Internacional midfielder Thiago Maia was awarded the FIFA Fair Play award – Fifa The Best Awards – at a gala ceremony, this Tuesday (17), in Doha (Qatar). The player was recognized for his voluntary work helping with the floods in Rio Grande do Sul at the beginning of the year. The 27-year-old athlete rescued people and animals stranded in Porto Alegre and in cities in the metropolitan region. FIFA The Best also awarded Vinicius Júnior (best player of the year), Marta (most beautiful goal), and Guilherme Gandra Moura (fan of the year), as well as striker Gabi Portilho (the only Brazilian chosen for the ideal women’s team).
The FIFA Fair Play Award goes to Thiago Maia. 👏#TheBest
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) December 17, 2024
During the tragedy, the images of Thiago Maia throwing himself into the water to rescue people on the roof, or in difficult to access places, received support from fans not only from Colorado but also from other Brazilian clubs. One of the videos that went viral on the internet showed Thiago Maia carrying an elderly woman supported on his back during a rescue operation.
This is the second time that the Fair Play award goes to Brazil: last year, the Canarian team was awarded for the anti-racism campaign, following the attacks suffered by Vinicius Júnior in matches in Spain.
FIFA awards the Fair Play award to players, teams, referees, coaches or fans who have demonstrated exemplary attitudes on or off the field.
