Julius OkorieBrazil international and Real Madrid forward Vimicius Junior, has been named 2024 FIFA Best Men’s Player of the Year.
The recognition is coming barely two months after the 24 year old finished second best at the Ballon d’Or ultimately won Manchester City midfielder, Rodri.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelRecall that both Vinicius and Real Madrid received some lashing after failing to attend to occasion following a leak that Rodrid had clinched the gong.
This time Vinicius Jr who is in Doha with Real Madrid ahead of Intercontinental Cup final against Mexico’ Pachuca on Wednesday, attended the award ceremony in person to collect his award Tuesday night.
Vinicius takes over the title of FIFA Best Men’s Player from Lionel Messi, who had won the award in the previous two years.
The dynamic forward who has risen above intermittent racism attacks netted 24 goals and provided 11 assists in 39 matches across all competitions, playing a pivotal role in Real Madrid’s achievement of a La Liga and Champions League double last season.
Having secured his third La Liga title in May, Vinicius also claimed the second Champions League trophy of his career when Real triumphed over Borussia Dortmund 2-0 on June 1.
He contributed to the victory at Wembley with a precise finish in the final ten minutes, ensuring his team’s success.
While Vinicius occasionally played a supporting role to teammate Jude Bellingham in La Liga, he emerged as the standout player for Madrid in European competitions when it mattered most.
He was the leading scorer for the Champions League winners, tallying six goals in the tournament, which included a goal in the final and a brace during Madrid’s 4-3 aggregate victory over Bayern Munich in the semi-finals.
Aside from that, he delivered a hat-trick in a 4-1 win during the Supercopa final against arch-rivals Barcelona in January.
It was not however smooth sailing for Vinicius Jnr all the way last season as he endured a disappointing Copa America with the Brazilian national team over the summer.
He scored two goals in a group-stage win against Paraguay, but his side ultimately crashed out on penalties to Uruguay in the quarter-finals.
READ ALSO :Vinicius Junior Shines, Real Madrid Outclass Barcelona, Lifts Spanish Super Cup
In the Women category of the FIFA Best Player Award, Barcelona midfielder, Aitana Bonmati, emerged winner for the second consecutive time.
Primebusiness.africa notes that the 26-year-old Spaniard Bonmati won the Best Women’s Player award for the second year running, adding to the two Ballon d’Or trophies she already boasts.
“I’m grateful, I’m proud to receive this award,” Bonmati said via video link from Barcelona’s Olympic stadium.
Last season, Bonmati guided Barcelona to an unprecedented continental quadruple and secured the Nations League title with her national team.
In the 2023/24 season, she won every available trophy in club football, including the Spanish league, the Copa de la Reina, the Supercopa de España, and her second consecutive Women’s Champions League title.
In the Champions League final, Bonmati not only scored a goal but also delivered a player-of-the-match performance, leading Barcelona to a 2-0 victory over Lyon, thereby securing their third title in four years.
Meanwhile, Alejandro Garnacho, the Argentine forward for Manchester United, was awarded the Puskas award for the best goal of the year, thanks to his stunning bicycle kick against Everton in the Premier League.
Julius Okorie is Chief Sports and Entertainment Correspondent for Prime Business Africa. He began his journalism career with the Champion Newspaper and Sporting Champion and later moved on to Daily Independent and the Nation Newspapers. Okorie joined Prime Business Africa in 2024 bringing on board 20 years of experience in writing investigative news on Sports and Entertainment. His well researched and highly informative articles on Sports Business and general entertainment are followed by a wide range of audience.
