The Brazilian Vinícius Junior received this Thursday, from the president of the EFE Agency, Miguel Ángel Oliver , and with the presence of Florentino Pérez , president of Real Madrid, the XXXIV EFE Trophy that accredits him as the best Ibero-American player of the year 2023.

‘Vini’, which obtains this recognition for the second consecutive year, received the trophy that accredits him in the trophy room of the Real Madrid Sports City in Valdebebas.

Vinicius is the ninth Real Madrid footballer to be awarded the EFE Trophy for the best Ibero-American player , while the white team itself, in the hands of its president, Florentino Pérez, collected the trophy that recognized it as the best Ibero-American club of 2017 after then add five titles in its football section – League, Champions, Spanish Super Cup, European Super Cup and Club World Cup – and another in basketball – Copa del Rey.

An award that six other Brazilian players have won: Romario, Ronaldo Nazario, Roberto Carlos, Rivaldo, Ronaldinho and Casemiro.

Vinícius Junior established himself in 2023 as one of the leading footballers on the world stage. 23 goals and 21 assists in the 55 games he played with Real Madrid. Of them, the importance of him in key moments and competitions stands out.

The Brazilian Real Madrid player Vinicius Júnior poses after receiving the EFE award for the best Ibero-American player of the year 2023, in a private event at the Valdebebas sports city. EFE

In the Champions League he scored seven goals and five assists; scoring or assisting in ten of the 12 games he played. He only missed out on one goal in the 33 minutes he played in the group stage against Shakhtar Donetsk and in the semi-final second leg against Manchester City .

In the Copa del Rey, which Real Madrid won, it was decisive. Three goals and four assists in five games. He was only left without contributing in the semi-final first leg against Barça (0-1); but in the second leg, 0-4, he scored a goal and distributed two assists.

Furthermore, Vinícius stands out for his way of playing football. He is bold, cheerful and self-confident. In 2023, taking into account the five major leagues and the ‘Champions League’, he was the player who attempted the most dribbles per 90 minutes (13.88). In total, he made 240 successful dribbles in the season, the most in the elite.

Vinícius has worn the Real Madrid shirt in 248 games.

. 1990-91 Rommel Fernández (Panama, Tenerife). 1991-92 José Luis Zalazar (Uruguay, Albacete). 1992-93 Iván Zamorano (Chile, Real Madrid). 1993-94 Romario (Brazil, Barcelona). 1994-95 Iván Zamorano (Chile, Real Madrid). 1995-96 Diego Simeone (Argentina, Atlético de Madrid). 1996-97 Ronaldo (Brazil, Barcelona). 1997-98 Roberto Carlos (Brazil, Real Madrid). 1998-99 Rivaldo (Brazil, Barcelona). 1999-00 Martín Herrera (Argentina, Alavés). 1999-00 Fernando Redondo (Argentina, Real Madrid) -Special award for the best Ibero-American player of the decade-. 2000-01 Roberto Acuña (Paraguay, Zaragoza). 2001-02 Javier Saviola (Argentina, Barcelona). 2002-03 Ronaldo (Brazil, Real Madrid). 2003-04 Ronaldinho (Brazil, Barcelona). 2004-05 Diego Forlán (Uruguay, Villarreal). 2005-06 Pablo Aimar (Argentina, Valencia). 2006-07 Lionel Messi (Argentina, Barcelona). 2007-08 Sergio ‘Kun Agüero (Argentina, Atlético de Madrid). 2008-09 Lionel Messi (Argentina, Barcelona). 2009-10 Lionel Messi (Argentina, Barcelona). 2010-11 Lionel Messi (Argentina, Barcelona). 2011-12 Lionel Messi (Argentina, Barcelona). 2012-13 Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal, Real Madrid). 2013-14 Diego Costa (Brazil-Spain, Atlético de Madrid). 2014-15 Luis Suárez (Uruguay, Barcelona). 2015-16 Keylor Navas (Costa Rica, Real Madrid). 2016-17 Real Madrid. 2017-18 Edinson Cavani (Uruguay, Paris Saint-Germain). 2019-20 Carlos Henrique Casemiro (Brazil, Real Madrid). 2020-21 Luis Suárez (Uruguay, Atlético de Madrid). 2021-22 Vinícius Junior (Brazil, Real Madrid). 2022-23 Vinícius Junior (Brazil, Real Madrid).