"Revenge": Vinicius Junior wins FIFA World Player of the Year award.

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Welcome to another issue of The Baller Experience

Today, we’ll be diving into Vinicius Junior’s incredible achievement as he claims the title of FIFA Men’s Best Player, marking a moment of "revenge" and redemption on his road to global football glory.

We’ll explore what this means for Vinicius, his journey, and why this milestone cements his place among the football elite.

Let’s dive in.

The torch has been passed from Lionel Messi and Aitana Bonmati, the FIFA Best Players of 2023, to a new generation of stars. In a surprising early digital ceremony, initially scheduled for January or February, Vinicius Junior emerged victorious in the men’s category.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino called the moment “revenge,” a clear nod to the recent Ballon d’Or outcome. That award went to Spain’s European champion Rodri, sparking a high-profile boycott by Real Madrid.

Unlike the glamorous Ballon d’Or gala at Paris’s Théâtre du Châtelet, Vinicius Junior was front and center at FIFA’s early digital ceremony to personally claim his golden trophy. Held the night before Real Madrid faced CF Pachuca in the Intercontinental Cup final, “Vini” stood proudly on stage to accept his well-deserved award.

In the Women’s Player category, Aitana Bonmati once again stole the show. The 26-year-old midfield maestro from FC Barcelona bagged her second consecutive title—no surprises here! After leading Spain to World Cup glory in 2023 and adding the Nations League trophy in early 2024, she capped off her year by guiding Barça to Champions League triumph and a domestic double.

Best Goalkeepers

The Best Goalkeeper titles went to Emiliano Martinez, Argentina’s World Cup hero and Aston Villa’s safe pair of hands, and Alyssa Naeher, the backbone of the Chicago Red Stars. Naeher added Olympic gold to her collection this summer before announcing her retirement from international play.

Best Coaches

Real Madrid’s mastermind Carlo Ancelotti took home the Best Men’s Coach award—because who else could it be? Leading Los Blancos to yet another Champions League crown, this time with a 2-0 win over Borussia Dortmund, Ancelotti showed once again why he’s one of the best in the business. He outshone contenders like Xabi Alonso, who orchestrated Bayer Leverkusen’s double-winning season, and Gian Piero Gasperini, who led Atalanta to Europa League glory.

On the women’s side, Emma Hayes earned the Best Women’s Coach award after making an immediate impact with the U.S. national team, winning Olympic gold in her debut year. The previous year’s honors went to Pep Guardiola and Sarina Wiegman, but Hayes proved she’s a force to be reckoned with.

World XI Teams

The Men’s and Women’s World XI teams celebrated the crème de la crème of football talent. Unsurprisingly, Real Madrid dominated the men’s lineup, with stars like Antonio Rüdiger and Toni Kroos leading the pack, while Spain’s midfield dynamo Rodri also made the cut. On the women’s side, FC Barcelona’s treble-winning squad and the gold-medal-winning U.S. women’s team filled most of the spots.

Puskas Award

The Puskas Award, always a fan favorite, went to Manchester United’s Alejandro Garnacho for his jaw-dropping overhead kick against Everton. Italian legend Alessandro Del Piero presented the award with his signature flair, making it a moment to remember.

Marta Award

For the first time, FIFA introduced the Marta Award for the best goal in women’s football, and who better to win it than Marta herself? Her rocket into the top corner during a friendly against Jamaica clinched the inaugural trophy. The 38-year-old Brazilian legend shared her gratitude through a video message, adding yet another accolade to her storied career.

Fair Play Award

This year’s Fair Play Award was a heartwarming moment, honoring Thiago Maia of SC Internacional for his heroic life-saving actions.

Fan Award

The Fan Award celebrated the beautiful game’s passionate supporters, with the spotlight on Guilherme Gandra Moura. The young Vasco da Gama superfan, who has been battling illness, was recognized for his unwavering love for the game. Portuguese icon Pepe presented the award, leaving no dry eyes in the room.

It was a night to remember, filled with iconic moments, groundbreaking wins, and a celebration of everything that makes football truly special.

💡 Takeaway: Vini Jr.’s rise to stardom shows us the power of resilience and teamwork. Balancing individual brilliance with collective effort is key to achieving lasting success, both on and off the field.