Official Ballon d'Or announcement by France Football

Vinicius Jr. Edges Rodri to Win FIFA Best Men's Player Award, First Brazilian in 17 Years

Dec 17, 2024, 06:03 PM

Vinicius Júnior, Brazilian forward for Real Madrid and the Brazil national team, was named the FIFA Best Men's Player of the Year for 2024 at a ceremony held in Doha, Qatar, on December 17, 2024. Vinicius becomes the sixth Brazilian to receive the award and the first in 17 years since Kaká in 2007. He edged out Spain's Rodri by five points to claim the honor. During the 2023/2024 season, Vinicius scored 24 goals and provided 11 assists in 39 games, contributing significantly to Real Madrid's success in winning the UEFA Champions League, La Liga, the Spanish Super Cup, and the UEFA Super Cup. This accolade comes after he finished second in the 2024 Ballon d'Or voting. Upon receiving the award from FIFA President Gianni Infantino, Vinicius Jr. expressed his gratitude, stating, 'Poder chegar aqui é algo muito importante para mim' ('Being able to get here is very important to me'). Fellow football stars Neymar Jr. and Kylian Mbappé congratulated him, with Neymar saying, 'Bem merecido. Muito feliz por você. Continue' ('Well deserved. Very happy for you. Keep it up'), and Mbappé adding, 'Bien merecido, mon frère' ('Well deserved, my brother'). The FIFA The Best awards are determined by votes from coaches, captains, journalists, and fans worldwide.