Vinicius won the Champions League and La Liga over the course of the year, providing 24 goals in all competitions during an immensely successful 2023/24 season. He’s picked up from where he left off this campaign, adding a further 13 goals to his Real Madrid tally thus far.
The highlight of a glistening year came in the Champions League final back in June, with Vinicius scoring the second goal during a 2-0 win over Borussia Dortmund as Los Blancos claimed a record-extending 15th title.
This is the first time that Vinicius has won the prize, awarded since 2016, and he’s the only Brazilian to have so far claimed the accolade. Neymar previously came closest, finishing third in 2017.
Cristiano Ronaldo and Luka Modric are the only other Real Madrid players to have scooped the FIFA gong, with Lionel Messi the most recent winner in 2023 – somewhat controversially.
Despite beating Vinicius to the 2024 Ballon d’Or, Manchester City midfielder Rodri was one of ten nominees who failed to claim The Best FIFA Men’s Player award. The Spaniard’s club teammate Erling Haalandwas also among the nominees who didn’t win.
Real Madrid alone had five other contenders for the accolade, including the now retired Toni Kroos, with Jude Bellingham, Kylian Mbappe, Dani Carvajal and Federico Valverde also on the shortlist.
