Real Madrid and Brazil star Vinicius Jr has been crowned the FIFA Best Men’s Player of the Year at the prestigious ceremony in Doha, Qatar. The 24-year-old winger’s stellar performances during Real Madrid’s Champions League and La Liga-winning 2023-24 campaign earned him the accolade, marking his first-ever FIFA Best award.

Vinicius contributed significantly to his club’s success, scoring 24 goals and providing 11 assists, solidifying his status as one of the world’s top football talents. His win comes months after Real Madrid and Vinicius boycotted the Ballon d’Or ceremony, where Manchester City’s Rodri claimed top honors.

“It seemed impossible when I played barefoot in the streets of São Gonçalo, and now I’m here,” Vinicius reflected emotionally while accepting the award.

In the women’s category, Barcelona midfielder Aitana Bonmati won the FIFA Best Women’s Player award for the second consecutive year. Her victory highlights her dominant role in both club and international football.

The FIFA Best Awards are decided through a combination of votes from the public, journalists, and national team captains and managers, with each group’s votes carrying equal weight.

Spain’s Rodri, a key figure in his nation’s Euro 2024 victory, finished second behind Vinicius, while England and Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham secured third place.

• England captain Harry Kane voted for Rodri, Bellingham, and Vinicius, respectively.
• Interim England manager Lee Carsley prioritized Bellingham, Rodri, and Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal.
• Brazil’s captain and coach both supported Vinicius.
• Notably, Spain’s representatives voted for Dani Carvajal, Vinicius’ Real Madrid teammate.

Vinicius’ triumph coincides with Real Madrid’s presence in Qatar ahead of Wednesday’s FIFA Intercontinental Cup final against Mexican club Pachuca at Lusail Stadium.

Nigeria’s Ademola Lookman has been named the 2024 African Footballer of the Year, while Zambia’s Barbra Banda made history by claiming the women’s prize at the Confederation of African Football (Caf) Awards in Marrakesh.

Lookman, the Atalanta forward, triumphed over stiff competition, including Ivory Coast’s Simon Adingra, Guinea’s Serhou Guirassy, Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi, and South Africa’s Ronwen Williams. This marks the second consecutive year a Nigerian player has won the prestigious award, following Victor Osimhen’s victory in 2023.

Barbra Banda, striker for Orlando Pride, became the first Zambian to win the women’s accolade, surpassing Morocco’s Sanaa Mssoudy and Nigeria’s Chiamaka Nnadozie.

Lookman’s outstanding performances during the 2023-24 season secured his position as a standout player. He played a pivotal role in Atalanta’s historic first European trophy win, scoring a remarkable hat-trick in the final against Bayer Leverkusen. This achievement made him the sixth player to score a treble in a European club final and the first since 1975.

On the international stage, Lookman shone at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Ivory Coast, earning a spot in the Team of the Tournament. He scored three goals to help the Super Eagles reach the final, where they finished as runners-up to the host nation.

Lookman’s achievements also earned him a place on the 2024 men’s Ballon d’Or shortlist, where he ranked 14th—the only African player on the list.

Barbra Banda’s recognition highlights her remarkable contributions to women’s football. Her win reflects the growing prominence of Zambian players on the global stage.

The Caf Awards winners are selected by a panel of experts, including members of Caf’s technical committee, African media professionals, players, and coaches.

The road to the 2026 FIFA World Cup has been laid out for England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland following the qualifying draw held in Zurich on Friday. Each nation now knows the challenges ahead as they vie for a spot in the tournament, set to be hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

England

Under the guidance of newly appointed manager Thomas Tuchel, England will face Serbia, Albania, Latvia, and Andorra in their group. With a blend of competitive and less formidable opponents, England will look to assert dominance and secure automatic qualification.

Wales

Wales finds itself in a group with familiar rivals Belgium, alongside North Macedonia, Kazakhstan, and Liechtenstein. The clash with Belgium is expected to be a key fixture, as the Welsh aim to secure their place in the expanded tournament.

Scotland

Scotland faces Greece, Belarus, and the loser of the Nations League quarter-final between Portugal and Denmark. The Scots also have a separate challenge in March, with a two-legged Nations League promotion-relegation play-off against Greece, providing an early taste of their group dynamics.

Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland has been drawn alongside Slovakia, Luxembourg, and the winner of the Nations League quarter-final between Germany and Italy. With a compact group, every match will carry added significance as they aim to contend for qualification.

The Qualifying Format

The qualifiers will take place during five international breaks between March and November 2025. The winner of each of the 12 groups will automatically secure a place in the 2026 World Cup, while the second-placed teams will advance to the play-offs. From Europe, a total of 16 teams will qualify for the tournament.

For Scotland and Northern Ireland, who are in four-team groups, the qualifying games will begin in September 2025. Until then, both teams have a critical focus on their Nations League campaigns, which could set the tone for their qualification journey.