**_DOHA_**: Brazil and Real Madrid forward Vinicius Jr was named FIFA men’s player of the year in Doha, with Spain and Barcelona midfielder Aitana Bonmati winning the women’s award for the second year in a row.
Vinicius scored 24 goals in 39 appearances across all competitions to help Real Madrid clinch the LaLiga and Champions League double, and he also netted in their Champions League final win over Borussia Dortmund. He was then, surprisingly and controversially, overlooked by L’Equipe/France Football for their Ballon d’Or.
The Brazilian won the award ahead of Spain and Manchester City midfielder Rodri and his teammate at Real, England’s Jude Bellingham.
The 24-year-old, who narrowly missed out on the Ballon d’Or to Rodri in October, was in Doha to collect the award, with Real in Qatar for Wednesday’s FIFA Intercontinental Cup final against Mexico’s Pachuca.
He said: “It seemed impossible when I played barefoot in the streets of Sao Goncalo and now I’m here.”
Bonmati retained the FIFA women’s player of the year award ahead of Zambia’s Barbra Banda and Norway’s Caroline Graham Hansen, having also won the women’s Ballon d’Or for the second consecutive year in October.
The 26-year-old helped her club to a domestic treble last season in a campaign in which Barca also retained the Champions League, and Bonmati scored in the semi-final and final when Spain won the Nations League in February.
Bonmati said: “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.”
Real Madrid’s Carlo Ancelotti won the best men’s coach award, after the Italian led his club to the league and Champions League double last season. He said: “I want to share this with the club, with my president and with my players, those of the best club in the world.”
Emma Hayes won the best women’s coach award, after leading the United States to the gold medal at this year’s Olympic Games having taken Chelsea to the WSL title last season, her fifth successive league win with the club.
Alejandro Garnacho won the Puskas Award, for best goal of the year for the Argentina winger’s strike for Manchester United against Everton in the Premier League in November last year.
Brazil’s Marta won the inaugural Marta Award, for the best goal in women’s football, taking the prize named in her honour for her goal against Jamaica in June of this year.
The Best FIFA Men’s 11 2024: Emiliano Martínez (Aston Villa/Argentina), Rúben Dias (Manchester City/Portugal), Dani Carvajal (Real Madrid/Spain), Antonio Rüdiger (Real Madrid/Germany), William Saliba (Arsenal/France), Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid/England), Rodri (Manchester City/Spain), Toni Kroos (Real Madrid/Germany), Erling Haaland (Manchester City/Norway), Lamine Yamal (Barcelona/Spain), Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid/Brazil).
The Best FIFA Women’s 11 2024: Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Red Stars/USA), Irene Paredes (Barcelona/Spain), Ona Batlle (Barcelona/Spain), Lucy Bronze (Barcelona and Chelsea/England), Naomi Girma (San Diego Wave/USA), Aitana Bonmatí (Barcelona/Spain), Lindsey Horan (Olympique Lyonnais/USA), Gabi Portilho (Corinthians/Brazil), Patri Guijarro (Barcelona/Spain), Caroline Graham Hansen (Barcelona/Norway), Salma Paralluelo (Barcelona/Spain).
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