Men’s FIFA World Player of the Year
Ronaldo, the youngest recipient of FIFA World Player of the Year
The FIFA World Player of the Year had been an award between 1991 and 2009, with both Ronaldo Nazario and Zinedine Zidane winning it three times, before it joined with the Ballon d’Or in 2010. The Ballon d’Or has been its own award since 1956, but between 2010 and 2015, it merged with FIFA’s ‘World Player of the Year’ award to form the FIFA Ballon d’Or. Messi and Ronaldo won all of the joint awards.
For 2016, FIFA and France Football parted ways, with the Ballon d’Or back to being its own independent award. FIFA, meanwhile, resurrected its previous award under a new name: The Best FIFA Men’s Player.
The FIFA World Player of the Year had been an award between 1991 and 2009, with both Ronaldo Nazario and Zinedine Zidane winning it three times, before it joined with the Ballon d’Or in 2010. The Ballon d’Or has been its own award since 1956, but between 2010 and 2015, it merged with FIFA’s ‘World Player of the Year’ award to form the FIFA Ballon d’Or. Messi and Ronaldo won all of the joint awards.
For 2016, FIFA and France Football parted ways, with the Ballon d’Or back to being its own independent award. FIFA, meanwhile, resurrected its previous award under a new name: The Best FIFA Men’s Player.
List of Men’s FIFA World Player of the Year award winners
| Year | Player | Team |
|---|---|---|
| Year | Player | Team |
| 2009 | Lionel Messi |
FC Barcelona
|
| 2008 | Cristiano Ronaldo |
Manchester City
|
| 2007 | Kaká |
AC Milan
|
| 2006 | Fabio Cannavaro |
Real Madrid
,
Juventus Academy Miami Juventus -Pogba 08
|
| 2005 | Ronaldinho Gaúcho |
FC Barcelona
|
| 2004 | Ronaldinho Gaúcho |
FC Barcelona
|
| 2003 | Zinédine Zidane |
Real Madrid
|
| 2002 | Ronaldo |
Inter Milan
,
Real Madrid
|
| 2001 | Luis Figo |
Real Madrid
|
| 2000 | Zinédine Zidane |
Juventus Academy Miami Juventus -Pogba 08
|
| 1999 | Rivaldo |
FC Barcelona
|
| 1998 | Zinédine Zidane |
Juventus Academy Miami Juventus -Pogba 08
|
| 1997 | Ronaldo |
FC Barcelona
,
Inter Milan
|
| 1996 | Ronaldo |
PSV Eindhoven
,
FC Barcelona
|
| 1995 | George Weah |
Paris Saint-Germain
,
AC Milan
|
| 1994 | Romário |
FC Barcelona
|
| 1993 | Roberto Baggio |
Juventus Academy Miami Juventus -Pogba 08
|
| 1992 | Marco van Basten |
AC Milan
|
| 1991 | Lothar Matthäus |
Inter Milan
|
List of Men’s FIFA World Player of the Year award winners by nationality
| Country | Win(s) | Year(s) |
|---|---|---|
Brazil
|
8 | 2007, 2005, 2004, 2002, 1999, 1997, 1996, 1994 |
France
|
3 | 2003, 2000, 1998 |
Italy
|
2 | 2006, 1993 |
Portugal
|
2 | 2008, 2001 |
Argentina
|
1 | 2009 |
Germany
|
1 | 1991 |
Liberia
|
1 | 1995 |
Netherlands
|
1 | 1992 |
List of Men’s FIFA World Player of the Year award winners by club
| Country | Win(s) | Year(s) |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | 2009, 2005, 2004, 1999, 1997, 1994 | |
| 3 | 2000, 1998, 1993 | |
| 3 | 2006, 2003, 2001 | |
| 2 | 2002, 1991 | |
| 2 | 2007, 1992 | |
| 1 | 2008 | |
| 1 | 1995 | |
| 1 | 1996 |
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