FIFA Football Awards 2024: Highlights, Winners, and Iconic Moments in Doha

The FIFA Football Awards 2024 took place in Doha, Qatar, at Aspire Academy, celebrating all the best in football around the world. All the top performances, coaches, and goalkeepers were celebrated with heroic contributions and heartfelt stories from fans as well. In this regard, the great unifying power of football was a testament to stars this year, such as Vinicius Jr., Aitana Bonmati, and Alejandro Garnacho, among others.

The event also marked a historical moment with the debut of the Marta Award, as it celebrates women’s football and its continued growing path. Let us proceed with detailed highlights, winners, and moments that defined the FIFA Football Awards 2024.

Table of Contents

Vinicius Jr: Best Men’s Player of the Year

The Best Men’s Player award was the most coveted of the night. It went to the man from Real Madrid, Vinicius Jr.

Vinicius had a fantastic season that saw him lead Real Madrid in the conquest of La Liga and the UEFA Champions League.
He was the surest bet in his team with electrifying pace, skillful dribbling, and decisive goals.
He cooled his critics who had tagged him in the first part of the year with sheer consistency and tenacity.
This award of the Best Men’s Player underlines his meteoric trajectory and his capacity to rise at the biggest stages of football.

Aitana Bonmati: Best Women’s Player for a Second-Year Consecutive

Aitana Bonmati, the midfield genius of Spain, received the much-desired Best Women’s Player Award consecutively for the second year.

She has a spectacular career with Barcelona Femeni, helping them achieve a quadruple.
Bonmati was pretty good in Spain and managed to win the title with her team in the Nations League.
In early times this year, Bonmati won the Ballon d’Or Feminin.
Her strengths, among others, include controlling games, dictating play from the midfield, and scoring match-winning goals, making her one of the greatest impact players in women’s football.

Also read: UEFA Champions League: History, Top Teams, and Legendary Players

Best Men’s Coach: Carlo Ancelotti

Carlo Ancelotti is the legendary manager of Real Madrid, who bagged Best Men’s Coach. Trophies of La Liga and Champions League were received with Ancelotti on the managerial post.

Composure, strategy, and a record ensured that this club performed uniformly against the European best.
Ancelotti has been well rewarded for bringing the best of his players.
Add the accolade to the long heap for Ancelotti as coach. After all, timeless excellence is displayed here.

Best Women’s Coach – Emma Hayes

Emma Hayes is the US Women’s National Team head coach, who just took her first Best Women’s Coach award.

Earlier, she coached Chelsea women and got all domestic crowns until moving to join the States.
Under her coaching, the United States won gold in the Paris Olympics to cement her name even further.
Hayes’ master tactics and a natural ability to inspire make this coach stand out for the women’s game.
She is an example of awards that are slowly beginning to recognize women’s football and the leadership at its helm.

Best Goalies: Martinez and Naeher Shine

The Best Goalkeeper Awards were for two of the best shot-stoppers in the game:

Emiliano Martinez (Argentina) – Best Men’s Goalkeeper

Martinez was part of the successes of the team in the World Cup and Copa America.
His reflex saves and leadership stood out, and his performances made all the difference to his club and country.

Alyssa Naeher (USA) – Best Women’s Goalkeeper

Naeher, Chicago Red Stars, credits all this to her teammates.
Consistency, coming through when it really matters, is one of the reasons why she’s one of the best.
Both players received their greatest accolades between both posts.

Also read: Top 10 Greatest Football Players of All Time | Legends of Football

Alejandro Garnacho Won Puskas

Puskas was awarded for the best goal of the year. Alejandro Garnacho of Manchester United took home this award.

Garnacho won with his spectacular overhead kick over Everton in the Premier League for the winning goal.
The Argentine youth demonstrated some of the most exceptional displays of acrobatic work, precision, and finesse in a goal as impressive as any in the last twelve months.
Garnacho’s prize underlines the panache and talent young players introduced to the game today.

Marta Award: A Special Fresh Start

A nice addition to the ceremony came during the presentation of the award for the best women’s football goal, the Marta Award.

The winner of the award, named after her, was Brazilian legend Marta, who won it for a spectacular goal that reflected her skill and class.
It was unique to see a player receiving an award bearing her name.
This award represents the mammoth influence of Marta on women’s football and the growth of the game on the global level.

FIFA Fair Play Award: Thiago Maia’s Heroism

The Fair Play Award has been given to Thiago Maia, the midfielder of Brazil, for the heroic deeds he performed amidst the Brazilian floods in May.

Maia did some extraordinary things by helping the flood victims and showing immense compassion during that crisis.
His actions off the pitch highlighted the true spirit of football – helping communities in need.
The award reminded everyone of football’s ability to inspire positive change beyond the field.

Also read: Top 10 Most Iconic Sports Arenas in the World

FIFA Fan Award: The Heartwarming Story of Guilherme Gandra Moura

The FIFA Fan Award was the most emotional part of the night.

An eight-year-old Vasco da Gama fan, Guilherme Gandra Moura, has captured the hearts of everyone.
A video of his reunion with his mother went viral as he came out of a coma and was battling pneumonia.
Star player of Vasco da Gama, Gabriel Pec accompanied Guilherme through his recovery period as he emerged from the hospital with his footballers.
The story of Guilherme reminds us how football connects emotionally and gives hope.

Men’s and Women’s Best XI: The Stars of 2024

FIFA also released the Men’s and Women’s Best XI which includes the best players in the world.
The teams included names like Vinicius Jr, Jude Bellingham, and Bonmati.
These teams were a way of celebrating individual brilliance and teamwork with the best of football talent.
The Best XI is always among the most highly anticipated, and 2024 was no exception.