18/12/2024
Revealed: Vinicius's margin of victory over Rodri for FIFA's Best player award
9 hours ago / autty
Vinicius Jr beat Rodri to be named FIFA's Best men's player on Tuesday night, and his margin of victory has now been revealed.
The Real Madrid superstar was controversially overlooked for the Ballon d'Or in October, when Manchester City's Rodri got the nod after winning the Premier League and the Euros with Spain.
But Vinicius, who won LaLiga and the Champions League with Madrid last season, won FIFA's Best award this time, and was in Qatar to pick up his gong from Gianni Infantino.
It has now emerged that he beat Rodri by five scoring points, having got 48 votes to Rodri's 43.
Vinicius' Madrid team-mate Jude Bellingham took third spot with 37, while another Los Blancos player, Dani Carvajal, was fourth on 31.
This placed him just ahead of Barcelona and Spain star Lamine Yamal (30).
Lionel Messi (25), Toni Kroos and Erling Haaland (18 each), Kylian Mbappe (14) and Florian Wirtz (8) completed the top 10. Fede Valverde was the final player nominated, and he finished 11th on four points.
Upon picking up his award, a delighted Vinicius Jr 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 a far different reaction to when he was beaten to the Ballon d'Or by Rodri just two months ago.
On that occasion, Vinicius Jr was joined by his Madrid team-mates in snubbing the ceremony after they felt he deserved the individual prize, despite Rodri getting 1,170 voting points to Vinicius Jr's 1,129.
But there was double delight for Madrid this time, as Carlo Ancelotti was voted FIFA's Best coach.
Meanwhile, Alejandro Garnacho won the Puskas award for his spectacular bicycle kick goal for Manchester United against Everton last November.
There was also joy for Aston Villa's Emiliano Martinez, who was named FIFA's Best men's goalkeeper.
