Vinícius Júnior fired back at his critics after being named FIFA’s The Best Men’s Player of the Year on Tuesday, accusing them of attempts to “invalidate” and “diminish” his accomplishments.
The 24-year-old Real Madrid and Brazil forward claimed the 2024 award, which is decided by votes from national team coaches and captains, journalists, and fans. Vinícius topped the rankings with 48 points, ahead of Manchester City midfielder Rodri with 43 points and Real Madrid teammate Jude Bellingham with 37 points. The victory comes after Rodri had beaten Vinícius to the Ballon d’Or—organized by France Football and UEFA—prompting Real Madrid to boycott that ceremony in protest.
“Today, I write to the child who dreamed of lifting this trophy,” Vinícius shared on Instagram. “His time has come. Or rather, my time has come. The time to declare … yes, I am the best player in the world, and I have fought tirelessly for this moment.
“They have tried to invalidate me, to diminish me, again and again. But they are not ready for me. No one will dictate who I fight for or how I should act. When I was at São Gonçalo, the system didn’t care about me—it almost consumed me.
“I won this for myself, for my family, and with the support of many along the way: Flamengo, Real Madrid, the Brazilian national team, my countless teammates through the years, and the people who stand by me daily, those who believe in me. To them, I say: I am the best player in the world.”
Vinícius claimed The Best award for the first time following a stellar 2023-24 season in which he played a pivotal role in helping Real Madrid secure both the LaLiga and Champions League titles.
Barcelona’s Aitana Bonmatí took home the women’s award, while Carlo Ancelotti was named men’s coach of the year.
In October, Vinícius had responded defiantly after missing out on the Ballon d’Or, writing, “I’ll do it 10x if I have to. They’re not ready.”
Real Madrid had chosen not to send a delegation to the Ballon d’Or ceremony in Paris after it became apparent that Rodri was the frontrunner for the award. None of the club’s nominees or officials attended the event.
Club president Florentino Pérez criticized the Ballon d’Or voting system—decided by 100 journalists worldwide—in a speech at Real Madrid’s annual general meeting last month. He argued that the process lacked transparency, saying, “Nobody knows who they are,” and called for the award to be “independently organized” and voted on by “recognizable and credible individuals.”
Neymar was among those who celebrated Vinícius’ triumph on Tuesday, sharing his support in an Instagram story where he encouraged his compatriot to “keep flying.”