FIFA World Player of the Year (Men)
Here are the top FIFA World Player of the Year award winners since 1991. This award is given annually to the player who is thought to be the best in the world. From 2010 until 2015, this award was merged with the Ballon d'Or award.
Since 2004 the voting process is based on a shortlist of 35 players produced by FIFA, from which team captains, national team managers and select journalists vote for the winner.
From 2010 until 2015, the FIFA player of the year award was merged with the Ballon d'Or and called the FIFA Ballon d'Or. Compare this list to the player of the year according to World Soccer magazine, and also the female player of the year.
Including the FIFA Ballon d'Or (years 2010-2015), Lionel Messi has won the award five times, with Cristiano Ronaldo having won it four times.
The 2016 winner of the FIFA World Player of the Year winner was Cristiano Ronaldo, who also won the 2016 Ballon d'Or).
| year | player | nationality |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Cristiano Ronaldo | Portugal |
| 2016 | Cristiano Ronaldo | Portugal |
| 2015 | Lionel Messi | Argentina |
| 2014 | Cristiano Ronaldo | Portugal |
| 2013 | Cristiano Ronaldo | Portugal |
| 2012 | Lionel Messi | Argentina |
| 2011 | Lionel Messi | Argentina |
| 2010 | Lionel Messi | Argentina |
| 2009 | Lionel Messi | Argentina |
| 2008 | Cristiano Ronaldo | Portugal |
| 2007 | Kaká | Brazil |
| 2006 | Fabio Cannavaro | Italy |
| 2005 | Ronaldinho | Brazil |
| 2004 | Ronaldinho | Brazil |
| 2003 | Zinedine Zidane | France |
| 2002 | Ronaldo | Brazil |
| 2001 | Luís Figo | Portugal |
| 2000 | Zinedine Zidane | France |
| 1999 | Rivaldo | Brazil |
| 1998 | Zinedine Zidane | France |
| 1997 | Ronaldo | Brazil |
| 1996 | Ronaldo | Brazil |
| 1995 | George Weah | Liberia |
| 1994 | Romário | Brazil |
| 1993 | Roberto Baggio | Italy |
| 1992 | Marco van Basten | Netherlands |
| 1991 | Lothar Matthäus | Germany |
Related Pages
- See also the list of the female player of the year.
- list of winners of the Ballon d'Or award (from 1956 to 2009)
- more Soccer Lists
- more sporting lists
