- 5 hours ago
The Best FIFA Football Awards 2025: Best Men’s Player, Best Men's XI, favourites and date
Cameron Smith
- Updated: 19 Dec 2024 03:34 CST
- 11 min read
The Best FIFA Football Awards 2024 has now concluded and attention has already turned to the 2025 edition of the ceremony.
FIFA no longer runs the prestigious Ballon d’Or prize, but it does oversee its own in-house 'The Best FIFA Football Awards' - an event that is still a landmark ceremony every year.
The biggest prize on offer is the Best Men’s Player of the Year award, but there are also several other big honours handed out every year, including the Best Men's and Women's XI, the Puskas Award for the best goal scored and the Best Women’s Player.
READ MORE: Who will win Ballon d’Or 2025? Shortlist, favourites, latest odds, date and past winners
Furthermore, recognition is also given to the top coaches in the men’s and women’s games.
Here at FootballTransfers, we have compiled everything you need to know ahead of The Best FIFA Football Awards 2025.
What is the shortlist for The Best FIFA Football Awards 2025?
The shortlist of potential winners will not be revealed until late 2025.
Who are the favourites for The Best FIFA Football Awards 2025?
Superstars such as Vinicius Junior, Jude Bellingham, Kylian Mbappe, Erling Haaland, Rodri, Harry Kane, Cole Palmer, Mohamed Salah and Lamine Yamal are expected to compete for The Best FIFA Men’s Player award in 2025.
Aitana Bonmati is likely to be the favourite to win The Best FIFA Women’s Player in 2025 as she continues to dominate the women’s game. She has won the past two awards.
What are The Best FIFA Football Awards?
Following the 1990 World Cup in Italy, FIFA decided to launch its own ceremony to celebrate the best player in the world every year. It slowly gained traction, incorporating a women’s award in 2001, alongside several other trophies.
There are now 10 awards: The Best FIFA Men’s Player, The Best FIFA Men’s Goalkeeper, The Best FIFA Men’s Coach, The Best FIFA Women’s Player, The Best FIFA Women’s Goalkeeper, The Best FIFA Women’s Coach, The FIFA Puskas Award, The FIFA Marta Award, The FIFA Fair Play Award and The FIFA Fan Award.
In addition, there are also The Best FIFA Men's and Women's XIs.
How are The Best FIFA Football Awards decided and who votes?
The Best FIFA Football Awards include fans in the voting process, giving the people a voice.
The voting for the FIFA Puskas Award, for example, sees fans vote online for one of the 11 finalists drawn up by a panel of experts, with a final trio then decided.
Fans are responsible for 50% of the votes cast, with a panel of football experts providing the other 50% to decide the eventual winner.
The FIFA Fan Award is entirely decided by fans, with no input from journalists, coaches or players when it comes to determining the winner. Three moments are chosen and fans vote online to ultimately decide the winner.
Fans also have the chance to cast their votes for The Best FIFA Men’s and Women’s Player, The Best FIFA Men’s and Women’s Coach, The Best FIFA Men’s and Women’s Goalkeeper awards, and The Best FIFA Men's and Women's XI.
Fans can vote for their top three favourites per category, with first choice generating five points, second choice three points, and third choice one point.
The voting window is usually over a two-week period around a month before the awards ceremony.
When is The Best FIFA Football Awards 2025 ceremony?
The exact date of The Best FIFA Football Awards 2025 ceremony has not been revealed yet. However, it is likely to take place in January 2026.
The Best FIFA Football Awards are given based on performances over the calendar year of January to December, rather than the standard football season of August to May.
Thus, the ceremony usually takes place early in the new year. However, the 2024 ceremony strangely took place in December.
Where is The Best FIFA Football Awards 2025 ceremony?
The location for The Best FIFA Football Awards 2025 has not been announced yet. The 2024 awards ceremony took place in Doha, the 2023 iteration was held in London, while the 2022 edition was hosted in Paris.
Who will present The Best FIFA Football Awards 2025 ceremony?
The presenters for The Best FIFA Football Awards 2025 ceremony have not been revealed yet.
Samantha Johnson and Cristina Gullon were the hosts for The Best FIFA Football Awards 2024 ceremony, while Reshmin Chowdhury and Thierry Henry fronted the awards in 2023.
Johnson and ex-England international Jermaine Jenas were the hosts for 2022, while Jenas was accompanied by the aforementioned Chowdhury in 2021.
What is The Best FIFA Men’s Player award?
The Best FIFA Men’s Player award is exactly that - the award given to the best men’s player of the given year.
It is voted for by several different groups of people within the football world and the winner is decided from an original shortlist.
Vinicius Junior won the 2024 award.
Past winners of The Best FIFA Men’s Player and FIFA World Player of the Year award
| Year | Winner |
|---|---|
| 1991 | Lothar Matthaus (Germany) |
| 1992 | Marco van Basten (Netherlands) |
| 1993 | Roberto Baggio (Italy) |
| 1994 | Romario (Brazil) |
| 1995 | George Weah (Liberia) |
| 1996 | Ronaldo (Brazil) |
| 1997 | Ronaldo (Brazil) |
| 1998 | Zinedine Zidane (France) |
| 1999 | Rivaldo (Brazil) |
| 2000 | Zinedine Zidane (France) |
| 2001 | Luis Figo (Portugal) |
| 2002 | Ronaldo (Brazil) |
| 2003 | Zinedine Zidane (France) |
| 2004 | Ronaldinho (Brazil) |
| 2005 | Ronaldinho (Brazil) |
| 2006 | Fabio Cannavaro (Italy) |
| 2007 | Kaka (Brazil) |
| 2008 | Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) |
| 2009 | Lionel Messi (Argentina) |
| 2010 | Lionel Messi (Argentina) |
| 2011 | Lionel Messi (Argentina) |
| 2012 | Lionel Messi (Argentina) |
| 2013 | Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) |
| 2014 | Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) |
| 2015 | Lionel Messi (Argentina) |
| 2016 | Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) |
| 2017 | Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) |
| 2018 | Luka Modric (Croatia) |
| 2019 | Lionel Messi (Argentina) |
| 2020 | Robert Lewandowski (Poland) |
| 2021 | Robert Lewandowski (Poland) |
| 2022 | Lionel Messi (Argentina) |
| 2023 | Lionel Messi (Argentina) |
| 2024 | Vinicius Junior (Brazil) |
What is The Best FIFA Men’s Goalkeeper award?
Similar to The Best FIFA Men’s Player, but solely for goalkeepers, The Best FIFA Men’s Goalkeeper award celebrates the best player in between the sticks each calendar year, to give more recognition to a position that seldom wins individual prizes. The first award was handed out in 2017.
Emiliano Martinez won the award in 2024.
What is The Best FIFA Men’s Coach award?
This award celebrates the work of the best coaches in world football, and it ultimately decides which manager is considered to have been the best over the past 12 months.
The 2024 award went to Carlo Ancelotti.
Past winners of The Best FIFA Men's Coach award
| Year | Winner |
|---|---|
| 2016 | Claudio Ranieri (Italy) |
| 2017 | Zinedine Zidane (France) |
| 2018 | Didier Deschamps (France) |
| 2019 | Jurgen Klopp (Germany) |
| 2020 | Jurgen Klopp (Germany) |
| 2021 | Thomas Tuchel (Germany) |
| 2022 | Lionel Scaloni (Argentina) |
| 2023 | Pep Guardiola (Spain) |
| 2024 | Carlo Ancelotti (Italy) |
What is The Best FIFA Women’s Player award?
Just as with The FIFA Best Men’s Player, there is an award for the best female player each calendar year as well. It started in 2001, 10 years after the men’s award was introduced, and brings more recognition and attention to women’s football.
Like the men's award, the honour changed name following FIFA's split with the Ballon d'Or in 2016.
Aitana Bonmati is the reigning champion after winning the award in 2024.
Past winners of The Best FIFA Women’s Player and FIFA Women's World Player of the Year award
| Year | Winner |
|---|---|
| 2001 | Mia Hamm (USA) |
| 2002 | Mia Hamm (USA) |
| 2003 | Birgit Prinz (Germany) |
| 2004 | Birgit Prinz (Germany) |
| 2005 | Birgit Prinz (Germany) |
| 2006 | Marta (Brazil) |
| 2007 | Marta (Brazil) |
| 2008 | Marta (Brazil) |
| 2009 | Marta (Brazil) |
| 2010 | Marta (Brazil) |
| 2011 | Homare Sawa (Japan) |
| 2012 | Abby Wambach (USA) |
| 2013 | Nadine Angerer (Germany) |
| 2014 | Nadine Kessler (Germany) |
| 2015 | Carli Lloyd (USA) |
| 2016 | Carli Lloyd (USA) |
| 2017 | Lieke Martens (Netherlands) |
| 2018 | Marta (Brazil) |
| 2019 | Megan Rapinoe (USA) |
| 2020 | Lucy Bronze (England) |
| 2021 | Alexia Putellas (Spain) |
| 2022 | Alexia Putellas (Spain) |
| 2023 | Aitana Bonmati (Spain) |
| 2024 | Aitana Bonmati (Spain) |
What is The Best FIFA Women’s Goalkeeper award?
Similar to The Best FIFA Women’s Player, but solely for goalkeepers, The Best FIFA Women’s Goalkeeper award celebrates the best player in between the sticks each calendar year, to give more recognition to a position that seldom wins individual prizes. The first award was handed out in 2019.
Alyssa Naeher won the award in 2024.
What is The Best FIFA Women’s Coach award?
This award celebrates the work of the best coaches in women's football, and it ultimately decides which manager is considered to have been the best over the past 12 months.
The 2024 award went to Emma Hayes.
Past winners of The Best FIFA Women's Coach award
| Year | Winner |
|---|---|
| 2016 | Silvia Neid (Germany) |
| 2017 | Sarina Wiegman (Netherlands) |
| 2018 | Reynald Pedros (France) |
| 2019 | Jills Ellis (England/USA) |
| 2020 | Sarina Wiegman (Netherlands) |
| 2021 | Emma Hayes (England) |
| 2022 | Sarina Wiegman (Netherlands) |
| 2023 | Sarina Wiegman (Netherlands) |
| 2024 | Emma Hayes (England) |
What is The Best FIFA Men’s 11?
Since 2005, the world players’ union FIFPRO has asked professional footballers worldwide to select the best players in the game each calendar year, with over 25,000 players participating in the vote.
The goalkeeper, as well as the three defenders, three midfielders and three forwards who receive the most votes are selected for the World 11. The remaining spot in the World 11 is assigned to the outfield player with the next highest number of votes who is not selected already.
The award partnered with FIFA in 2009, but their pair's relationship ended in 2024 and there are now two separate XIs - The FIFPro World XI and The Best FIFA Men's/Women's XI.
The FIFPro XI is solely decided by professional players across the world, while The Best FIFA XI includes input from fans.
There were several differences between each team in 2024 - the first year of the split - with Antonio Rudiger, Dani Carvajal, Rodri, Toni Kroos, Jude Bellingham, Erling Haaland and Vinicius Junior included in both The FIFPro World XI and The Best FIFA Men's XI.
The Best FIFA Men's XI for 2024
Emiliano Martinez (Argentina); Dani Carvajal (Spain), Ruben Dias (Portugal), Antonio Rudiger (Germany), William Saliba (France); Jude Bellingham (England), Rodri (Spain), Toni Kroos (Germany); Lamine Yamal (Spain), Erling Haaland (Norway), Vinicius Junior (Brazil).
The Best FIFA Women’s XI in 2024
Alyssa Naeher (USA); Lucy Bronze (England), Naomi Girma (USA), Irene Paredes (Spain), Ona Batlle (Spain); Gabi Portilho (Brazil), Patricia Guijarro (Spain), Lindsey Horan (USA), Aitana Bonmati (Spain); Salma Paralluelo (Spain), Caroline Graham Hansen (Norway).
What is the FIFA Puskas Award?
Created in 2009 in honour of Real Madrid icon Ferenc Puskas, captain and star of the Hungary national team during the 1950s, the FIFA Puskas Award is handed out to the player judged to have scored the best goal of the year.
The criteria is: an aesthetically beautiful goal, awarded without distinction of championship, gender or nationality.
Alejandro Garnacho won the 2024 FIFA Puskás Award.
Past winners of FIFA Puskas Award
| Year | Winner |
|---|---|
| 2009 | Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United) |
| 2010 | Hamit Altintop (Turkey) |
| 2011 | Neymar (Santos) |
| 2012 | Miroslav Stoch (Fenerbahce) |
| 2013 | Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Sweden) |
| 2014 | James Rodriguez (Colombia) |
| 2015 | Wendell Lira (Goianésia) |
| 2016 | Mohd Faiz Subri (Penang) |
| 2017 | Olivier Giroud (Arsenal) |
| 2018 | Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) |
| 2019 | Dániel Zsóri (Debrecen) |
| 2020 | Son Heung-Min (Tottenham Hotspur) |
| 2021 | Erik Lamela (Tottenham Hotspur) |
| 2022 | Marcin Oleksy (Warta Poznan) |
| 2023 | Guilherme Madruga (Botafogo) |
| 2024 | Alejandro Garnacho (Manchester United) |
What is the FIFA Marta Award?
Created in 2024 in honour of Brazil legend Marta, the FIFA Marta Award is handed out to the women's player judged to have scored the best goal of the year.
The criteria is: an aesthetically beautiful goal, awarded without distinction of championship, gender or nationality.
Marta herself won the 2024 FIFA Marta Award.
Past winners of FIFA Marta Award
| Year | Winner |
|---|---|
| 2024 | Marta (Brazil) |
What is the FIFA Fair Play Award?
The FIFA Fair Play award recognises exemplary behaviour that promotes fair play, sportsmanship and compassion in football. It can be awarded to a player, a coach, a team, fans or even entire footballing communities.
The winner in 2024 was Internacional star Thiago Maia for his bravery during the Porto Alegre floods.
What is the FIFA Fan Award?
The FIFA Fan award was created in 2016 and celebrates the best fan moment or event across the calendar year. The 2024 award was won by young Vasco da Gama fan Guilherme Gandra Moura.
Are The Best FIFA Football Awards and the Ballon d’Or the same?
No, they are not. The Ballon d’Or is a ceremony founded and run by France Football, whereas The Best FIFA Football Awards were founded and run by FIFA. They are two separate awards, although between 2010 and 2015, they merged together to form the FIFA Ballon d’Or.
They separated for 2016 and have remained two different awards since then. Before the merge, The Best FIFA Football Awards was known as FIFA World Player of the Year.
