Earlier this fall, Vinicius Júnior finished second in the Ballon d'Or vote – instead, Manchester City's Rodri, Spain, was named the world's best male player by the French football magazine France Football.
Real Madrid responded by boycotting the gala in Paris – neither players nor club leaders showed up. Now, Vinicius Júnior has finally received a prize. The International Football Federation (Fifa) believes that the Brazilian was the world's best male football player in 2024 – and the 24-year-old was on hand in Qatar to receive the prize.
To Play in Doha
It was also his teammates in Real Madrid, who conveniently meet Mexican Pachuca in the final of the Fifa tournament Intercontinental Cup in Doha on Wednesday.
On the women's side, Spanish Aitana Bonmatí was named the world's best player – for the second year in a row. The Barcelona star has also been awarded the Ballon d'Or two years in a row.
Swede Elena Sadiku was nominated in the category of coach of the year, but the Celtic coach went empty-handed. The prize instead went to Englishwoman Emma Hayes, national team coach for the USA's women's national team and former coach for Chelsea.
Marta Won Her Own Prize
On the men's side, pre-favorite Carlo Ancelotti stepped up to the stage and received the prize as coach of the year. The 65-year-old Italian led Real Madrid to both the league title and victory in the Champions League last spring.
New this year at the gala was that the most spectacular goal on the women's side would be voted on. The prize has been named the Marta Award. The first winner? Brazilian Marta herself. The goal was a long-range shot in the crossbar when Brazil's national team met Jamaica at the beginning of June.
Best male football player: Vinicius Júnior, Real Madrid and Brazil's national team.
Best female football player: Aitana Bonmatí, Barcelona and Spain's national team.
Best coach on the women's side: Emma Hayes, Chelsea and USA's national team.
Best coach on the men's side: Carlo Ancelotti, Real Madrid.
Best female goalkeeper: Alyssa Naeher, Chicago Red Stars and USA's national team.
Best male goalkeeper: Emiliano Martínez, Aston Villa and Argentina's national team.
Women's world eleven: Alyssa Naeher – Lucy Bronze, Naomi Girma, Irene Paredes, Ona Battle – Gabi Portilho, Patricia Guijarro, Lindsey Horan, Aitana Bonmatí – Caroline Graham Hansen, Salma Paralluelo.
Men's world eleven: Emiliano Martínez – Dani Carvajal, Antonio Rüdiger, Rúben Dias, William Saliba – Jude Bellingham, Rodri, Toni Kroos – Lamine Yamal, Erling Braut Haaland, Vinicius Júnior.
Goal of the year on the men's side (Puskás award): Alejandro Garnacho – for Manchester United against Everton on November 23, 2023.
Goal of the year on the women's side (Marta award): Marta – for Brazil against Jamaica on June 1, 2024.
