Brazilian forward Vinícius Junior of Real Madrid has claimed the prestigious “The Best” FIFA Men’s Player award for 2024, succeeding Lionel Messi. Meanwhile, Spanish midfielder Aitana Bonmatí secured her second consecutive “The Best” FIFA Women’s Player title on Tuesday.

The 2024 Best FIFA Football Awards ceremony took place in Doha, Qatar, hosted by FIFA, the global governing body of football. The event celebrated outstanding achievements in football, with winners determined by votes from fans, national team captains, coaches, and media representatives.

Vinícius Jr. emerged victorious with 48 points, edging out Manchester City’s Spanish midfielder Rodri, who secured second place with 43 points, and England’s Jude Bellingham of Real Madrid, who finished third with 37 points. Lionel Messi ranked sixth, earning 25 points. The voting system awarded five points for a first-choice vote, three for the second, and one for the third.

"Vinícius delivered a career-defining season in 2023-24, producing critical performances for Real Madrid and scoring 24 goals in 39 matches across all competitions," FIFA stated in its announcement.

In the women’s category, Barcelona’s Aitana Bonmatí became the sixth player to win this award multiple times. She played a crucial role in Spain’s UEFA Women’s Nations League triumph and was instrumental in Barcelona’s UEFA Women’s Champions League victory. The 26-year-old earned 52 points, outpacing Zambian forward Barbra Banda (39 points) and Norwegian star Caroline Graham Hansen (37 points).

Other major awards included Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti being named Best Men’s Coach, while Chelsea’s Emma Hayes won Best Women’s Coach. Argentinian Emiliano Martínez claimed the Best Men’s Goalkeeper honor, and American Alyssa Naeher was recognized as Best Women’s Goalkeeper.

FIFA also revealed the Best XI for both men and women, along with additional accolades, such as the Fair Play Award and the Fan Award.