DOHA, Qatar (AP) 鈥� Real Madrid star Vin铆cius J煤nior finally got his hands on a big global player award on Tuesday.
Vin铆cius was named the men鈥檚 player of the year at the FIFA鈥檚 鈥淭he Best鈥� awards, where Barcelona playmaker Aitana Bonmati continued to clean up in the prizes for women鈥檚 soccer.
The 24-year-old Vin铆cius was so disappointed to lose out to Manchester City midfielder Rodri for the that he and his Madrid team snubbed the ceremony in Paris in protest.
This time Rodri ended up second to Vin铆cius by five points. The Brazil forward was at the FIFA ceremony to collect his award having travelled to Doha on Monday with Madrid for the against Pachuca.
Bonmati won the award for best women鈥檚 player of the year making it back-to-back prizes at FIFA's version of the older and more prestigious Ballon d鈥橭r prize.
The 26-year-old Spain midfielder has won the Ballon d鈥橭r for two straight years, and won the Spanish league, Spanish cup and Champions League with Barcelona in 2024.
FIFA said the award winners were decided by an 鈥渆qually weighted voting system" by fans, the current captains and coaches of all national teams, and media representatives.
There was an 11-player shortlist for both awards, with the contenders selected based on their performances from Aug. 21, 2023, to Aug. 10. 2024.
Vin铆cius had the best season of his career, scoring 24 goals in 39 appearances for Madrid and helping the Spanish team to a record-extending 15th European Cup 鈥� and his second Champions League trophy.
He also netted in the final, becoming the youngest player to score in two Champions League finals.
Madrid teammate Jude Bellingham was third, ahead of Dani Carvajal and Lamine Yamal, with Lionel Messi 鈥� who had won the award the previous two years 鈥� sixth.
Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti was named best men鈥檚 coach, and United States coach Emma Hayes took the women鈥檚 prize.
Hayes steered the USWNT to Olympic gold in Paris in August. Their shotstopper, Alyssa Naeher, was given the women鈥檚 goalkeeper award. Aston Villa and Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Mart铆nez won the men鈥檚 prize for the second straight year.
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AP soccer:
The Associated Press
