Tribune News Network
Doha
Real Madrid and Brazil forward Vinicius Junior was bestowed with the FIFA Best Men’s player for 2024 award for the first time at the Aspire Academy on Tuesday.
The 24-year-old, who helped Real Madrid win the Champions League and La Liga, beat nine other nominees including Ballon d’Or winner Rodri and record winner Lionel Messi. It is his first major international award.
The Brazil and Real Madrid star enjoyed the most spectacular season of his career in 2023-24. He regularly produced match-defining moments for Real Madrid, racking up 24 goals in 39 appearances across all competitions.
Personal highlights included a goal in Madrid’s UEFA Champions League final win over Borussia Dortmund and a hat-trick against Barcelona in the Supercopa de Espana final.
He topped the voting ahead of ten fellow nominees with 48 points, finishing ahead of Manchester City midfielder Rodri (43 points) and Real Madrid colleague Jude Bellingham (37 points).
FIFA’s Best was voted for by national coaches and captains, journalists and fans worldwide via an online poll.
Earlier, Spain and Barcelona midfielder Aitana Bonmati was named Best women’s player for the second straight year.
US coach and former Chelsea boss Emma Hayes won the women’s coach award for winning the Premier League and Olympics. Carlo Ancelotti took the men’s prize having guided Madrid to a 15th European Cup and his fifth personally.
Alejandro Garnacho of Manchester United received the Puskas Award for the Best men’s goal for his overhead kick against Everton in the Premier League.
The women’s equivalent gong, the inaugural Marta Award, was picked up by Marta herself after the Brazil star’s strike in a friendly against Jamaica before her international retirement.
The Best women’s goalkeeper was American Alyssa Naeher while the men’s award went to Argentina and Aston Villa stopper Emiliano Martinez.
The FIFA awards were held at a gala dinner to mark the 20th anniversary of Qatar’s influential Aspire Academy, and on the eve of the new FIFA Intercontinental Cup final between Madrid and CF Pachuca at Lusail Stadium on the second anniversary of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 final.
The Awardees
Men’s Player of the Year
Vinicius Jr-Real Madrid, Brazil
Women’s Player of the Year
Aitana Bonmatí-FC Barcelona, Spain
Women’s goalkeeper of the Year
Alyssa Naeher-Chicago Red Stars, USWNT
Men’s Goalkeeper of the Year
Emiliano Martínez-Aston Villa, Argentina
Women’s Coach of the Year
Emma Hayes-Chelsea & USWNT
Men’s Coach of the Year
Carlo Ancelotti-Real Madrid
FIFA Marta Award (best goal)
Marta-Brazil vs. Jamaica
Best men’s goal
Alejandro Garnacho-Everton vs Man United
Women’s XI: GK: Naeher; DEF: Battle, Paredes, Girma, Bronze; MID: Aitana, Horan, Guijarro, Portilho; ATT: Paralluelo, Hansen
Men’s XI: GK: Dibu Martínez; DEF: Carvajal, Rüdiger, Dias, Saliba; MID: Bellingham, Kroos, Rodri; ATT: Lamine Yamal, Haaland, Vini Jr
FIFA Fair Play award
Thiago Maia-Internacional
FIFA Fan award
Guilherme Gandra Moura.
