Vinicius Junior lifts his Best Player trophy during the Best FIFA Football Awards 2024 ceremony
Vinicius Junior won the FIFA Best award (Image: KARIM JAAFAR/AFP via Getty Images)
Vinicius Junior sent a pointed message to his critics after bouncing back from his Ballon d’Or disappointment by winning the FIFA Best trophy.
Vinicius was furious at missing out on the Ballon d’Or to Manchester City midfielder Rodri at the end of October. But the decision was reversed for the men’s FIFA Best award on Tuesday night in Doha, Qatar, with Vinicius there to collect the trophy.
Real Madrid boycotted the Ballon d’Or ceremony in Paris because they were furious at what they perceived as disrespect towards their Brazilian star. The 24-year-old forward contributed 24 goals in 39 appearances across all competitions to help Real Madrid clinch the LaLiga and Champions League double last season and felt he’d done enough to win it.
After missing out in the journalist vote to Rodri, Vinicius tweeted: “I'll do it 10x if I have to. They're not ready.” He now feels vindicated, having won the FIFA version which was launched in 2017 to rival the Ballon d’Or awards.
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Vinicius wrote on Instagram : “Today I write to that boy who saw so many idols lift this trophy... his time has come. Or rather, my time has come. The time to say... yes, I am the best player in the world and I fought hard for it.
“They tried and still try to invalidate me, to diminish me. But they are not prepared. No one will tell me who I should fight for, how I should behave. When I was in São Gonçalo, the system didn't care for me. I was almost swallowed.
“I won for myself, for my family. With a lot of support along the way: Flamengo, Real Madrid, Brazilian National Team, my hundreds of teammates over the years... the people who accompany me daily in my routine, those who admire me… THE BEST PLAYER IN THE WORLD.”
Vinicius Junior of Real Madrid, seen with The Best FIFA Men's Player Award, leaves the venue with Florentino Perez, President of Real Madrid,
It was a great night for Real Madrid at the FIFA Best Awards
Arsenal defender Gabriel Magalhaes replied: “Monster! You deserve it brother”. Real midfielder Fede Valverde added: “We are very proud of you!!” Real legend Luka Modric showed his support by writing: “The Best” alongside some emojis.
With Real in Qatar for Wednesday's FIFA Intercontinental Cup final against Mexico's Pachuca, Vinicius was able to collect his award in person. Speaking at the ceremony, he said: “It seemed impossible when I played barefoot in the streets of Sao Goncalo and now I'm here.”
Rodri won the Ballon d'Or in October ( Image: FRANCK FIFE/AFP via Getty Images)
It was a good night for Real Madrid, with Carlo Ancelotti winning the best men's coach award – the same trophy he wasn’t there to collect at the Ballon d’Or ceremony in October. “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.
Barcelona midfielder Aitana Bonmati won the women's player award for the second year in a row while Emma Hayes scooped the best women’s coach award. Alejandro Garnacho won the Puskas Award for his overhead kick for Manchester United against Everton in the Premier League in November last year.
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