Real Madrid’s Vinicius named FIFA Best Player of the Year

Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior has won the FIFA Best Men’s Player of the Year award.

Vinicius was named the winner of the award at a ceremony in Doha, the capital of Qatar, on Tuesday.

The Brazilian won the award ahead of Spain and Manchester City midfielder Rodri and his teammate at Real, England’s Jude Bellingham.

Barcelona midfielder Aitana Bonmati also picked up the women’s prize for the second time.

The award comes two months after 24-year-old Vinicius was second in the Ballon d’Or, with Real electing to snub the ceremony when they found out beforehand that Rodri was set to win the trophy.

But the Brazilian was this time on hand to collect the prize in person as he is in Qatar with his club ahead of their Intercontinental Cup final clash with Mexico’s Pachuca on Wednesday.

Vinicius said on stage: “Thank you very much. I don’t know where to start. It was impossible to think of getting here. I grew up in a world of poverty, of organised crime. It’s for all the children who grow up in that world. I thank everyone who voted for me.

“(Thank you) To my family, to the club, to my teammates, to Carletto (Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti), who always helps me.

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“To everyone who helped make my dream come true. I hope to be at Madrid for many years because it is the best club in the world. To Flamengo (his first club in Brazil). To my team-mates in my national team. And to my country, which always supports me in my work.”

Vinicius succeeds Lionel Messi as the FIFA Best Men’s Player after the Argentinian scooped up the last two editions of the award.

The Brazilian scored 24 goals and laid on 11 assists in 39 matches across all competitions as he led Real to a LaLiga and Champions League double last season.

Having already wrapped up his third LaLiga title in May, Vinicius secured the second Champions League trophy of his career as Real beat Borussia Dortmund 2-0 on June 1.

Vinicius was on the scoresheet at Wembley with a pinpoint finish inside the final 10 minutes to make the game safe for his team.

The 26-year-old Spaniard Bonmati picked up the FIFA Best Women’s Player award for the second year running, adding to the two Ballon d’Or trophies she already boasts.

“I’m grateful, I’m proud to receive this award,” Bonmati said via video link from Barcelona’s Olympic stadium.

Last term, Bonmati led Barcelona to a historic continental quadruple of titles and claimed the Nations League with her national team.

She won every trophy available to her in club football in 2023/24 – the Spanish league, the Copa de la Reina, the Supercopa de Espana, and a second-successive Women’s Champions League.

Manchester United’s Argentine forward Alejandro Garnacho also won the Puskas award for the best goal of the year for his spectacular bicycle kick against Everton in the Premier League last year.

Real Madrid’s Carlo Ancelotti won the FIFA Best Men’s Coach award after the Italian led his club to the league and Champions League double last season.

The best women’s goalkeeper award went to American Alyssa Naeher of the Chicago Red Stars while Emiliano Martinez of Argentina and Aston Villa took the men’s award.

The Star