FIFA The Best

FIFA The Best
Name	FIFA The Best
Awarded for	Excellence in association football
Presenter	Fédération Internationale de Football Association
Country	International
First awarded	2016

FIFA The Best is an annual set of association football awards presented by the Fédération Internationale de Football Association to recognize outstanding performance by players, coaches, and goalkeepers in international and club competitions. Established as a successor to the FIFA World Player of the Year and running alongside the Ballon d'Or in public profile, the awards are part of FIFA's efforts to celebrate achievements across men's, women's, and youth football. The ceremony and associated prizes have become focal points in the football calendar, attracting nominees from top clubs, national teams, and continental competitions.

History

The awards were inaugurated by Sepp Blatter's successor administration under Gianni Infantino in 2016, following discussions that involved stakeholders such as the FIFA Council, UEFA, CONMEBOL, CONCACAF, CAF, AFC, and OFC. The creation echoed precedents set by the FIFA World Player of the Year (1991–2009) and the merged FIFA Ballon d'Or (2010–2015), while responding to competitive dynamics with the France Football-awarded Ballon d'Or. Early ceremonies featured winners who had excelled in tournaments such as the UEFA Champions League, FIFA World Cup, UEFA European Championship, and Copa América, reflecting performances across club and international competitions. Over time, the awards expanded categories and adjusted voting procedures amid debates involving figures like Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Marta Vieira da Silva, Megan Rapinoe, and administrators from Real Madrid CF, FC Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain F.C., and Manchester City F.C..

Award Categories

Categories have varied but typically include awards for male and female players, coaches, and goalkeepers. Prominent categories are Best Men's Player, Best Women's Player, Best Men's Coach, Best Women's Coach, Best Men's Goalkeeper, Best Women's Goalkeeper, and the FIFA Fair Play Award. Special recognitions have highlighted performances in tournaments such as the FIFA World Cup, FIFA Women's World Cup, and club competitions including the UEFA Champions League and Copa Libertadores. Parallel honors have been given in youth football, involving competitions like the FIFA U-20 World Cup and the FIFA U-17 World Cup. The categories align with professional clubs, national associations like the The Football Association (England), Federazione Italiana Giuoco Calcio, Real Federación Española de Fútbol, and continental governing bodies.

Selection and Voting Process

Nominees are typically shortlisted by a panel including former players, coaches, and technical experts drawn from organizations such as FIFA Technical Study Group, UEFA Technical Committee, and national federations like Brazilian Football Confederation and Argentine Football Association. Voting historically combined inputs from national team coaches, national team captains, and selected journalists representing outlets like BBC Sport, L'Équipe, Marca, Gazzetta dello Sport, and The Guardian. Fan voting via FIFA's digital platforms has also been incorporated, generating interaction with audiences across countries including Brazil, Argentina, Spain, England, Germany, and Japan. The process has been overseen by FIFA's governance and legal departments and periodically revised after consultations with stakeholders such as Players' Union FIFPro and continental confederations.

Notable Winners and Records

The inaugural Best Men's Player honored a figure whose career included achievements with clubs like FC Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain F.C. and international success with Argentina national football team. Recipients of the Best Women's Player have included athletes who starred for clubs such as Olympique Lyonnais Féminin, Reign FC, and Juventus Women and national teams like United States women's national soccer team and Brazil women's national football team. Coaches awarded include managers from elite clubs and national teams, some of whom also won league titles in competitions like the Premier League, La Liga, Serie A, and the Bundesliga. Goalkeepers recognized often had standout performances in tournaments such as the UEFA European Championship and the FIFA Club World Cup. Records tracked include youngest winners, repeat winners, and nation-specific tallies involving footballing powerhouses such as France national football team, Germany national football team, Portugal national football team, Netherlands national football team, and Sweden national football team.

Ceremony and Trophy

The annual ceremony has been staged in international venues and often broadcast by global media partners including ESPN, Fox Sports, Sky Sports, BeIN Sports, and DAZN. Hosts and presenters have included personalities from football media and entertainment, and performances have featured cultural acts tied to the host city. The trophy design follows FIFA's visual identity and has been produced by commissioned artists and manufacturers, with presentation elements referencing icons of football history such as the FIFA World Cup Trophy and stadia like Wembley Stadium, Camp Nou, and Maracanã Stadium.

Criticism and Controversies

The awards have drawn criticism and controversy over voting transparency, perceived biases toward players at high-profile clubs such as Real Madrid CF, FC Barcelona, Manchester United F.C., and Juventus F.C., and the influence of media narratives from outlets like The New York Times and The Telegraph. Debates have involved national federations, player unions like FIFPro, and former professionals including Zinédine Zidane, Diego Maradona, Pelé, and Michelle Akers. Controversies have also emerged around eligibility windows coinciding with events like the UEFA Champions League knockout stages and the FIFA World Cup, prompting procedural reviews by the FIFA Council and governance reforms advocated by organizations such as Transparency International.

Category:Association football trophies and awards