FIFA Best Awards ceremony coincided with Real Madrid’s arrival in Qatar, where they prepared to compete in the FIFA Intercontinental Cup final against Mexican club Pachuca at Lusail Stadium.
Other Major Winners at the 2024 FIFA Best Awards:
- Aitana Bonmati claimed the women’s player of the year award for the second consecutive year.
- The men’s team of the year included five players from the Premier League, five from Real Madrid (including retired legend Toni Kroos), and one from Barcelona.
- Players recognized included Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa), Ruben Dias (Manchester City), William Saliba (Arsenal), Dani Carvajal, Antonio Rudiger, Jude Bellingham, and Kroos (all Real Madrid), alongside Rodri and Erling Haaland (both Manchester City), Lamine Yamal (Barcelona), and Vinicius Jr (Real Madrid).
Emiliano Martinez took home the Goalkeeper of the Year award for his key role in Argentina’s Copa America victory.
Manchester United’s Alejandro Garnacho earned the Puskas Award for the best men’s goal of the year, thanks to his stunning bicycle kick in a 3-0 win over Everton in November 2023, which was also recognized as the Premier League’s goal of the season.
A new Marta Award was introduced to honor outstanding performances in women’s football.
Carlo Ancelotti of Real Madrid was named Coach of the Year for leading his team to both Champions League and La Liga titles last season, marking his first win since the award’s inception in 2016.
