Gala in Doha
Vinícius Júnior voted World Footballer of the Year
FIFA chose its world footballers in Doha. For Vinícius Júnior and Real Madrid, unlike the Ballon d’Or, it was a complete success. Kroos and Rüdiger were also honored.
After the trouble at the Ballon d’Or, Vinícius Júnior can still celebrate. The Brazilian was named world footballer at the Fifa gala dinner in Doha and succeeded superstar Lionel Messi. In October he had to give way to the Spanish European champion Rodri at the Ballon d’Or, which caused great upset at his club Real Madrid.
“It seemed impossible for me to arrive here on this stage. I come from a small place, close to poverty and crime. Now I’m here,” said Vinícius Júnior, who finished with 48 points ahead of Rodri (43) and ex-BVB player Star Jude Bellingham (37) won.
As in the previous year, Aitana Bonmatí from Champions League winners FC Barcelona triumphed in the women’s category. FIFA only announced the timing of the award, which took place on the eve of the Intercontinental Cup between Real Madrid and CF Pachuca, at short notice.
German players and the Bundesliga only played a minor role in the award ceremony. Rio world champion Toni Kroos, who retired in the summer, and Florian Wirtz from double winner Bayer Leverkusen were on the shortlist of the eleven best players, but did not make it into the top three. Kroos and ex-Real colleague Antonio Rüdiger were at least voted into the team of the year. “This makes the last successful year even more special,” said Kroos in a video message.
Ancelotti honored by Fifa as world coach
Leverkusen’s master coach Xabi Alonso had to give way to the Italian maestro Carlo Ancelotti from the premier class winner Real Madrid in the election for world coach. The German goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger did not make it to the top in the election for world goalkeeper. The American Alyssa Naeher won. In the men’s category, Argentina’s world champion goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez was honored.
In October, the choice of the Ballon d’Or at Real Madrid caused great anger. The club stayed away from the ceremony at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris after it was leaked that no Real player would receive the coveted trophy.
Even there, Vinícius Júnior was the big favorite to win. After all, he had won the championship and the premier class with Real. But the star striker, who has been the victim of racism several times in Spain, is not without controversy. His tendency towards theatrics also provokes criticism.
Günter Netzer turns 80 – his life in pictures
Günter Theodor Netzer, as his full name is, was called up to the national team for the first time in 1965 (the picture is a DFB portrait), but was initially unable to assert himself and missed the World Cup in England. Two years earlier, Netzer moved up from the youth ranks to the first team at his hometown club Borussia Mönchengladbach and was promoted to the Bundesliga that year
© Sven Simon / Picture Alliance
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Different regulations than the Ballon d’Or
Fifa has been honoring world footballers since 1991; the only German winner in the same year was Lothar Matthäus, who this time presented the team of the year. Between 2010 and 2015, FIFA entered into a cooperation with the Amaury Group, during which time the world footballer prize was awarded as the “Fifa Ballon d’Or”. Since then there have been two prizes for the best footballer.
The regulations for the FIFA election are different than for the Ballon d’Or, which only journalists decide on. FIFA voted for the national coaches, national team captains, journalists and fans around the world. Voting was possible until December 10th.
DPA
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