“For me, he’s the second Neymar,” Lothar Matthaus said of Vinicius during an interview with Bild after the FIFA awards ceremony. “Vini Jr. has great finishing, speed—everything is world-class—but his behavior is on the wrong path… Neymar is the wrong role model.”

Matthaus drew comparisons between Vinicius and Neymar, highlighting their immense talent while criticizing their behavior on and off the pitch. “He incites the crowd, gets into fights with opponents, and provokes with gestures,” Matthaus remarked about Vini, suggesting such actions detract from his professionalism.

The 63-year-old former Bayern Munich star also offered advice for the Real Madrid winger to fully realize his potential. “Vini Jr. needs to mature. He has the skills and the club to become a world-class footballer,” Matthaus explained. “He’s a super talent, but like Neymar, he gets in his own way.”

Disagreement with FIFA’s decision

Just a few weeks ago, Rodri was named the best player of the season by France Football Magazine, edging out Vinicius Junior, who finished as the runner-up. However, FIFA’s voting reversed the outcome, awarding Vinicius the prestigious The Best trophy instead.

In addition to criticizing the behavior of both Vinicius and Neymar, Lothar Matthaus voiced his disagreement with FIFA’s decision to honor Vinicius. Instead, he sided with France Football’s choice. “For me, Rodri was the right choice for the Ballon d’Or. He has more charisma, more intelligence,” the former Bayern Munich star stated.

Matthaus’ legacy gives weight to his words

As one of the most decorated players in soccer history, Lothar Matthaus brings considerable authority to his opinions. A standout figure for over two decades, he excelled at Bayern Munich during two stints (1984–1988 and 1992–2000) and had a successful spell at Inter Milan in between.

Matthaus represented Germany in five World Cups, famously captaining his team to victory in 1990. He also won the European Championship in 1980 with the national team.

His versatility allowed him to thrive both as a midfielder and later as a sweeper, earning him the Ballon d’Or in 1990. Even Argentine legend Diego Maradona once praised Matthaus, saying, “He is the best rival I’ve ever had. I guess that’s enough to define him.”

Following the ceremony, Vini shared a heartfelt message on his official Instagram account, expressing his gratitude for the recognition and his joy at achieving this milestone. However, he also took the opportunity to send a strong message to those who have criticized him in recent times.

“VENI, VIDI, VICI” (“I came, I saw, I won,”) Vinicius began, quoting the famous words of Roman general Julius Caesar. “Today I’m writing to that little boy who has seen so many idols lift that trophy – his time has come. Or rather, my time has come. The time to say… yes, I’m the best player in the world and I’ve fought hard for it.”

After expressing his personal satisfaction at reaching the pinnacle of world soccer, Vini turned his focus to those who have criticized him over the years. “They’ve tried and tried to invalidate me, to diminish me,” he stated firmly. “But they’re not ready. No one is going to tell me who I should fight for, how I should behave.”

The Real Madrid star also reflected on the tough times he faced growing up in Brazil, which helped shape his character. “When I was in Sao Goncalo, the system didn’t care about me. I was almost swallowed up,” he recalled, underscoring the challenges that made him stronger and more resilient.

Vinicius thanks those who helped him

In the final part of his message, Vinicius Junior made it clear that his achievement was not just the result of his talent and hard work, but the support he received along the way.

“I won for myself, for my family. With a lot of support along the way: Flamengo, Real Madrid, the Brazilian national team, my hundreds of teammates over the years... the people who accompany me every day in my routine, those who admire me…” he said, before closing with a powerful declaration: “THE BEST PLAYER IN THE WORLD.”

A closed wound for Vinicius?

Vinicius Junior posted his powerful message on social media shortly after receiving The Best award in Doha, Qatar. The Instagram post quickly went viral, amassing over 2.4 million likes within an hour and nearly 85,000 comments, with fans and colleagues congratulating him and sharing in his joy.

With this victory and the message that followed, it seems that he has finally closed a chapter in his career. The sting of not winning the Ballon d’Or just months earlier, where Vinicius finished second behind Manchester City’s Rodri, was clearly painful. The disappointment was made worse by the criticism he and his teammates faced for choosing not to attend the Ballon d’Or ceremony, knowing he wouldn’t win the top prize.

Now, with The Best award in hand and the honor of being named the best player on the planet, Vinicius enters a new phase in his career, one marked by recognition for his consistent excellence on the field.

The last time Messi failed to make the top three was in 2018. Despite having one of his most statistically impressive seasons that year, scoring 45 goals and providing 20 assists in 54 matches, Messi finished 5th. In 2018, Mohamed Salah won The Best award, having scored 27 goals and provided 10 assists in 52 games. Statistically, Messi outperformed the Egyptian, but the award is not solely about individual brilliance, it also considers team success.

Salah’s victory was propelled by his leading role in Liverpool’s Champions League triumph, where he was not only the top scorer but also the standout player. In contrast, Messi and Barcelona suffered a heart-breaking defeat in the semifinals at the hands of the Reds, who mounted an incredible comeback to score four goals and advance. This followed Barcelona’s own stunning elimination the previous year by Roma, who also overcame a three-goal deficit in the quarterfinals.

In 2024, Messi finished 6th in the vote. With his move to MLS, many speculated his chances for future accolades would diminish due to a perceived drop in performance. However, Messi still managed an impressive 23 goals and 13 assists during the season, although it was much lower than his past seasons. But the winner, Vinicius Jr, is having the best season of his career despite only scoring 24 goals and 11 assists.

How many times has Lionel Messi been nominated for FIFA The Best?

Aside from holding the record for the most Ballon d’Or awards in history, Lionel Messi also boasts the most nominations for The Best FIFA Men’s Player award. Since the award’s inception in 2016, the Argentine icon has been nominated every year. Moreover, Messi has been included in the shortlist for 7 of the 9 editions of The Best awards that have been held.

In addition to his first-place finishes, Messi secured second place in 2016, 2017, and 2021, while earning third place in 2020. His consistent presence among the top contenders underscores his unparalleled impact on the sport. At 37 years old, Messi continues to rank among the top 10 in The Best awards, a testament to his enduring greatness.

For Vinicius, this marks his first major individual accolade of such significance, especially after a controversial defeat in the Ballon d’Or race to Rodri. The Real Madrid star becomes only the fifth player in history to win The Best award since its inception in 2016, following the split between FIFA and France Football, the organizers of the Ballon d’Or.

Vini now shares this honor with Luka Modric, who won The Best in 2018 while representing both Real Madrid and Croatia. Robert Lewandowski, on the other hand, has won the award twice—first in 2020 and again in 2021.

Cristiano Ronaldo was the inaugural recipient of The Best in 2016, a year in which he dominated European soccer by winning the UEFA Champions League with Real Madrid and the European Championship with Portugal. He went on to repeat his success the following year, both times finishing ahead of Lionel Messi, who took second place.

However, the Argentine star bided his time and eventually claimed his revenge. In 2019, after a remarkable year with Barcelona, Messi won his first The Best award. He added a second in 2022, following his crowning achievement: winning the World Cup with Argentina and ending a 36-year drought for his country. The following year, Leo added a third trophy to his collection, thanks in part to his dazzling performances in Major League Soccer with Inter Miami. With this win, Messi became the most decorated player in the award’s history.

Vinicius shines with Real Madrid

Vinicius Junior has long been considered one of the most promising talents in world soccer. Over the years, he has grown into a key player for Real Madrid, playing a pivotal role in the club’s success. However, questions about his place among the sport’s elite had lingered—until 2024.

This year, Vini was the undisputed star of a Real Madrid team that dominated almost every competition it entered. The Spanish giants claimed the 2023/24 La Liga title with a commanding lead, also adding the Spanish Super Cup to their trophy haul. On the European stage, Vinicius was instrumental in Real Madrid’s triumph in the 2023/24 UEFA Champions League, where they beat 2-0 Borussia Dortmund in the final. That victory set up a European Super Cup clash with Atalanta, the UEFA Europa League champions, a match that ended in another 2-0 win for Madrid.

By the end of 2024, Vini had delivered a stunning individual performance, scoring 33 goals in 58 games across all competitions, placing him among the top 25 scorers globally. While most of these goals came for Real Madrid, Vinicius’s next challenge is to replicate this form on the international stage with the Brazilian national team, where he has yet to achieve the same level of consistency.

How did Messi and Ronaldo fare at The Best 2024 awards?

Despite being the most decorated player in the history of The Best award and the reigning champion, Lionel Messi had a disappointing showing at the 2024 ceremony. He was ranked sixth, behind not only Vinicius Junior but also Rodri, Jude Bellingham, Daniel Carvajal, and Lamine Yamal.

Cristiano Ronaldo fared even worse. Although his goalscoring feats with Al-Nassr and Portugal were impressive, they weren’t enough to secure him a spot among the top ten candidates. Ronaldo was excluded from the list of the year’s most outstanding players, a similar snub he had faced at the Ballon d’Or.

Messi has been selected as a finalist for the 2024 FIFA Men’s Footballer of the Year award, thanks to his standout performances with both Inter Miami and the Argentina national team. However, the competition is fierce, with other prominent stars such as Rodri (the recent Ballon d’Or winner), Vinicius Jr., Kylian Mbappe, and Erling Haaland also in the running.

Lionel Messi stands out as the only player to have been a finalist for The Best award every year since its inception in 2016. He has also claimed the honor three times, the most by any player, surpassing Cristiano Ronaldo and Robert Lewandowski, who each have two.

In contrast, Ronaldo finds himself absent from the World Player of the Year shortlist for the third consecutive year. Instead, the Al-Nassr forward has been nominated for a spot in the Ideal XI of 2024. He is one of the 22 attackers eligible, a category in which Messi is, of course, also nominated.

Finalists for The Best 2024:

Lionel Messi (Argentina, Inter Miami)

Erling Haaland (Norway, Manchester City)

Kylian Mbappe (France, Paris Saint-Germain-Real Madrid)

Rodri (Spain, Manchester City)

Vinicius Jr. (Brazil, Real Madrid)

Federico Valverde (Uruguay, Real Madrid)

Florian Wirtz (Germany, Bayer Leverkusen)

Dani Carvajal (Spain, Real Madrid)

Julian Alvarez (Argentina, Manchester City-Atletico Madrid)

Mohammed Salah (Egypt, Liverpool)

Kevin De Bruyne (Belgium, Manchester City)

Other awards at The Best 2024

In addition to the prestigious Best Player of the Year award, FIFA will present honors across several other key categories. For Best Coach, the frontrunners include Real Madrid’s Carlo Ancelotti, Argentina’s Lionel Scaloni, and Spain’s Luis de la Fuente. In the Best Goalkeeper category, Emiliano Martinez remains a strong contender, with notable competition from Andriy Lunin of Real Madrid, among others.

Moreover, FIFA will announce the Ideal Lineup of the Year, selecting the top players for each position on the field from a list of pre-established finalists. Other awards include the Best Fans prize, the Fair Play Award, and the Puskas Award for the best goal of 2024. Each of these categories also has a female counterpart, celebrating the achievements in women’s soccer.

Voting system for The Best

FIFA’s voting process for The Best awards is based on a mixed voting system. The four primary voting channels—each carrying equal weight—are: national team captains, national team coaches, media representatives, and fans.

However, there are a few exceptions. The Best Fans award will be determined exclusively by public votes. The Fair Play Award will be selected by a panel of experts, while the Puskas Goal of the Year Award (along with its female equivalent, the Marta Award) will be decided through a combination of public voting and input from a FIFA Legends Panel.

Since the 36-year-old had already been honored for the 2022 World Cup and this ceremony rewarded a player’s performances only in 2023, many were shocked to see Haaland leave empty-handed again. Former German international Lothar Matthaus, for instance, looked unhappy with the result.

“He can’t be the winner this time. I think he was the best footballer of the last 20 years, but he has been in Paris and Miami, where he is now creating a hype, and not won any major titles,” the 1990 World Cup and Ballon d’Or winner told Sky Deutschland, via Goal.

Messi made a big decision by leaving Europe for MLS last year, joining Inter Miami in July 2023. He made an immediate impact off the field but also on it, winning the Leagues Cup with the Herons. Before that, Messi celebrated the Ligue 1 title with PSG. Matthaus, however, pointed out that Haaland won the treble (domestic league, UEFA Champions League, and domestic cup) while playing at a high level for Manchester City.

“If you look at the great successes, there is no way past Manchester City and – when choosing the best player – Erling Haaland. He won the most important titles with Man City, his strike rate was impressive. That should be be decisive when you choose the best and most important player – and that was Haaland.”

Messi, Haaland have yet to play in 2024

Both Messi and Haaland have yet to take part in an official game this year, even though the season is well underway for Manchester City. While Inter Miami have recently started preseason for the 2024 campaign, the Norwegian sensation has been out due to a foot injury.

Haaland hasn’t played since December 6, 2023, when he took part in the Premier League match between the Citizens and Aston Villa. The striker suffered a setback in his recovery, which is why he’s still waiting to play his first official game in 2024.

This will be an interesting year for both stars, with Messi expected to play in MLS, Leagues Cup, Concachampions, and Copa America; whereas Haaland has more Premier League and Champions League fixtures upon him.

The cameras immediately captured Alfie as soon as the decision was revealed, and his reaction, moving his eyebrows in an apparent sign of surprise, gave a lot to talk about on social media. However, the former soccer player later showed no frustration with the result.

“We had no idea (who would win). I was invited by FIFA to come. I think no one knew, except for them themselves. There are many good players nominated. Just being nominated is an honor for Erling,” Alfie Haaland told Spanish radio Cadena SER.

Messi and Haaland finished tied on 48 scoring points, but the Argentine got the upper hand for having more first-choice votes from national team captains. Last year, Haaland also finished behind Messi in the 2023 Ballon d’Or.

Alfie Haaland speaks about his son’s injury and future plans

Alfie Haaland didn’t have much to say about The Best results, but he did take time to give an update on his son’s status. Erling has been on the sidelines for more than a month now, having suffered a foot injury in the Premier League game against Aston Villa on December 6.

“He is getting better and better,” Alfie said about the Man City striker. “He has been out since December, but I think he is coming back now in January. He is abroad, training and trying to get in shape.”

The former Norway international, who also played for the Sky Blues, made it clear his son is happy at the Etihad Stadium, suggesting he’s not even thinking about playing elsewhere.

“He is very happy,” Alfie Haaland said. “He is playing for a great team, winning several trophies, they achieved the Treble and became world champions. He has a long contract with City and is very happy there.”

The Portuguese superstar was overlooked even by Portugal‘s representatives, with neither Pepe nor Roberto Martinez casting a vote for the 38-year-old striker. While the defender voted on the country’s behalf as the national team captain, Martinez voted as Portugal’s coach.

Pepe also snubbed Messi though, choosing fellow countryman Bernardo Silva as his first option, followed by Erling Haaland and Victor Osimhen. Martinez, meanwhile, named Marcelo Brozovic in the first place, with Silva and Messi completing his podium. Additionally, Victor Serpa, the Portuguese journalist who voted on the country’s behalf, chose Haaland, De Bruyne, and Silva (in that order).

The first vote gives the player in question five points, whereas the second gets three and the third just one. Despite finishing tied with Haaland on overall scoring points, Messi got the upper hand for having more first-choice nominations by national team captains.

Ronaldo’s 2023 goes overlooked

Ronaldo made a bold decision by leaving Europe last year, joining Saudi Arabian outfit Al-Nassr in January 2023. The veteran star settled in perfectly in Riyadh, though, scoring an impressive 54 goals throughout the year.

Even so, neither his international performances with the Portuguese national team nor his club appearances in the Saudi Pro League seemed to enough to get him recognition from world soccer.

Ronaldo was not even included in the 30-man shortlist for the Ballon d’Or last year, before being snubbed from the 2023 FIFA FIFPRO Men’s World 11 — the governing body’s Team of the Year — at The Best awards.

FIFA has crowned Lionel Messi as the best player of 2023. Captains, coaches, media, and fans collectively bestowed this recognition, adding another individual award to the Argentine forward’s illustrious career.

One of the players who voted for Messi as the best player is Luka Modric, the captain of Croatia. However, Real Madrid fans are not very happy with his decision, severely judging him for supporting the former Barcelona forward.

Luka Modric receives high criticism for voting Messi in The Best 2023

Lionel Messi has secured yet another individual award. The captain of Argentina was honored as The Best of 2023, a recognition where players, fans, coaches, and media collectively choose the standout player throughout the entire year.

National team captains submit a list of three names each for the top coaches and players. FIFA employs this voting method to enhance fairness, allowing those deeply involved in soccer to choose the best representatives of the sport.

Luka Modric, Real Madrid’s midfielder, took on the responsibility of submitting Croatia’s vote as the captain of the national team. While players from the country contribute to the selection, the captain serves as the representative for FIFA.

Unfortunately for Modric, his compatriots voted for a former Barcelona player: Lionel Messi. The Argentine forward claimed the top spot on the list, followed by Rodri in second place and Marcelo Brozovic in third.

Even though Modric was not the only Croatian to vote, Real Madrid fans are furious with him. On social media, they slammed the midfielder for supporting Messi, and some even want him to leave the club because of it.

Federico Valverde, the captain of Uruguay, also faced severe judgment from Real Madrid fans as Lionel Messi topped his list too. It is evident that the Merengues haven’t forgotten Messi’s time at Barcelona and the intense rivalry with the Blaugranas.

Why did Lionel Messi win The Best 2023 when he was tied with Erling Haaland?

Lionel Messi and Erling Haaland both secured 48 points in The Best 2023. Captains and fans deemed the Argentine the best, while the Norwegian won the hearts of coaches and the media.

The tiebreaker to determine the winner relied on the number of five-point scores, awarded by men’s national team captains. Messi secured a total of 107, surpassing Haaland who had 64.

Even though he finished tied with Erling Haaland (both got 48 scoring points), Messi got the upper hand for having more first-choice nominations from national team captains.

While Messi received 107 “five-point scores” from the captains’ vote, Haaland got 64. Even so, it was a tight vote as many players and coaches did not pick Messi as their first option for The Best men’s player in 2023.

Captains who didn’t vote for Messi

• Afghanistan
• Algeria
• American Samoa
• Armenia
• Austria
• Azerbaijan
• Belarus
• Benin
• Bermuda
• Bhutan
• Bolivia
• Botswana
• Brazil
• Brunei Darussalam
• Bulgaria
• Burkina Faso
• Burundi
• Cameroon
• Cayman Islands
• Congo
• Costa Rica
• Côte d’Ivoire
• Cuba
• Czechia
• Dominica
• El Salvador
• Eritrea
• Ethiopia
• Gabon
• Germany
• Ghana
• Gibraltar
• Guinea
• Guinea-Bissau
• Guyana
• Hong Kong, China
• Hungary
• Iceland
• India
• IR Iran
• Iraq
• Japan
• Jordan
• Kazakhstan
• Kosovo
• Kuwait
• Kyrgyz Republic
• Laos
• Lesotho
• Liberia
• Libya
• Lithuana
• Luxembourg
• Macau
• Malawi
• Malaysia
• Maldives
• Mali
• Mauritius
• Moldova
• Mongolia
• Montserrat
• Morocco
• Myanmar
• Namibia
• New Caledonia
• New Zealand
• Nicaragua
• Niger
• Nigeria
• North Macedonia
• Norway
• Oman
• Pakistan
• Portugal
• Republic of Ireland
• Russia
• Samoa
• San Marino
• São Tomé and Príncipe
• Serbia
• Seychelles
• Singapore
• Somalia
• South Africa
• South Sudan
• Spain
• Sri Lanka
• Sweden
• Syria
• Tajikistan
• Tanzania
• Timor-Leste
• Togo
• Trinidad and Tobago
• Turks and Caicos Islands
• United Arab Emirates
• US Virgin Islands
• Vietnam
• Zimbabwe

Coaches who didn’t vote for Messi

• Albania
• Algeria
• Andorra
• Angola
• Armenia
• Australia
• Austria
• Azerbaijan
• Bangladesh
• Belgium
• Belize
• Benin
• Bermuda
• Bhutan
• Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Botswana
• Brunei Darussalam
• Bulgaria
• Burkina Faso
• Cayman Islands
• Central African Republic
• Chad
• Chinese Taipei
• Congo
• Congo DR
• Cook Islands
• Côte d’Ivoire
• Cuba
• Czechia
• Denmark
• Djibouti
• Dominica
• Ecuador
• Egypt
• El Salvador
• England
• Equatorial Guinea
• Eswatini
• Ethiopia
• Faroe Islands
• Fiji
• Finland
• France
• Georgia
• Germany
• Gibraltar
• Grenada
• Guam
• Guatemala
• Guinea
• Guinea-Bissau
• Haiti
• Hong Kong, China
• Hungary
• India
• Iraq
• Jamaica
• Japan
• Jordan
• Kenya
• Korea Republic
• Kosovo
• Kuwait
• Latvia
• Liberia
• Libya
• Liechtenstein
• Macau
• Madagascar
• Malawi
• Malaysia
• Maldives
• Mali
• Malta
• Mauritania
• Mexico
• Morocco
• Mozambique
• Myanmar
• Namibia
• Nepal
• Netherlands
• New Zealand
• Nicaragua
• Nigeria
• North Macedonia
• Norway
• Oman
• Pakistan
• Palestine
• Papua New Guinea
• Peru
• Poland
• Portugal
• Puerto Rico
• Qatar
• Republic of Ireland
• Romania
• Rwanda
• Samoa
• San Marino
• São Tomé and Príncipe
• Saudi Arabia
• Senegal
• Serbia
• Sierra Leone
• Slovakia
• Slovenia
• Somalia
• South Africa
• Spain
• Sri Lanka
• St Kitts and Nevis
• St Lucia
• Sweden
• Tahiti
• Tanzania
• The Gambia
• Togo
• Trinidad and Tobago
• Tunisia
• Turkmenistan
• Uganda
• Ukraine
• United Arab Emirates
• US Virgin Islands
• USA
• Vietnam
• Yemen

Leo finished tied on points with Erling Haaland, but he got the upper hand due to first-choice selections from national team captains. The governing body revealed how every country’s captain has voted, including Leo’s choices.

Messi selected Haaland as his first choice, giving the Manchester City superstar five points; with former PSG teammate Kylian Mbappe in second place (three points) and fellow countryman Julian Alvarez as his third option (one point).

When Lionel Messi told Haaland, Mbappe they will start winning awards soon

While many expected Haaland to emerge victorious this time, it looks like world soccer is not ready to put someone above Messi yet. However, the 36-year-old suggested not long ago that the younger generations led by Haaland and Mbappe will take over soon.

During his Ballon d’Or acceptance speech in 2023, Messi admitted that may have been his final success at the France Football awards, since he’s not getting any younger and the likes of Haaland and Mbappe are making a name for themselves.

“It’s going to be a nice fight between the two of them and between several other younger players around here. They both deserved it this year,” Messi said back in October.

Messi once again proves how much he respects Haaland

The fact that Messi chose Haaland as his first option for The Best 2023 speaks volumes about the Argentine’s respect for the striker. In the Ballon d’Or gala last year, the Inter Miami star had already shown how highly he thinks of the Man City sensation.

“Haaland, you deserved the Ballon d’Or very much too. Erling has won the Premier League and Champions League while being the top scorer of everything. This award could have been yours today too. I’m sure for the next years you will win it,” Messi said in 2023.