FIFA president Gianni Infantino has asserted that only FIFA possesses the authority and expertise to determine who should be recognized as the best player in the world.
Gianni Infantino’s remarks during the ceremony for the 2024 FIFA The Best Awards held on Tuesday night seemed to be a pointed critique of the Ballon d’Or award.
Infantino emphasized that FIFA, as the leading governing body in football, should take the reins in this decision-making process, citing its unique and robust voting system as instrumental in fairly selecting the top player globally.
The Ballon d’Or and the FIFA The Best awards are two of the most sought-after individual accolades in the world of football, both celebrating exceptional talent and achievement in the sport.
In a significant moment during the event, Vinicius Junior, the talented winger for Real Madrid, was honored with the title of FIFA Best Men’s Player of the Year for 2024.
In a separate but related reaction, Brazilian football legend Ronaldo De Lima expressed his thoughts on social media regarding the recent award.
His comments came after hearing that Vinicius Junior, his fellow countryman, had secured the FIFA Best Men’s Player title. Ronaldo proudly proclaimed, “The best player in the world is Black and Brazilian,” highlighting his support for Vinicius and addressing the broader implications of representation in football.
He alluded to the challenges Vinicius faced, stating, “They tried to erase you, my friend, and you danced on them.”
Vinicius earned this recognition after a disappointing outcome at the Ballon d’Or ceremony in October, where he was overtaken by Manchester City’s Rodri.
In a show of protest against what they believed was an unfair decision, Vinicius and the entire Real Madrid delegation decided to boycott the ceremony, opting to stay away rather than celebrate in a setting they felt did not honor the true merits of his performance.