Real Madrid forward Vinicius Jr. expressed that his critics “continue to try to cancel me, to belittle me” after receiving one of football’s highest individual honors.
The Brazil international was named Men’s Player of the Year at the FIFA Best Awards on Tuesday, just seven weeks after missing out on the Ballon d’Or.
At 24, Vinicius has faced repeated racial abuse while playing in Spain over the past two seasons. Despite this, he scored a career-high 24 goals during the 2023-24 season, contributing to Real Madrid’s La Liga and Champions League victories.
“I came, I saw, I won,” he wrote on Instagram., “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 Madrid stating that the club “does not go where it is not respected.”
His teammates Jude Bellingham and Dani Carvajal were also nominated for the men’s award, which was ultimately 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 two of the most prestigious honors in football, and Vinicius was in Doha to collect his first FIFA award.
The award, which covers football from August 2023 to August 2024, was determined by a combination of public votes, one journalist from each country, and the captain and manager of each national team. Each group’s vote accounted for 25%.
Real Madrid were already in Qatar for Wednesday’s FIFA Intercontinental Cup final against Mexican side Pachuca at Lusail Stadium.