Vinicius Junior and Aitana Bonmati win FIFA best player awards for 2024

Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior, Barcelona's Aitana Bonmati win FIFA Best Player Awards for men and women respectively.

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Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior and FC Barcelona midfielder Aitana Bonmati were named the best male and female players at FIFA’s The Best awards.

Vinicius, 24, won the men’s player of the year award, while Bonmati, 26, claimed her second consecutive FIFA women’s player of the year award.

Vinicius, who previously expressed disappointment after losing the Ballon d’Or to Manchester City’s Rodri in October, received 5 more points than Rodri this time.

He made an emotional speech in Portuguese, recalling his childhood in Sao Goncalo, Brazil. "I don’t even know where to begin. It was so far away that it seemed impossible to get here. I was a kid who only played football barefoot on the streets of Sao Goncalo, close to poverty and crime,” said Vinicius.

 

 

 

 

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He reflected on his journey, encouraging young children with similar dreams. “Getting here is something very important to me. I’m doing it for many children who think that everything is impossible and who think they can’t get here,” he said. Vinicius later shared his thoughts on Instagram, writing, "Today I am writing to that boy who saw so many idols lift this trophy… your time has come. Or rather, my time has come. The time to say … yes, I am the best player in the world and I fought hard for it."

Vinicius also took a subtle jab at the Ballon d’Or voters, adding, “They tried and still try to invalidate me, to diminish me. But they are not prepared. No one is going to tell me who I should fight for, how I should behave.”

Vinicius, who has faced racist abuse in Spain, added that despite the challenges, he would continue to fight for his place in the sport. "I’ll keep fighting," he said.

Bonmati won the FIFA women’s player of the year award after an exceptional year with Barcelona, which saw the team win the Spanish League, Spanish Cup, and Champions League. This marks her second consecutive win, having also won the Ballon d’Or for the past two years.

 

 

 

 

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

The FIFA Best awards are determined by a voting system that includes fans, national team captains and coaches, and media representatives. The awards were based on performances from August 21, 2023, to August 10, 2024.

Vinicius enjoyed the best season of his career, scoring 24 goals in 39 appearances for Madrid and helping the team secure a record-extending 15th European Cup and his second Champions League trophy. He also became the youngest player to score in two Champions League finals, having netted in the final this year.

Madrid teammate Jude Bellingham placed third, with Dani Carvajal and Lamine Yamal following behind. Lionel Messi, who had won the award the previous two years, finished sixth.

Carlo Ancelotti was named the best men’s coach, while Emma Hayes of the United States won the women’s coaching award after guiding the USWNT to Olympic gold in Paris. Alyssa Naeher received the women’s goalkeeper award, while Emiliano Martínez of Aston Villa and Argentina won the men’s goalkeeper award for the second consecutive year.

The FIFA Puskás Award for the best goal went to Alejandro Garnacho for his overhead strike for Manchester United against Everton in November 2023. The inaugural FIFA Marta Award, named after Brazilian football legend Marta, was presented to Marta herself for her goal against Jamaica in June.