Vinicius Jr Wins FIFA Best Men’s Player Award, Aitana Bonmati Claims Women’s Honour

Brazil and Real Madrid forward Vinicius Jr. was named the 2024 FIFA Men’s Player of the Year on Tuesday in Doha.

Spain and Barcelona midfielder, Aitana Bonmati also won the Women’s Player of the Year award for the second consecutive year.

Vinicius Jr had an outstanding season, scoring 24 goals in 39 matches across all competitions. He played a key role in helping Real Madrid secure both the La Liga and Champions League titles, including scoring in their Champions League final win over Borussia Dortmund.

The 24-year-old Brazilian beat Spain’s Rodri from Manchester City and his Real Madrid teammate, England’s Jude Bellingham, to win the honor.

Vinicius, who was narrowly edged out for the Ballon d’Or by Rodri in October, was in Doha to accept the award while his team prepared for the FIFA Intercontinental Cup final against Mexico’s Pachuca.

“It seemed impossible when I played barefoot in the streets of Sao Goncalo and now I’m here,” Vinicius said.

Aitana Bonmati claimed the FIFA Women’s Player of the Year award again, beating Zambia’s Barbra Banda and Norway’s Caroline Graham Hansen.

Bonmati also won the Ballon d’Or for the second straight year in October. The 26-year-old helped Barcelona win a domestic treble and retain the Champions League, while also scoring in the semi-final and final when Spain claimed the Nations League title in February.

“I’m very grateful for this award, but I always say that this is a team effort, with a Barca that won everything and the national team,” Bonmati said.

Carlo Ancelotti, the coach of Real Madrid, won the Best Men’s Coach award after leading his team to the league and Champions League double last season.

“I want to share this with the club, with my president and with my players, those of the best club in the world,” Ancelotti said.

Emma Hayes won the Best Women’s Coach award after guiding the U.S. to a gold medal at the Olympics and leading Chelsea to the Women’s Super League title, her fifth consecutive league win with the club.

Alejandro Garnacho received the Puskas Award for the best goal of the year for his stunning overhead kick for Manchester United against Everton in the Premier League last November.

Brazilian star Marta won the inaugural Marta Award, given for the best goal in women’s football, for her spectacular strike against Jamaica in June.

The Best Women’s Goalkeeper award went to U.S. international Alyssa Naeher of the Chicago Red Stars, while Argentina’s Emiliano Martinez claimed the Best Men’s Goalkeeper award for his performances with Aston Villa.

Vinicius Jr’s victory comes just two months after the outrage that surrounded his and Madrid’s boycott of the Ballon d’Or gala after it was revealed that Manchester City star Rodri was the winner.