Brazil and Real Madrid forward Vinicius Jr. was named FIFA Men’s Player of the Year in Doha on Tuesday, while Spain and Barcelona midfielder Aitana Bonmatí won the Women’s Award for the second consecutive year.
Vinicius scored 24 goals in 39 appearances across all competitions, helping Real Madrid secure both the La Liga and Champions League titles.
He also scored in their Champions League final victory over Borussia Dortmund. Vinicius won the award, beating out Spain and Manchester City midfielder Rodri, as well as 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, attended the ceremony in Doha while Real was in Qatar for the FIFA Intercontinental Cup final against Mexico’s Pachuca.
“It seemed impossible when I played barefoot in the streets of São Gonçalo, and now I’m here,” Vinicius said.
Bonmatí retained the FIFA Women’s Player of the Year award, surpassing Zambia’s Barbra Banda and Norway’s Caroline Graham Hansen, after also winning the Women’s Ballon d’Or for the second year in a row in October.
The 26-year-old helped her club achieve a domestic treble last season, during which Barcelona also retained the Champions League title. Additionally, Bonmatí scored in both the semi-final and final when Spain won the Nations League in February. “I’m very grateful for this award, but I always say that this is a team effort, with a Barça that won everything and the national team,” Bonmatí said.
