Real Madrid forward Vinicius Jr said his critics “continue to try to cancel me, to belittle me” after earning one of football’s biggest individual honours.
The Brazil international was named the men’s player of the year at the Fifa Best Awards on Tuesday, seven weeks after missing out on the Ballon d’Or.
The 24-year-old has repeatedly been racially abused while playing in Spain over the past two seasons.
Yet Vinicius scored a career-high 24 goals during the 2023-24 season, helping Real win La Liga and the Champions League.
“I came, I saw, I won,” he wrote on Instagram., external “Today I write this for that boy who saw so many idols lift that trophy…your time has come.
“That is, my time has come. The time to state that, yes, I am the best player in the world and I fought a lot to get here.”
Vinicius and his club boycotted the Ballon d’Or ceremony in October, with Real saying the club “does not go where it is not respected”.
Team-mates Jude Bellingham and Dani Carvajal were also nominated for the men’s award, which was won by Manchester City and Spain midfielder Rodri.
Vinicius, who joined Real from Flamengo in 2018, added: “They tried and continue to try to cancel me, to belittle me. But they’re not able to.
“Nobody is going to tell me for whom I can fight, or how I should behave. When I was in [home town] Sao Goncalo, the system didn’t work for me. I was almost swallowed up.
“I won for me, for my family. With a lot of support along the way: Flamengo, Real Madrid, the Brazilian national team, hundreds of my fellow players during those years…the people who share with me my daily routine, who admire me…the best player in the world.”
Real coach Carlo Ancelotti and forward Kylian Mbappe both won individual honours at the Ballon d’Or ceremony but neither was present to receive their award.
After Rodri was named the men’s winner, Vinicius posted on X: “They’re not ready.”
The Ballon d’Or and Fifa Best Awards are the two most prestigious in football, and Vinicius was present to collect his first Fifa prize in Doha.
The award – for football from August 2023 to August 2024 – was decided by a mix of public vote, one journalist from each country and the captain and manager of each national team. Each group’s vote counted for 25%.
Real Madrid were already in Qatar for Wednesday’s Fifa Intercontinental Cup final against Mexican side Pachuca at Lusail Stadium.
bbc
