24-year-old Brazillian footballer Vinicius Jr. leap frogs Nwabali, Boniface, Lookman, others to claim the FIFA best men’s player of the year

24-year-old Real Madrid and Brazil winger Vinicius Jr has been named the men’s player of the year at the FIFA Best Awards.

Vinicius’ club boycotted the recent Ballon d’Or ceremony after missing out to Manchester City’s Rodri – but he picked up this prize in Doha.

He played a vital role in Real’s Champions League and La Liga-winning campaign in 2023-24, scoring 24 goals and providing 11 assists.

This was the first time Vinicius has won the award and capped a happier finish to the season than October’s Ballon d’Or boycott.

The Ballon d’Or and FIFA Best Awards are the two most prestigious in football.

This was Vinicius’ first FIFA prize, with Lionel Messi winning the previous two awards and Robert Lewandowski the two before that.

Vinicius said, “It was looking impossible for me to arrive here on this stage… I arrived from a small place, close to poverty and crime. Now I’m here”.