The Best FIFA Men’s Player Award is one of the most prestigious honors in football, and each year, it sparks discussions, debates, and surprise outcomes. While the Ballon d’Or often garners more media attention, the FIFA awards ceremony holds significant importance in the footballing world. The event for 2024, held on December 18th, was no exception, with plenty of surprises emerging from the voting process.
Among the notable outcomes, Vinícius Júnior emerged as the winner of The Best FIFA Men’s Player for 2024, a victory that came after his exclusion from the Ballon d’Or top three. The Brazilian winger’s performance for Real Madrid was a key factor in his success, and he managed to beat some of the finest footballers in the world, including Rodri, Jude Bellingham, and Lamine Yamal.
However, while Vinícius Júnior was undoubtedly a worthy winner, some votes in the selection process raised eyebrows and left fans and pundits scratching their heads. In this article, we will take a closer look at some of the most surprising votes cast in The Best FIFA Men’s Player Award for 2024, revealing the quirks, controversies, and unexpected choices that caught everyone’s attention.
Vinícius Júnior Triumphs, Rodri Takes Runner-Up Spot
Vinícius Júnior‘s victory in the 2024 FIFA Men’s Player award was a major talking point. The Real Madrid star had been one of the standout performers in the calendar year, showcasing exceptional talent in both La Liga and the Champions League. His contribution to Real Madrid’s success, particularly in the league and Europe, was instrumental, making him a deserving winner.
Despite winning the prestigious award, it was still somewhat of a surprise considering the stiff competition he faced from players like Rodri, who had just won the Ballon d’Or for his remarkable contributions to Manchester City’s dominance in both domestic and international football. Rodri finished as the runner-up in the voting, which is an impressive feat, though many believed his Ballon d’Or victory might have given him a slight edge in securing the top spot.
But in the end, it was Vinícius Júnior’s moment to shine, and his victory is a testament to his continued growth as one of the most exciting players in world football. However, as with any major football award, it was the unexpected votes that stirred up the most debate and discussion.
Harry Kane Snubs Jude Bellingham for Top Spot
One of the most surprising and controversial votes came from Harry Kane, the England national team captain and Bayern Munich forward. It is common for teammates and fellow international players to support one another when it comes to awards, but Kane clearly decided to take a different route. In his top three votes for The Best FIFA Men’s Player, Kane did not place Jude Bellingham in the number one spot, despite their close partnership on the pitch with the England national team.
Instead, Kane selected Rodri in first place, Bellingham in second, and the eventual winner, Vinícius Júnior, in third. It was an odd decision, as many would have expected Kane to back his England teammate to secure the top spot. After all, Bellingham had enjoyed an incredible calendar year, helping Real Madrid win both La Liga and the Champions League. Moreover, his standout performances for England, particularly during their run to the Euro 2024 final, cemented his status as one of the most exciting young talents in world football.
Kane’s decision to place Rodri in first place over Bellingham raised more than a few eyebrows. While Rodri had an exceptional year, especially with his Ballon d’Or victory, the choice seemed somewhat surprising, given Bellingham’s extraordinary season. Nevertheless, it added another layer of intrigue to an already fascinating voting process.
Argentine Media Ignore Lionel Messi
It is almost unheard of for Lionel Messi to be excluded from the top three in any major footballing award, especially given his status as a footballing legend and his record eight Ballon d’Ors. However, in a surprising twist, Claudio Mauri, a journalist from Argentina, chose not to include Messi in his top three for The Best FIFA Men’s Player.
Instead, Mauri selected Rodri, Lamine Yamal, and Toni Kroos as his top three, completely overlooking Messi, who had just helped Argentina win the Copa América in 2024. Messi finished in sixth place overall, a position that reflected his marginalization in some voting circles, despite his continued excellence on the pitch.
Interestingly, Lionel Scaloni, the coach of the Argentina national team, placed Messi in first place, and he was not the only one to do so. However, Messi’s overall standing in the voting proved that his once-undisputed dominance in global football awards is no longer as assured as it once was.
In the midst of these surprises, Messi’s own vote also raised some eyebrows. In his top three, Messi placed Lamine Yamal in first place, possibly influenced by the young Barcelona forward’s breakthrough season. Messi’s decision not to back himself, instead opting for the emerging star, was a reflection of his admiration for Yamal’s potential.
Erling Haaland Doesn’t Receive Norwegian Backing
Another notable surprise in The Best FIFA Men’s Player voting came from Erling Haaland, the Norwegian forward who plays for Manchester City. Haaland had another excellent year, winning the Premier League and finishing as the top scorer in the division, yet he was not as popular among voters as some might have expected.
The most notable of these was Martin Ødegaard, the captain of the Norwegian national team and Haaland’s international teammate. Ødegaard placed Haaland only in third place in his vote, choosing Rodri in first place and Vinícius Júnior in second. This decision was particularly surprising given Haaland’s exceptional individual performances throughout the year, but it highlighted just how much the vote can vary depending on individual perspectives and criteria.
Ståle Solbakken, the manager of the Norway national team, also placed Haaland second in his rankings, further illustrating the lack of unanimous support for the Norwegian striker. In fact, Haaland was even snubbed for the top spot by Norwegian media representative Morten Pedersen, who opted for Rodri and Vinícius Júnior ahead of him in his vote.
While Haaland’s ranking of eighth in the final standings may seem somewhat harsh given his impressive season, it highlights the competitive nature of The Best voting and the varying factors that influence how votes are cast.
International Managers Go Rogue
One of the most peculiar aspects of The Best FIFA Men’s Player voting was the unexpected and sometimes rogue selections made by international managers. Many of the choices seemed out of step with what most fans and analysts would have expected.
For example, Murat Yakin, the coach of the Switzerland national team, made an unconventional selection by placing Florian Wirtz in first place, Federico Valverde in second, and Lamine Yamal in third. This decision raised eyebrows because neither Vinícius Júnior nor Rodri, two of the standout players of the year, were included in his top three. Similarly, Julian Nagelsmann, the coach of Germany, placed Wirtz and Toni Kroos in his top two, also excluding Vinícius Júnior from his picks.
Perhaps most surprising of all was Belgium manager Domenico Tedesco, who selected Yamal, Wirtz, and Haaland as his top three, completely disregarding players like Vinícius Júnior and Rodri. It was evident that some international managers took an individual approach to their voting, sometimes disregarding the achievements of the more high-profile players in favor of those they personally rated higher.
Conclusion
The 2024 FIFA Men’s Player Award voting process proved to be full of surprises, with unexpected choices and some controversial decisions that sparked debate across the footballing world. Vinícius Júnior’s victory was a well-deserved recognition of his outstanding year, but the voting process revealed the intricacies and subjectivity of football awards. From Harry Kane’s snub of Jude Bellingham to the Messi and Haaland votes, this year’s edition of The Best FIFA Men’s Player award will certainly be remembered for the unconventional and, at times, rogue voting patterns that emerged. As always, football awards remain a source of intrigue and discussion, and 2024 was no different.
