The best male and female footballer in the world will be crowned on Tuesday night at the FIFA Best Awards in Doha, Qatar – and the winner of men’s award has been leaked just hours before the official ceremony is due to begin.
While Manchester City star Rodri claimed the Ballon d’Or back in October, FIFA will hand out its own rival award this evening.
The Best awards have been handed out by FIFA since 2017 after its partnership with France Football for the Ballon d’Or award ended in 2016.
Rodri beat Real Madrid star Vinicius Jr to the 2024 Ballon d’Or to the anger of the Spanish club, who boycotted the award ceremony in Paris.
But there will no such protest this evening, with Vinicius Jr set to claim the top men’s prize at FIFA’s awards.
Brazilian outlet Ge Globe claim Vinicius Jr will be given the men’s award ahead of Rodri and nine other nominees; Dani Carvajal, Erling Haaland, Federico Valverde, Florian Wirtz, Jude Bellingham, Kylian Mbappe, Lamine Yamal, Lionel Messi and Toni Kroos.
Inter Miami star Messi is the current holder of the award, having claimed it last year for a record third time.
Vinicius Jr is set to join Romario, Ronaldo, Rivaldo, Ronaldinho and Kaka in an exclusive list of Brazilian to win a top individual prize in the various formats of the FIFA awards.
He’s set to become the first Brazilian to win the award for best player in the world since Kaka claimed it in 2007.
Vinicius Jr scored 24 goals and provided 11 assists last season as Real Madrid won both the Champions League and La Liga titles.
Real Madrid is in Qatar to play in the final of the Intercontinental Cup against Mexican side Pachuca on Wednesday.
