Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior and Barcelona’s Bonmatti win the FIFA Best of the Year award | Football news

Real Madrid, Brazil striker Vinicius Junior and Barcelona midfielder Aitana Bonmatti all won FIFA’s top awards for the best.

Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior was named Player of the Year at the FIFA Best Awards, while Barcelona playmaker Aitana Bonmatti continued to collect women’s football awards.

Vinicius, 24, was very disappointed after losing to Manchester City midfielder Rodri Ballon d’Or last October, as he and his team canceled the ceremony in Paris in protest.

This time, Rodri finished second, five points behind Vinicius. The Brazilian striker attended the FIFA ceremony to receive his award, after traveling to Doha on Monday with Real Madrid Intercontinental Cup final against Pachuca.

“I don’t even know where to start,” Vinicius said in Portuguese. “It was so far away that it seemed impossible to get here. I was a child playing football just barefoot in the streets of São Goncalo, close to poverty and crime.

“Getting here is very important to me. I do it for the many children who think everything is impossible and who think they can’t get here.

Vinnie Jr. is #The best FIFA Men’s Player 2024! 🏆

– FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) December 17, 2024

Vinicius echoed those sentiments in an Instagram post, where he conducted convincing research on, arguably, Ballon d’Or voters – journalists from the top 100 countries in the FIFA rankings.

“Today I’m writing to that boy who has seen so many idols raise this cup… your time has come,” he wrote. “Or rather, my time has come. It’s time to say… Yes, I am the best player in the world and I fought hard for it.

“They tried and are still trying to invalidate my career, belittle me. But they are not ready. No one will tell me who I should fight for, how I should act.”

It was Vinicius He was subjected to racist abuse in Spain, and earlier this year, he said he “Losing my desire to playBut he added: “I will keep fighting.”

Bonmati won the Women’s Player of the Year award, making it two consecutive awards in FIFA’s version of the oldest and most prestigious Ballon d’Or award.

The 26-year-old Spanish midfielder has won the Ballon d’Or for two years in a row, and has won La Liga, the Spanish Cup and the Champions League with Barcelona in 2024.

“I am grateful to receive this award. As I always say, this is a team effort,” said Bonmati. “It was an amazing year, and it is very difficult to repeat it. I’m grateful for the people who help me be better every day, from the club to my teammates, who always help me be better.

FIFA said the award winners were chosen through an “equal voting system” by fans, current captains and coaches of all national teams and media representatives.

There was an 11-man shortlist for both awards, with contenders selected based on their performances from 21 August 2023 to 10 August 2024.

Vinicius had the best season of his career, scoring 24 goals in 39 matches for Real Madrid and helping the Spanish side win a record 15th European Cup. His second Champions League title.

He also scored in the final, becoming the youngest player to score in two Champions League finals.

His Real Madrid teammate Jude Bellingham came in third place, ahead of Dani Carvajal and Lamin Yamal, while Lionel Messi – who has won the award in the past two years – finished sixth.

Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti won the men’s best coach award, and United States coach Emma Hayes won the women’s award.

Hayes guided the USWNT to Olympic gold in Paris in August. Their model, Alyssa Naeher, won the women’s goalkeeper award. Aston Villa and Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez won the men’s award for the second year in a row.

Alejandro Garnacho won the FIFA Puskás Award for Best Goal, for his stunning goal for Manchester United against Everton in November 2023.

Marta won the inaugural FIFA Marta Award, which bears her name, for her goal for Brazil against Jamaica in June.