At the 2024 FIFA Best Football Awards ceremony in Doha, Qatar, Vinicius Jr. was named the Best Men’s Player of the Year, a prestigious honor after an incredible season. However, his victory has sparked some controversy, particularly surrounding Lionel Messi’s votes in the player of the year category. Despite Vinicius’ exceptional performance, Messi’s vote did not reflect that.
Messi, who now plays for Inter Miami, chose to rank Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal and Paris Saint-Germain’s Kylian Mbappé higher than Vinicius, placing the Brazilian forward in third. This decision has led to mixed reactions from fans, with some questioning Messi’s choice and accusing him of bias, especially given the historical rivalry between Barcelona and Real Madrid. One fan expressed confusion about Messi’s vote for Mbappé, while another pointed out that Yamal, despite having a strong Euro campaign, did not seem to justify such a high rank when compared to other candidates, especially considering Vinicius’ achievements.
The 2024 FIFA Best Team of the Year was also announced, with notable inclusions like Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa), Ruben Dias (Manchester City), and Real Madrid stars such as Dani Carvajal, Antonio Rudiger, and Jude Bellingham, along with Vinicius Jr. himself. Emiliano Martinez was named the Goalkeeper of the Year, and Carlo Ancelotti, the coach of Real Madrid, was honored as Coach of the Year.
The fan reactions, however, continue to focus on Messi’s votes, particularly how they overlooked the performance of Vinicius, who had a standout year with Real Madrid.