The world of football was once again in the spotlight, with FIFA’s ‘The Best’ awards taking place. The prestigious ceremony, held in Doha, brought together the best male and female footballers of 2024, as they waited to see who would be crowned in various categories.
At the heart of the debate was Vinícius Junior, nominated for the Best Men’s Player award. After his disappointment at not winning the Ballon d’Or last October, losing out to Manchester City midfielder Rodri, Vinícius signalled his disapproval by abstaining from the ceremony in Paris, along with his Real Madrid team.
Excitement was running high as the clock ticked towards 17:00 GMT for the start of the ceremony, closely followed by the Intercontinental Cup match between Real Madrid and Pachuca. Other contenders for the title included big names such as Kylian Mbappé and Lionel Messi, who shared the previous year’s FIFA award with Erling Haaland.
On the women’s side, Barcelona’s talented playmaker Aitana Bonmati won the 2023 Women’s Player of the Year award and was one of four Spanish players selected for the shortlist of 16 candidates. Having achieved a historic Ballon d’Or double and won the Spanish La Liga, Copa del Rey and Champions League with Barcelona in 2024, Bonmati was hoping to repeat her success at this FIFA ceremony.
The winners were selected based on their performances between 21 August 2023 and 10 August 2024. FIFA implemented a fair voting system between fans, national team captains and coaches and the media to determine the winners.
In addition to the individual awards, the best men’s and women’s coaches and goalkeepers were also announced, as were the men’s and women’s teams of the year. The Marta and Puskás Trophies, which honour the best goals in women’s and men’s football respectively, were also presented.
The presence of FIFA President Gianni Infantino at the gala dinner at the Aspire Academy in Doha added a touch of prestige to this must-attend event for any football fan. Through these “The Best” awards, FIFA continues to honour and celebrate the excellence and talent of the major players in this universal sport.