Brazilian professional footballer who currently plays as forward for Real Madrid, Vinicius Junior, has been awarded the FIFA Best Men’s Player of the Year.

Naija News reports that this recognition comes two months after the 24-year-old Vinicius finished as the runner-up for the Ballon d’Or, an event from which Real Madrid reportedly chose to withdraw upon learning that Manchester City midfielder, Rodri would be the recipient of the trophy.

However, Vinicius was present to accept the award in person at a ceremony held in Doha on Tuesday.

It is worth noting that Vinicius Junior is currently in Qatar with his team in preparation for their Intercontinental Cup final against Mexico’s Pachuca on Wednesday.

Vinicius takes over the title of FIFA Best Men’s Player from Lionel Messi, who had won the award in the previous two years.

The dynamic forward netted 24 goals and provided 11 assists in 39 matches across all competitions, playing a pivotal role in Real Madrid’s achievement of a La Liga and Champions League double last season.

Having secured his third La Liga title in May, Vinicius also claimed the second Champions League trophy of his career when Real triumphed over Borussia Dortmund 2-0 on June 1.

He contributed to the victory at Wembley with a precise finish in the final ten minutes, ensuring his team’s success.

While Vinicius occasionally played a supporting role to teammate Jude Bellingham in La Liga, he emerged as the standout player for Madrid in European competitions when it mattered most.

He was the leading scorer for the Champions League winners, tallying six goals in the tournament, which included a goal in the final and a brace during Madrid’s 4-3 aggregate victory over Bayern Munich in the semi-finals.

Additionally, he achieved a hat-trick in a 4-1 win during the Supercopa final against arch-rivals Barcelona in January.

But it was not all plain sailing last season for Vinicius as he endured a disappointing Copa America with the Brazilian national team over the summer.

He scored two goals in a group-stage win against Paraguay, but his side ultimately crashed out on penalties to Uruguay in the quarter-finals.

Bonmati

On the other hand, FIFA named Barcelona midfielder, Aitana Bonmati, as the 2024 FIFA Best Player in the women category, winning the award for the second consecutive time.

Naija News reports that the 26-year-old Spaniard Bonmati won the 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 season, Bonmati guided Barcelona to an unprecedented continental quadruple and secured the Nations League title with her national team.

In the 2023/24 season, she won every available trophy in club football, including the Spanish league, the Copa de la Reina, the Supercopa de España, and her second consecutive Women’s Champions League title.

In the Champions League final, Bonmati not only scored a goal but also delivered a player-of-the-match performance, leading Barcelona to a 2-0 victory over Lyon, thereby securing their third title in four years.

Meanwhile, Alejandro Garnacho, the Argentine forward for Manchester United, was awarded the Puskas award for the best goal of the year, thanks to his stunning bicycle kick against Everton in the Premier League.