Vinicius wins FIFA The Best award

The FIFA The Best award for the best men's player of the year was finally presented at a ceremony held at the Aspire Football Academy in Doha (Qatar) in the early morning of December 18 (Hanoi time).

This year, FIFA held The Best awards ceremony online, meaning the nominees were not present at the event to avoid having to travel.

However, Vinicius is an exception. He is in Qatar to play Real in the FIFA Intercontinental Cup final against CF Pachuca. Therefore, the Brazilian player was invited to the stage to receive the award and give a speech.

To win this award, Vinicius beat Dani Carvajal, Erling Haaland, Federico Valverde, Florian Wirtz, Jude Bellingham, Kylian Mbappe, Lamine Yamal, Lionel Messi, Rodri and Toni Kroos. Rodri beat him to win the Ballon d'Or at the end of October.

Besides Vinicius, Real also had another member who was awarded. That was coach Ancelotti when he went on stage to receive the award for best men's football coach of the year from Arsene Wenger.

The Best 2024 awards ceremony begins at 0:00 on December 18 (Hanoi time). After the program introduction speech by FIFA President Gianni Infantino, former Italian striker Alessandro Del Piero was invited to read the name of the winner of the Puskas Award, awarded for the most beautiful goal in men's football.

As a result, Man Utd striker Alejandro Garnacho won the award with his overhead kick that scored against Everton in round 13 of the 2023-2024 Premier League.

UAE national team player Nehal Abdel Aziz was then invited to announce the winner of the Female Goalkeeper of the Year award, which went to US goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher.

Former US international Fara Williams named her Women's Team of the Year, which included Alyssa Naeher, Irene Paredes, Ona Batlle, Lucy Bronze, Naomi Girma, Aitana Bonmati, Lindsey Horan, Gabi Portilho, Patri Guijarro, Emma Hayes, Caroline Graham Hansen, Salma Parallue. Emma Hayes was later awarded the Women's Soccer Coach of the Year award. Hayes is currently the coach of the US women's national team.

The FIFA Marta Award, for the best goal in women's football, was given to Marta herself for her dribble and finish in a friendly between Brazil and Jamaica on June 1, 2024.

Infantino then returned to the stage to present the Women's Player of the Year award to Aitana Bonmati. This is the second year in a row that the Barca midfielder has won the award.

The fair play player of the year award went to Brazilian Internacional midfielder Thiago Maia. Former Portugal midfielder Pepe then announced the Most Impressive Fan award went to Brazilian fan Guilherme Gandra Moura.

Former Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon was chosen to present the award for Best Male Goalkeeper of the Year, which went to Emiliano Martinez - who plays for Argentina and Aston Villa.

Former German international Lothar Matthäus announced his best 11 men's players of the year, including: Emi Martinez, Dani Carvajal, Ruben Dias, William Saliba, Antonio Rudiger, Rodri, Toni Kroos, Jude Bellingham, Lamine Yamal, Erling Haaland and Vinicius Junior.