Brazilian Vinicius Junior became the Player of the Year 2024 according to the International Football Federation (FIFA).
The Real Madrid striker won the Champions League and the Spanish La Liga with his club last season, he won the poll for the first time and as the first Brazilian since 2007.
The 24-year-old winger Vinicius has been working for Real Madrid since 2018. It was in that year that the last award went to the “white ballet” player, namely Croatian midfielder Luka Modric.
At the same time, Vinicius was declared the best player of the last year’s Champions League. Together with the team, he caused controversy before this year’s Golden Ball award ceremony. Neither he nor Real Madrid took part in the ceremony, as the information about the later laureate Rodri was leaked before it. In the aforementioned 2007, Vinicius’ compatriot Kaká won the poll.
The Spanish player of the year is Aitana Bonmatiová, the midfielder won the treble with Barcelona and triumphed in the League of Nations with the national team. Argentinian Emiliano Martinez became the best goalkeeper – he won the Copa America tournament with the national team.
The gala evening is normally held in January, but this year FIFA surprisingly announced the December date just one day in advance. The final of the FIFA Intercontinental Cup is scheduled for Wednesday in Doha, in which Real Madrid will meet Mexican CF Pachuca.
The date is symbolically exactly two years after the final of the previous World Cup between champions Argentina and France. The survey was conducted for the ninth time under the name The Best FIFA Football Awards.
The gala evening was held in Doha, Qatar, and was accompanied by American soccer player Samantha Johnson and presenter Cristina Gullon.
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The honor for the best coach went to Carlo Ancelotti, who led Real Madrid to the Champions League and La Liga titles. He won the prestigious competition for the fifth time and the third time with the “white ballet” after 2014 and 2022.
He achieved the previous two triumphs at the beginning of the millennium with AC Milan. The most beautiful goal, according to voting representatives of the media, fans, coaches and captains of the national teams, was scored by Argentine Alejandro Garnacho from Manchester United.
He netted it in the Premier League match at Everton (4:0), when he performed a scissors kick and sent the ball into the upper right corner with a curler.
The best coach of the women’s team was Emma Hayes, who triumphed with Chelsea in the highest English competition and won the gold medal at the Olympic Games in Paris with the American national team.
The award for the best goalkeeper went to Alyssa Naeherová, a member of the golden Olympic team. The first laureate of the Marta award for the most beautiful goal by a soccer player was the Brazilian Marta, after whom the award itself is named.
The Brazilian Thiago Maia won the Fair play award for rescuing a woman during floods in Brazil.
Laureates of The Best FIFA Football Awards 2024:
Player: Vinicius Junior
Coach: Carlo Ancelotti
Coach of the women’s team: Emma Hayes
Best goalkeeper: Emiliano Martinez
The best goalkeeper: Alyssa Naeher
Ferenc Puskás award for the most beautiful goal: Alejandro Garnacho
Marta awards for the most beautiful goal by a female soccer player: Marta
Cena Fair Play: Thiago Maia
Prize for the best fan: Guilherme Gandra
FIFA/FIFPro XI of the Year 2024: Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa) – Dani Carvajal, Antonio Rüdiger (both Real Madrid), Ruben Dias (Manchester City), William Saliba (Arsenal) – Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), Rodri (Manchester City), Toni Kroos (Real Madrid) – Lamine Yamal (Barcelona), Erling Haaland (Manchester City), Vinicius Junior (Real Madrid)