São Paulo
Won once again by Argentine Lionel Messi this Monday (27), the FIFA The Best award was created by the entity in 2016 to replace the former Best in the World, first awarded in 1991, and also the Ballon d’Or. of FIFA, delivered in partnership with France Football magazine.
For nearly 20 years, football’s highest governing body has tried to compete with the prestige of the award given by the traditional French magazine, which has chosen the best in the world since 1956.
In 2009, the two honors were unified to launch the FIFA Ballon d’Or award, won in its first edition also by Messi, in 2010.
The partnership lasted six seasons and was monopolized by the Argentine star, four times winner (2010, 2011, 2012 and 2015) and the Portuguese Cristiano Ronaldo, twice winner (2013 and 2014).
With the end of the partnership, Fifa decided to recreate its award with the name of The Best and, with seven editions to date, it has already awarded only four different players, with two awards for Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Robert Lewandowski, and one for Luka Modrić .
Considering the former Best in the World, the period of partnership with France Football and the recreation of the FIFA award, Messi has seven achievements and is the biggest winner:
Messi – 7 awards – 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019 e 2022.
Cristiano Ronaldo – 5 awards – 2008, 2013, 2014, 2016 e 2017.
Ronaldo – 3 awards – 1996, 1997 e 2002.
Zidane – 3 awards – 1998, 2000 e 2003.
Ronaldinho Gaucho – 2 awards – 2004 e 2005.
Lewandowski – 2 awards – 2020 e 2021.
Best in the FIFA World – 1991/2009
2009 – Lionel Messi (ARG)
2008 – Cristiano Ronaldo (POR)
2007 – Kaka (BRA)
2006 – Fabio Cannavaro (ITA)
2005 – Ronaldinho (BRA)
2004 – Ronaldinho (BRA)
2003 – Zidane (FRA)
2002 – Ronaldo (GOOD)
2001 – Luís Figo (POR)
2000 – Zidane (FRA)
1999 – Rivaldo (BRA)
1998 – Zidane (FRA)
1997 – Ronaldo (GOOD)
1996 – Ronaldo (GOOD)
1995 – George Weah (LBR)
1994 – Romário (BRA)
1993 – Roberto Baggio (ITA)
1992 – Marco Van Basten (HOL)
1991 – Lothar Matthaus (ALE)
