Vinícius Júnior and Aitana Bonmatí win best player prizes at Fifa 2024 awards
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Vinícius Júnior and Aitana Bonmatí were named the top footballers of the year at Fifa’s Best Awards in Doha, with Emma Hayes following up her Ballon d’Or win with the women’s coach of the year accolade. Hayes guided Chelsea to a fifth successive Women’s Super League title last season before leaving to take over the United States national team, and leading them to Olympic gold in Paris. Real Madrid’s Carlo Ancelotti won the men’s award after delivering the La Liga and Champions League double last season.
![[Arsène Wenger (right) presents the best men’s coach award to Real Madrid’s Carlo Ancelotti.]](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/8e813f3307a7e6bc3a45261fad397b35badf1270/0_155_4644_2786/master/4644.jpg?width=445&dpr=1&s=none&crop=none)
It was a happier night for Vinícius Júnior who, along with his Real Madrid teammates, boycotted the Ballon d’Or awards after missing out to Manchester City’s Rodri – but the winger picked up his prize at Fifa’s ceremony before Real face Pachuca in the Intercontinental Cup final in Qatar on Wednesday.
“It seemed impossible when I played barefoot in the streets of São Gonçalo and now I’m here,” Vinícius said after beating Rodri and clubmate Jude Bellingham to the award. His manager, Ancelotti, said: “I want to share this with the club, with my president and with my players, those of the best club in the world.”.
For Bonmatí, it was another glorious evening, winning the Fifa title for the second year in succession. The Barcelona midfielder was a key part of the Spain team that won the 2023 Women’s World Cup, and claimed the Golden Ball award for the best player in the tournament.
