Featured Image Credit: Getty
Topics: Lionel Messi, Vinicius Jr, FIFA, Football, Fan Reactions
Marcus Chan
Topics: Lionel Messi, Vinicius Jr, FIFA, Football, Fan Reactions
Lionel Messi's votes for the FIFA Best Men's Player of the Year have emerged after Real Madrid star Vinicius Jr was named as the winner.
On Tuesday evening, the ceremony for the Best FIFA Football Awards took place in Doha, Qatar.
Manchester United star Alejandro Garnacho was named the winner of the 2024 FIFA Puskas Award, an accolade handed out to the scorer of the best goal of the year. Garnacho's overhead kick against Everton was voted as the winner.
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Afterwards, Madrid and Brazil superstar Vinicius was announced as the winner of the Best Men's Player of the Year.
Speaking after being handed the trophy by FIFA president Gianni Infantino, Vinicius said: "It was looking impossible for me to arrive here on this stage… I arrived from a small place, close to poverty and crime. Now I’m here."
It was then revealed that Argentina captain Messi overlooked Vinicius when picking his best player of the year.
The Inter Miami star voted for Barcelona's Lamine Yamal and Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe before selecting Vinicius in third place.
Reacting on social media, one fan said: "Not sure why he voted for Mbappe?"
Another tweeted: "Sums up how biased bro is.."
A third fan added: "Bro literally hates everything to do with Madrid."
Someone else wrote: "Yamal only had a phenomenal EURO lmao. How do you vote that first and forget the past 11 months..."
A fifth commented: "Yamal is not better than Vini Jr I’m saying this as a Barca fan."
Meanwhile, the FIFA Best Team of the Year was also announced.
The players included were Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa), Ruben Dias (Manchester City), William Saliba (Arsenal), Dani Carvajal, Antonio Rudiger, Jude Bellingham, Toni Kroos (all Real Madrid), Rodri, Erling Haaland (both Man City), Lamine Yamal (Barcelona) and Vinicius Jr (Real Madrid).
Argentine goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez was named as the goalkeeper of the year, with Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti taking home the award for coach of the year.