Garnacho won the Puskás award this year.

At the International Football Association (FIFA), Vinícius Júnior, the Brazilian forward of Real Madrid, won the title of player of the year, which was presented at the awards ceremony in Doha on Tuesday evening.

The 24-year-old footballer, who finished second in the Ballon d'Or voting behind Spain's Rodri, received the award in person as his club clash with Mexico's Pachuca in the Qatari capital on Wednesday for the Intercontinental Cup.

In addition to the fans' votes, the final result was based on the votes of the federation captains, national team captains and journalists.

The Puskás Award for the best goal of the year, awarded for the 16th time, was awarded to Argentinian Alejandro Garnacho, winger of Manchester United

for his goal in the English league match against Everton on November 26 last year. The now 20-year-old player, after a pass from the right, scissored a bomb into the upper left corner from 13 meters. The name of the awardee was announced by world champion Italian striker Alessandro Del Piero.

One of the sensations of the gala was that the newly created award for the most beautiful female goal went to the eponymous Brazilian Marta, who shot the top left corner from 16 meters after a nice trick on the first of June in a friendly match against Jamaica.

The coach of the year for the men's teams was Carlo Ancelotti, the Italian head coach of Real Madrid, who won the Champions League last season, and the best goalkeeper of the year was Emiliano Martínez, the Argentinian footballer of the world champion Aston Villa.

For women, the coach of the year award went to Emma Hayes, England captain of the Olympic champion US women's national team, while the best goalkeeper went to Alyssa Naeher, netminder of the US national team and the Chicago Red Stars. The accolade for the best female player was once again awarded to Ballon d'Or winner Aitana Bonmatí, the soccer player of the world champion Barcelona.

At the one-hour gala, the Fair Play award was given to the Brazilian Thiago Maia, as he heroically saved lives risking his own physical health during the floods in Brazil in May.

MTI

Cover photo: Vinícius Júnior became the player of the year in 2024
Source X/Vinícius Júnior