Vinicius Junior wins The Best FIFA Men's Player award for 2024 | OneFootball

Vinicius Junior has won The Best FIFA Men's Player award for 2024 following an exceptional calendar year for the Real Madrid superstar.

The Brazilian was controversially snubbed for the Ballon d'Or back in October but hasn't been overlooked on awards night by FIFA, who have named him the best of the best following some sensational performances for club and country.

Vinicius won the Champions League and La Liga over the course of the year, providing 24 goals in all competitions during an immensely successful 2023/24 season. He's picked up from where he left off this campaign, adding a further 13 goals to his Real Madrid tally thus far.

The highlight of a glistening year came in the Champions League final back in June, with Vinicius scoring the second goal during a 2-0 win over Borussia Dortmund as Los Blancos claimed a record-extending 15th title.

Vinicius claimed Europe's top prize in 2024 / PAUL ELLIS/GettyImages

This is the first time that Vinicius has won the prize, awarded since 2016, and he's the only Brazilian to have so far claimed the accolade. Neymar previously came closest, finishing third in 2017.

Cristiano Ronaldo and Luka Modric are the only other Real Madrid players to have scooped the FIFA gong, with Lionel Messi the most recent winner in 2023 - somewhat controversially.

Despite beating Vinicius to the 2024 Ballon d'Or, Manchester City midfielder Rodri was one of ten nominees who failed to claim The Best FIFA Men's Player award. The Spaniard's club teammate Erling Haalandwas also among the nominees who didn't win.

Real Madrid alone had five other contenders for the accolade, including the now retired Toni Kroos, with Jude Bellingham, Kylian Mbappe, Dani Carvajal and Federico Valverde also on the shortlist.