• FIFA

Doha, Qatar Dec 17 (EFE).-

Vinícius de Oliveira Júnior and Aitana Bonmatí won The Best, FIFA’s award for the top player in the world, at a ceremony in Doha on Tuesday, while Marta picked up the inaugural edition of the Best Goalscorer award, named in her honor.

The Real Madrid striker became the first Brazilian player to receive the award after a season in which he was one of the key players in a successful campaign that saw the meringue team win the Champions League, LaLiga, European and Spanish Super Cups, and come close to winning the Intercontinental Cup.

A few weeks ago, Real Madrid players decided not to attend the Ballon d’Or ceremony in protest of the award given to Rodri Hernandez, saying that Vinicius Junior deserved the prize.

Spain’s Aitana Bonmati, a midfielder for Barcelona, was named the world’s best female player for the second year in a row.

Bonmati, who also won her second Ballon d’Or a few weeks ago, collected every possible trophy with the Azulgrana this year, including the Champions League and La Liga F, as well as the Women’s Nations League with the Spanish national team.

Marta Vieira da Silva, striker and captain of the Brazilian women’s national team for more than two decades, won the inaugural version of the award named in her honor for the most beautiful goal of the women’s season.

She scored the winning goal during a match against Jamaica in June 2024 with a thunderous left-footed shot outside the penalty area after breaking free from an opposing player.

Argentina’s Alejandro Garnacho, a striker for England’s Manchester United, won the Puskas Award for the best goal of the year in men’s football for his goal against Everton at Goodison Park on Nov. 26.

The goalkeeper awards went to American Alyssa Naeher of the Chicago Red Stars and Argentine Emiliano Martinez of Aston Villa.

Italy’s Carlo Ancelotti, coach of Real Madrid, won the Best Men’s coach award, and England’s Emma Hayes, coach of the United States national team, won the Best Women’s coach award. EFE

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