Real Madrid forward Vinicius Jnr has been named the UEFA Champions League Player of the Season for 2023-24 after helping his side claim the trophy at Wembley on Saturday night.
The Brazil international has starred for Madrid all season long as they claimed a domestic and continental double.
And he was again outstanding in Madrid’s 2-0 defeat of Borussia Dortmund at the weekend, improving after a quiet first half to spearhead Carlo Ancelotti’s side’s second-half improvement.
The 23-year-old effectively secured Madrid’s status as champions of Europe for a record-extending 15th time by scoring their second goal with seven minutes to go, taking Jude Bellingham’s pass in his stride before clipping the ball past Dortmund goalkeeper Gregor Kobel.
Match winner Vinícius Júnior jumped straight in with the Real Madrid fans at Wembley after delivering their fifteenth #UCL crown 👑 pic.twitter.com/ytUUgl8DCI
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) June 2, 2024
It was the culmination of an outstanding season in European football’s elite club competition.
Vinicius Jnr made 10 appearances in the Champions League, scoring six goals and assisting another five.
After the defeat of Dortmund, he said: “I’m very happy to be able to win another Champions League with this club, which has given me so much.
“It’s an incredible thing. Not everyone can experience it and win it so many times.”
The award was decided by UEFA’s Technical Observer panel.