Vinicius, Bonmati Crowned Fifa Best Players Of The Year
Vinicius Junior and Aitana Bonmati were named FIFA Best Men's and Women's players of the year, respectively, at a ceremony held in Doha on Tuesday.
Real Madrid's Vinicius, 24, claimed the men's prize two months after finishing runner-up in the Ballon d'Or . He outshone competitors this time to collect the prestigious award while in Qatar for Real Madrids Intercontinental Cup final against Mexicos Pachuca.
"Thank you very much. I grew up in a world of poverty and organised crime. This award is for all the children who grow up in that world," said Vinicius. He expressed gratitude to his family, club, and teammates, highlighting his pride in representing Real Madrid and Brazil.
Vinicius succeeded Lionel Messi as FIFA's Best Men's Player following an outstanding season where he scored 24 goals and provided 11 assists in 39 matches, helping Real Madrid secure a La Liga and Champions League double. Key moments included a decisive strike in the Champions League final against Borussia Dortmund and a hat trick against Barcelona in the Supercopa final.
Although he endured a disappointing Copa America campaign with Brazil, Vinicius' European exploits cemented his status as a star performer.