Football: Vinicius Junior wins Best FIFA Men’s Player award

Doha: Vinicius Junior won the Best FIFA Men’s Player award and became the first Brazilian to do so since its inception in 2016. He was announced the winner at the Aspire Academy in Doha, Qatar on Tuesday.

“I was a kid playing barefoot in the streets of Sao Goncalo. I’m a role model for many kids who think everything is impossible and that they can’t get this far,” he said after receiving the award.

In the 2023-24 season, he racked up 24 goals in 39 appearances across all competitions for Real Madrid, with which he lifted the La Liga, the UEFA Champions League, and the Supercopa de Espana. He scored a hat-trick in the Supercopa final against arch-rival Barcelona. Vinicius topped the votes chart with 48 points, ahead of 2024 Ballon d’Or winner Rodri (43 points - Manchester City and Spain) and fellow teammate Jude Bellingham (37 points - Real Madrid and England).

He is the third Real Madrid player after Cristiano Ronaldo and Luka Modric to win FIFA’s award for the Best Men’s Player in this format of the ceremony which began in 2016. While Ronaldo won in the first two editions, Modric won in 2018. Agencies

Also Read: Barcelona, LaLiga to investigate alleged racial abuse of Vinicius Junior

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