This article was accepted into the corpus but its outbound wikilinks were never NER-processed — typical at the deepest BFS hop or when the run's entity cap was reached. No expansion funnel to show.
| FIFA Best | |
|---|---|
| Name | FIFA Best |
| Awarded for | Excellence in association football |
| Presenter | Fédération Internationale de Football Association |
| First awarded | 2016 |
| Country | International |
FIFA Best is an annual set of awards presented by Fédération Internationale de Football Association to recognize outstanding performances in men's, women's, and goalkeeping roles in association football. Established in 2016 to succeed earlier accolades administered by Fédération Internationale de Football Association and affiliated bodies, the awards assemble votes from national team coaches, national team captains, selected media representatives, and fans. The program highlights individual achievement across club and international competitions such as the FIFA World Cup, UEFA Champions League, CONMEBOL Copa Libertadores, and Olympic Games.
The awards were instituted following the end of the long-running Fédération Internationale de Football Association Ballon d'Or partnership between France Football and Fédération Internationale de Football Association. The inaugural edition in 2016 coincided with contemporary shifts in global football governance involving stakeholders like UEFA, CONMEBOL, CONCACAF, AFC, CAF, and OFC. Early ceremonies were influenced by performances in competitions such as the 2014 FIFA World Cup, the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup, and continental club tournaments. Over subsequent editions, developments in women's football—driven by events such as the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup and the rise of professional leagues including National Women's Soccer League, Women's Super League, and Division 1 Féminine—shaped nominee pools and voting attention.
Category evolution has reflected changes in global football. Core categories include Best Men's Player, Best Women's Player, Best Men's Goalkeeper, Best Women's Goalkeeper, Best Men's Coach, Best Women's Coach, and the Goal of the Year award celebrating strikes in competitions like UEFA Europa League and CONCACAF Champions League. Special recognitions have paralleled tournaments such as the FIFA Club World Cup and youth competitions like the FIFA U-20 World Cup. Parallel honors have acknowledged refereeing excellence involving officials from bodies including the International Football Association Board and the Referees Committee of Fédération Internationale de Football Association.
Nomination and voting incorporate stakeholders across the football ecosystem. Shortlists are often compiled by panels of experts including representatives from Fédération Internationale de Football Association technical committees and prominent journalists from outlets such as BBC Sport, L'Équipe, Marca, Gazzetta dello Sport, and The Guardian. Eligible voters historically have included national team coaches and captains from associations affiliated to Fédération Internationale de Football Association, plus a global fan vote via official online platforms. Votes are weighted among these groups, similar in structure to award systems used by organizations like International Olympic Committee selection commissions and Ballon d'Or juries prior to 2016.
Recipients have featured globally known figures from club and international football. Men's winners include stars associated with clubs such as FC Barcelona, Real Madrid CF, Paris Saint-Germain F.C., FC Bayern Munich, and Manchester United F.C.; iconic names linked to multiple wins include players who starred in editions of the UEFA Champions League and the FIFA World Cup. Women's recipients have emerged from teams like Olympique Lyonnais Féminin, FC Barcelona Femení, Portland Thorns FC, and national teams such as United States women's national soccer team and England women's national football team. Goalkeepers and coaches recognized have been affiliated with institutions like Juventus F.C., AC Milan, Ajax Amsterdam, FC Internazionale Milano, and national associations including Brazil national football team and Germany national football team.
Ceremonies are staged in major global cities and draw attendees from clubs, federations, and confederations including UEFA and CONMEBOL, with broadcast partners spanning networks like Sky Sports, ESPN, beIN Sports, and public broadcasters. Trophy design has varied; winners receive a statuette commissioned by Fédération Internationale de Football Association's events division, produced by specialized craftspeople and design houses that have collaborated previously with sporting bodies such as International Olympic Committee event teams. Presentation segments often feature highlights from competitions such as the UEFA European Championship and the FIFA Club World Cup.
The awards have attracted scrutiny over voting transparency, potential bias toward players from high-profile clubs like Real Madrid CF and FC Barcelona, and the weighting of fan votes in an era of social media dominated by platforms such as Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. Debate has arisen when nominees from certain confederations—UEFA in particular—dominate shortlists despite significant performances in CONMEBOL or AFC competitions. Controversies also paralleled disputes over calendar congestion affecting players at clubs such as Manchester City F.C. and Liverpool F.C., and questions regarding comparative metrics used by analyst groups at Opta Sports and academic studies from institutions like Loughborough University.
The awards contribute to player marketability, influencing endorsements with brands including Nike, Adidas, Puma, and sports agencies like Creative Artists Agency and Wasserman. Recognition has affected contract negotiations involving clubs such as Chelsea F.C. and Arsenal F.C. and amplified visibility for women's football, supporting the growth of competitions like UEFA Women's Champions League and professionalization in leagues such as NWSL. The accolade remains a high-profile marker within the broader ecosystem of international football honors alongside tournaments and awards including the Ballon d'Or, the UEFA Men's Player of the Year Award, and continental player awards administered by confederations.
Category:Association football trophies and awards