Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior was topped FIFA Best Men’s Player of the Year at a ceremony in Doha on Tuesday, whereas Barcelona’s Aitana Bonmati claimed the Women’s Player of the Year award for the second time.
The honor follows Vinicius’ second-place end within the Ballon d’Or two months in the past – a ceremony Real Madrid notably skipped after studying Manchester City midfielder Rodri would win the trophy.
This time, the 24-year-old Brazilian was current to simply accept the award, as he’s at the moment in Qatar with Real Madrid forward of their Intercontinental Cup remaining towards Mexico’s Pachuca on Wednesday.
“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 organized crime. This is for all the children who grow up in that world. I thank everyone who voted for me,” Vinicius mentioned on stage.
“To my family, to the club, to my teammates, to Carletto (Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti), who always helps me. 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 teammates in my national team. And to my country, which always supports me in my work.”
Vinicius succeeds Lionel Messi because the FIFA Best Men’s Player after the Argentinian claimed the final two editions of the award.
The electrical ahead scored 24 objectives and tallied 11 assists in 39 matches throughout all competitions, main Real Madrid to a La Liga and Champions League double final season.
Having wrapped up his third La Liga title in May, Vinicius secured the second Champions League trophy of his profession as Real defeated Borussia Dortmund 2-0 on June 1.
Vinicius was on the scoresheet at Wembley, delivering a pinpoint end inside the ultimate 10 minutes to seal the victory.
While Vinicius at instances performed second fiddle to clubmate Jude Bellingham in La Liga, he was undoubtedly Madrid’s standout participant in Europe.
He completed as the highest scorer for the Champions League winners with six objectives within the competitors, together with the strike within the remaining and a brace in Madrid’s 4-3 mixture win over Bayern Munich within the semifinals.
Vinicius additionally scored a hat trick in a 4-1 victory over archrivals Barcelona within the Supercopa remaining in January.
It wasn’t all clean crusing for Vinicius final season, as he endured a disappointing Copa America marketing campaign with Brazil.
Despite scoring twice in a group-stage win over Paraguay, Brazil finally crashed out on penalties to Uruguay within the quarterfinals.
Serial winner Bonmati
Barcelona midfielder Aitana Bonmati, 26, claimed the FIFA Best Women’s Player award for the second straight 12 months, including to her two Ballon d’Or titles.
“I’m grateful, I’m proud to receive this award,” Bonmati mentioned by way of video hyperlink from Barcelona’s Olympic Stadium.
Last season, Bonmati led Barcelona to a historic continental quadruple and helped Spain win the Nations League.
She secured each main membership trophy within the 2023–24 season: the Spanish league, the Copa de la Reina, the Supercopa de Espana and a second consecutive Women’s Champions League.
Bonmati scored a objective and delivered a player-of-the-match efficiency as Barcelona defeated Lyon 2-0 within the Champions League remaining, securing their third title in 4 seasons.
Manchester United ahead Alejandro Garnacho gained the Puskas Award for greatest objective of the 12 months, acknowledged for his gorgeous bicycle kick towards Everton within the Premier League.
Source: www.dailysabah.com