Football fans love debating the best player in the world, but FIFA’s award list gives the conversation a clear timeline. It shows the eras of Ronaldo Nazario, Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldinho, Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Robert Lewandowski, Alexia Putellas, Aitana Bonmati, Marta, and many more.
The FIFA best player award list can feel confusing because the award has changed names over time. It started as FIFA World Player of the Year, merged into the FIFA Ballon d’Or for a few years, then returned as The Best FIFA Football Awards.
Here is the full, easy-to-scan list of FIFA’s top player winners, including the men’s award, women’s award, most successful players, and how the award works.
Latest FIFA Best Player Winners
| Award | Winner |
|---|---|
| The Best FIFA Men’s Player 2025 | Ousmane Dembele |
| The Best FIFA Women’s Player 2025 | Aitana Bonmati |
Dembele won after a brilliant season with Paris Saint-Germain, while Bonmati made history by winning the women’s award for the third straight year.
Full Men’s FIFA Best Player Award List by Year
1991 to 2000
| Year | Winner |
|---|---|
| 1991 | Lothar Matthaus |
| 1992 | Marco van Basten |
| 1993 | Roberto Baggio |
| 1994 | Romario |
| 1995 | George Weah |
| 1996 | Ronaldo |
| 1997 | Ronaldo |
| 1998 | Zinedine Zidane |
| 1999 | Rivaldo |
| 2000 | Zinedine Zidane |
2001 to 2010
| Year | Winner |
|---|---|
| 2001 | Luis Figo |
| 2002 | Ronaldo |
| 2003 | Zinedine Zidane |
| 2004 | Ronaldinho |
| 2005 | Ronaldinho |
| 2006 | Fabio Cannavaro |
| 2007 | Kaka |
| 2008 | Cristiano Ronaldo |
| 2009 | Lionel Messi |
| 2010 | Lionel Messi |
2011 to 2020
| Year | Winner |
|---|---|
| 2011 | Lionel Messi |
| 2012 | Lionel Messi |
| 2013 | Cristiano Ronaldo |
| 2014 | Cristiano Ronaldo |
| 2015 | Lionel Messi |
| 2016 | Cristiano Ronaldo |
| 2017 | Cristiano Ronaldo |
| 2018 | Luka Modric |
| 2019 | Lionel Messi |
| 2020 | Robert Lewandowski |
The Messi and Ronaldo Years[2010-2015]
This era belonged almost completely to Messi and Ronaldo.
Messi won four of the six FIFA Ballon d’Or awards. Ronaldo won the other two. The split tells you exactly what football felt like at the time: two players at the top, everyone else chasing.
The closest challengers included Xavi, Andres Iniesta, Franck Ribery, Manuel Neuer, and Neymar, but the award itself stayed in the Messi-Ronaldo orbit.
2021 to 2025
| Year | Winner |
|---|---|
| 2021 | Robert Lewandowski |
| 2022 | Lionel Messi |
| 2023 | Lionel Messi |
| 2024 | Vinicius Junior |
| 2025 | Ousmane Dembele |
Full Women’s FIFA Best Player Award List by Year
2001 to 2010
| Year | Winner |
|---|---|
| 2001 | Mia Hamm |
| 2002 | Mia Hamm |
| 2003 | Birgit Prinz |
| 2004 | Birgit Prinz |
| 2005 | Birgit Prinz |
| 2006 | Marta |
| 2007 | Marta |
| 2008 | Marta |
| 2009 | Marta |
| 2010 | Marta |
2011 to 2020
| Year | Winner |
|---|---|
| 2011 | Homare Sawa |
| 2012 | Abby Wambach |
| 2013 | Nadine Angerer |
| 2014 | Nadine Kessler |
| 2015 | Carli Lloyd |
| 2016 | Carli Lloyd |
| 2017 | Lieke Martens |
| 2018 | Marta |
| 2019 | Megan Rapinoe |
| 2020 | Lucy Bronze |
2021 to 2025
| Year | Winner |
|---|---|
| 2021 | Alexia Putellas |
| 2022 | Alexia Putellas |
| 2023 | Aitana Bonmati |
| 2024 | Aitana Bonmati |
| 2025 | Aitana Bonmati |
How FIFA Chooses the Best Player
The voting format has changed slightly over time, but FIFA’s modern awards usually include votes from different groups.
The voting pool often includes:
- National team captains
- National team coaches
- Selected journalists
- Fans
This mix is why results can sometimes surprise people. A player may be favored by fans, while coaches or journalists see the season differently. The award is not only about goals. Big matches, trophies, consistency, leadership, and tournament performances all matter.
Most Memorable FIFA Best Player Wins
Ronaldo in 1996
Ronaldo’s 1996 win announced the arrival of one of the most explosive forwards football had ever seen. He was fast, strong, fearless, and almost impossible to stop.
Zidane in 1998
Zidane’s 1998 win came in a year when he became a global icon. His World Cup final performance for France gave him a place in football history.
Ronaldinho in 2005
Ronaldinho’s 2005 award still feels special because it captured him at his most magical. He made elite football look playful.
Cannavaro in 2006
Fabio Cannavaro’s win stands out because defenders rarely get this kind of recognition. His World Cup-winning year with Italy pushed him to the top.
Modric in 2018
Luka Modric’s 2018 win broke the long Messi and Ronaldo pattern. His Champions League season with Real Madrid and World Cup run with Croatia made the award feel earned.
Lewandowski in 2020
Robert Lewandowski’s 2020 win felt overdue to many fans. He had a ruthless scoring season and helped Bayern Munich dominate Europe.
Bonmati in 2025
Aitana Bonmati’s third straight win placed her in rare company. Winning once is impressive. Winning three years in a row means you are defining an era.
Why This Award List Matters
The FIFA best player award list is more than a roll call of famous names. It tells the story of football eras.
The 1990s had Baggio, Romario, Weah, Ronaldo, and Zidane. The 2000s brought Ronaldinho, Kaka, Messi, and Cristiano Ronaldo. The modern era has opened space for Lewandowski, Modric, Vinicius Junior, Dembele, Putellas, and Bonmati.
For fans, the list is also useful for quick comparisons. It shows who dominated, who had one unforgettable year, and which players stayed at the top long enough to become part of football history.
