Madrid (EFE).- The Brazilian Vinicius Junior has been awarded the XXXIII EFE Trophy for the best Ibero-American player by the Agency’s sports newsroom, which highlights his importance within the successes achieved with Real Madrid, reaching double digits of goals and assists.
A Vinícius who collected the award at the Real Madrid Sports City in Valdebebas before concentrating with Brazil for the dispute of two international friendlies, against Guinea and Senegal, after having concluded the season with Real Madrid.
‘Vini’ gave thanks for the recognition since trophies like this invite him to “continue working and evolving” to be at his best level while he liked being awarded an award that six other Brazilians like Romario, have previously won. Ronaldo Nazario, Roberto Carlos, Rivaldo, Ronaldinho and Casemiro.
Vinicius is the ninth Real Madrid footballer awarded the EFE Award 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 soccer section -League, Champions League, Spanish Super Cup, European Super Cup and Club World Cup- and another in basketball -Copa del Rey-.
Vinícius: “My best goal of the year? Against Manchester City”
The Brazilian Vinícius Junior, when asked what his best goal of the year has been for him, kept the one he scored in the first leg of the Champions League semifinals against Manchester City, while joking that he is a guy of so much, with a strong shot from outside the area, which he “normally” does not do.
“I prefer the goal against Manchester City because it was in a semifinal and a nice goal that I don’t normally do (laughs),” he replied.
“This award means a lot to me because there have been great players who have won this award before and being with them is very important to me. I hope to be able to continue like this next season and all my remaining ones at Real Madrid”, he assured after receiving the trophy.
“I always want to be in my best version and being together with these players who have won it before is important for me to continue working and evolving to always be at my best level,” he added.
Previous winners of the EFE Trophy
. 1990-91 Rommel Fernández (Panama, Tenerife)
. . . . 1991-92 Jose Luis Zalazar (Uruguay, Bailiff)
. 1992-93 Ivan Zamorano (Chile, Real Madrid)
. 1993-94 Romario (Brazil, Barcelona)
. 1994-95 Ivan Zamorano (Chile, Real Madrid)
. 1995-96 Diego Simeone (Argentina, Atletico Madrid)
. 1996-97 Ronaldo (Brazil, Barcelona)
. 1997-98 Roberto Carlos (Brazil, Real Madrid)
. 1998-99 Rivaldo (Brazil, Barcelona)
. 1999-00 Martin Herrera (Argentina, Alaves)
. 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 Forlan (Uruguay, Villarreal)
. 2005-06 Pablo Aimar (Argentina, Valencia)
. 2006-07 Lionel Messi (Argentina, Barcelona)
. 2007-08 Sergio ‘Kun Aguero (Argentina, Atletico 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 Suarez (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 Suarez (Uruguay, Atletico de Madrid).