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.

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Barcelona have reportedly been handed a boost after fresh tests on Lamine Yamal’s ankle injury suffered against Leganes.

There have been concerns raised that the injury may be more severe than first thought, but Barcelona are optimistic that it is just a simple sprain.

Diario AS are reporting that tests revealed that the injury has not affected the external lateral ligament of the ankle and Yamal “only has a part of the membrane that covers the fibula and tibia affected.”

The upshot is that this makes “rehabilitation work and the time off much easier” and Yamal will hopefully return as originally scheduled.

Barca said in an initial statement that he would miss the next “3-4 weeks” and there is now “high optimism” he will be fit to face Athletic Cup in the Spanish Super Cup.

Yamal has also sounded positive about his latest injury setback and told fans he will be “back soon” after picking up the Golden Boy award.

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Chelsea winger Mykhailo Mudryk says he is in “complete shock” after testing positive for a banned substance.

The club confirmed on Tuesday that they had been contacted by the Football Association (FA) after an “adverse finding in a routine urine test” provided by the Ukraine international.

The attacker, who has been provisionally suspended by the FA following the positive result, denies knowingly using a banned substance.

Chelsea say they will work to establish what caused the failed test.

“This has come as a complete shock as I have never knowingly used any banned substances or broken any rules, and am working closely with my team to investigate how this could have happened,” Mudryk wrote on Instagram.

“I know that I have not done anything wrong and remain hopeful that I will be back on the pitch soon.”

Under FA guidelines, players can be provisionally suspended from football following a positive drugs test.

When contacted by BBC Sport, the FA refused to comment on Mudryk’s suspension or when the failed test took place.

Players found to have intentionally taken a banned substance can be banned for up to four years under Fifa guidelines.

Mudryk last played for Chelsea on 28 November and has missed the past five matches in all competitions.

He was included in the matchday squad for the Blues’ win against Aston Villa on 1 December but did not feature.

Head coach Enzo Maresca had said publicly that Mudryk’s absence was because of illness.

Mudryk, who signed from Ukrainian club Shakhtar Donetsk in a deal worth up to £89m in 2023, has scored 10 goals in 73 appearances for Chelsea.

The Professional Footballers’ Association is expected to contact Mudryk to offer support.