Football: Vinicius and Bonmati elected players of the year by FIFA

Real Madrid’s Brazilian Vinicius Jr was named the best FIFA player of 2024, a first in his career, and double Ballon d’Or Aitana Bonmati was crowned for the second consecutive year, during “The Best” ceremony organized in Doha in Qatar.

Vinicius thus avenges the affront felt by Real Madrid, who had canceled his appearance at the Ballon d’Or ceremony at the end of October in Paris to protest against the victory of Manchester City’s Spanish midfielder Rodri.

The Merengue club also saw their coach Carlo Ancelotti win the trophy for best coach of the year. The Italian had already been nominated for the Ballon d’Or.

The two men said a few words of thanks on stage, as they will play the Intercontinental Cup final against Mexican club Pachuca on Wednesday in Doha (6 p.m.).

The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) was keen to congratulate Vinicius – the first representative of the country to win the trophy for best player in the world awarded by FIFA since Kaka in 2007 – in another format. “Congratulations to Vini Jr for this historic achievement. He deserved the title of best player in the world more than any other for everything he did on and off the field,” said CBF president Ednaldo Rodrigues, quoted in a press release. “Vini gave joy to football fans with his dribbling and goals, and he was also a great character in the fight against racism in football,” the leader added.

Nominated for the best player trophy, Kylian Mbappé is not part of the “XI” obtained from the supporters’ vote.

Supporters also voted for all categories, alongside coaches, selectors, captains and journalists, unlike the Ballon d’Or.

Among the women, Barcelona’s Aitana Bonmati was named best FIFA player for the second year in a row, as she was for the Ballon d’Or.

Emma Hayes, on the Chelsea bench, won the 2024 best coach trophy.

Alongside the Puskas prize for the best goal of the year, awarded to Mancunian Alejandro Garnacho, FIFA created this year a Marta prize dedicated to the best female goal of the year, awarded to… Marta, the Brazilian player with an immense career.