The award comes two months after 24-year-old Vinicius finished runner-up at the Ballon d’Or when Real chose to take part in the ceremony after knowing in advance that Manchester City midfielder Rodri was set to win the trophy.
But the Brazilian was on hand to collect the award in person this time as he lines up with his club ahead of Wednesday’s Intercontinental Cup final clash with Mexico’s Pachuca.
“Thank you so much. I don’t know where to start. It was impossible to think about coming this far. I grew up in a world of poverty, organized crime. This is for all the kids who grew up in this world. Me. Thank you to everyone who voted for me,” Vinicius said on stage.
“(Thanks) to my family, to the club, to my teammates, to Carletto (Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti), who always helps me.
“To everyone who helped make my dream come true. I hope to stay in Madrid for many years, because it is the best club in the world. To Flamengo (his first club in Brazil). To my national team mates. And to my country, which always supports me in my work. “
The Argentinian has won the last two editions of the award, replacing Lionel Messi as the FIFA Men’s Player of the Year.
The live wire forward scored 24 goals and provided 11 assists in 39 appearances in all competitions to help Real win the La Liga and Champions League double last season.
Vinicius, who won his third La Liga title in May, won his second career Champions League trophy on June 1 as Real beat Borussia Dortmund 2-0.
Vinicius scored in the last 10 minutes at Wembley to secure the game for the team.
If Vinicius sometimes played second fiddle to clubmate Jude Bellingham in La Liga, he was certainly the key man for Madrid in Europe when he got serious.
He was top scorer for the Champions League winners with six goals in the competition, including a strike in the final and two in Madrid’s 4–3 aggregate win over Bayern Munich in the semi-final.
He also scored a hat-trick in the Super Cup final in January, defeating Barcelona 4-1.
But it wasn’t all plain sailing for Vinicius last season as he endured a disappointing Copa America with the Brazilian national team over the summer.
He scored twice in the group stage win against Paraguay, but his team eventually lost to Uruguay on penalties in the quarterfinals.
Serial winner Bonmati
The 26-year-old Spaniard Bonmati won the best female player award for the second year running, adding to the two Ballon d’Or trophies she already boasts.
“I’m grateful, I’m proud to receive this award,” Bonmati said via video link from Barcelona’s Olympic Stadium.
Most recently, Bonmati led Barcelona to a historic continental quadruple title and claimed the Nations League with his national team.
She won every trophy available in club football in 2023/24 – the Spanish League, Copa de la Reina, Supercopa de España and the Women’s Champions League for the second time in a row.
Bonmati scored and produced a man-of-the-match performance as Barcelona beat Lyon 2-0 in the Champions League final to win their third title in four seasons.
Manchester United’s Argentine forward Alejandro Garnacho has won the Puskas Award for Goal of the Year for his stunning bicycle kick against Everton in the Premier League.