Brazilian forward Vinicius Jr. recently earned the prestigious title of FIFA Men’s Player of the Year in Doha, marking a significant milestone in his career. The 24-year-old star played a pivotal role in Real Madrid’s dominant season, scoring 24 goals in 39 appearances, which helped the club secure both the La Liga and Champions League titles. He found the net in the Champions League final against Borussia Dortmund, further solidifying his impact on the game.
Vinicius Jr. triumphed over strong contenders, including Spain’s Rodri and his Real Madrid teammate Jude Bellingham. Having narrowly missed out on the Ballon d’Or to Rodri, Vinicius expressed his gratitude and disbelief at winning the award, recalling his beginnings playing in the streets of Sao Goncalo.
In related news, Spanish midfielder Aitana Bonmati was honored as the FIFA Women’s Player of the Year for the second consecutive time. She led Barcelona to a domestic treble last season and played an instrumental role in Spain’s Nations League victory, scoring crucial goals in both the semi-final and final. Bonmati praised her teammates for their collective effort in achieving such remarkable success.
In coaching accolades, Real Madrid’s Carlo Ancelotti was named Best Men’s Coach after steering his team to unprecedented victories. Ancelotti acknowledged the support from his club and players in his acceptance speech. Meanwhile, Emma Hayes secured the Best Women’s Coach award following her success with Chelsea and the U.S. national team, which claimed gold at the Olympic Games.
Additionally, Alejandro Garnacho won the Puskas Award for the best goal of the year, thanks to his stunning overhead kick for Manchester United against Everton. In the women’s category, the inaugural Marta Award was presented to Brazil’s Marta for her remarkable goal against Jamaica. The best women’s goalkeeper accolade was earned by American Alyssa Naeher, while Argentina’s Emiliano Martinez took home the men’s award.
This year’s FIFA awards have once again highlighted the incredible talent and achievements in the world of football, celebrating the best players, coaches, and goals on an international stage.
