FIFA the Best: William Troost-Ekong’s Votes Emerge As Award Voting List Surfaces
- The 2024 edition of the prestigious FIFA The Best award ceremony was held on December 17 in Doha, Qatar
- Real Madrid's Vinícius Júnior clinched the Best Men's Player award ahead of Rodrigo Hernández and Jude Bellingham
- The breakdown of the voting process by Super Eagles captain, William Troost-Ekong, has recently surfaced
Vinícius Júnior delivered the perfect response to his Ballon d'Or disappointment by winning the FIFA Best Men's Player of the Year award.
The Real Madrid star outshone Manchester City's Rodrigo Hernández and his club teammate Jude Bellingham to claim the prestigious honour.
Source: Getty Images
The Brazilian forward, who controversially missed out on the Ballon d'Or prize, was a fitting star at the FIFA awards ceremony, held just days before Real Madrid’s Intercontinental Cup final against Mexican side Pachuca.
However, after the extravagant gala—which saw winners crowned across various categories—discussions quickly turned to the voting process behind the awards.
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FIFA’s voting system distributes points equally across four groups: media professionals, national team coaches, national team captains, and fans worldwide.
Representing Nigeria as captain, William Troost-Ekong, who currently plays for Al-Kholood, cast his votes with Jude Bellingham as his top choice, followed by Vinícius Júnior and Rodri.
Troost-Ekong’s selections stood in contrast to those of Nigeria’s head coach, Augustine Eguavoen, whose voting decisions have sparked debate and criticism online.
Eguavoen voting at FIFA The Best
The 59-year-old, who currently serves as interim coach of the Nigerian national team, made a surprising selection for his top three votes in the FIFA The Best awards.
Eguavoen awarded his first vote to Argentina’s captain Lionel Messi, followed by Real Madrid’s Vinícius Júnior in second place, and Manchester City’s Rodri in third.
His decision to name Messi as his top choice has sparked widespread debate among fans, with many labelling his vote as unexpected and possibly sentimental.
In the women’s category, Super Falcons interim coach Justine Madugu chose Tabitha Chawinga, Lindsey Horan, and Barbra Banda as her top three picks.
Meanwhile, Nigeria captain, Rasheedat Ajibade, ranked Barbra Banda first, followed by Aitana Bonmatí and Khadija Shaw in second and third, respectively.
Infantino criticizes Ballon d'Or process amid Vinicius triumph
Briefly News also reported that FIFA President Gianni Infantino made a pointed remark about the Ballon d’Or selection process during the FIFA The Best Awards ceremony held in Doha, Qatar.
Infantino highlighted FIFA's commitment to transparency in recognizing football talent, subtly contrasting it with the Ballon d’Or's methods.
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Source: Legit.ng
