Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior was named the men’s player of the year at the world football governing body FIFA’s The Best awards, where Barcelona playmaker Aitana Bonmati continued to clean up in the prizes for women’s soccer.
The 24-year-old Vinicius was so disappointed to lose out to Manchester City midfielder Rodri for the Ballon d’Or in October that he and his Madrid team snubbed the ceremony in Paris in protest.
This time, Rodri ended up second to Vinicius 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 Intercontinental Cup final against Pachuca.
“I don’t even know where to begin,” Vinicius said in Portuguese. “It was so far away that it seemed impossible to get here. I was a kid who only played football barefoot on the streets of Sao Goncalo, close to poverty and crime.
“Getting here is something very important to me. I’m doing it for many children who think that everything is impossible and who think they can’t get here.”
