FIFA has problems choosing its The Best. This year’s choice will be announced on Tuesday, the 16th, in a ceremony in Doha, Qatar, one day before the final of the Intercontinental Cup between Flamengo and PSG. It will be a party for 800 guests. It is very likely that Dembélé, from Paris Saint-Germainbe the chosen one this time. He is on the list of finalists. From Brazil, only Raphinha, from Barcelona, but he runs on the outside.
Dembélé’s French team won the Champions League, despite losing the FIFA Club World Cup to Chelsea. The problem is that Dembélé is not unanimous, just as Vini Jr., from Real Madrid, was not elected last year.
This is where the dissatisfaction of Gianni Infantino, president of FIFA, lies. The Best generates discontent and doubtsand his decisions have been questioned in relation to the best player in the world. The problem is not with FIFA, but with the players. After the domain of Messi and Cristiano Ronaldothe candidates are not unanimous. None of them. That’s what happened last year when Vini Jr was elected.
How The Best is chosen
The choice is made by journalists from countries accredited to FIFA. There are four groups of voters who elect The Best, all with equal weight in the total of votes, which is 25% each. Professionals can only vote once per season. They are:
1 – Coaches of national teams affiliated to FIFA
2 – Captains of national teams affiliated to FIFA
3 – One journalist from each FIFA-affiliated Federation
4 – General public
Those accredited to vote nominate the three best players from last season. Each athlete earns a score according to their placement in the selection. The first gets five points, the second gets three and the third best nominee adds just one point. At the end of voting, with the votes counted, whoever has the most points wins the award for best in the world. Just like that. The criteria must be technical.
Raphinha, from Barcelona, is the only Brazilian player among the 11 nominees for this year’s award. He will have competition from names like Dembélé, Mbappé and Lamine Yamal. To choose the best goalkeeper, Alisson, from Liverpool, is in a list with seven other competitors.
See The Best list
Ousmane Dembélé, France and PSG
Achraf Hakimi, Marrocos and PSG
Harry Kane, England and Bayern Munich
Kylian Mbappé, France and Real Madrid
Nuno Mendes, Portugal and PSG
Cole Palmer, England and Chelsea
Pedri, Spain and Barcelona
Raphinha, Brazil and Barcelona
Mohamed Salah, Egypt and Liverpool
Vitinha, Portugal and PSG
Yamal Lamina, Spain and Barcelona
FIFA has named the best in the world since 1991, when German Lothar Matthaus was chosen. Brazil had the first honor in 1994, with Romário. He played for Barcelona. Ronaldo was elected three times. And before Vini, the last Brazilian to be awarded The Best was Kaká, in 2007.
See all those elected by FIFA
1991 – Lothar Matthaus (Germany)
1992 – Marco Van Basten (Netherlands)
1993 – Roberto Baggio (Italy)
1994 – Romário (Brazil)
1995 – George Weah (Liberia)
1996 – Ronaldo (Brazil)
1997 – Ronaldo (Brazil)
1998 – Zidane (France)
1999 – Rivaldo (Brazil)
2000 – Zidane (France)
2001 – Luis Figo (Portugal)
2002 – Ronaldo (Brazil)
2003 – Zidane (France)
2004 – Ronaldinho Gaúcho (Brazil)
2005 – Ronaldinho Gaúcho (Brazil)
2006 – Fabio Cannavaro (Italy)
2007 – Kaká (Brazil)
2008 – Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal)
2009 – Lionel Messi (Argentina)
2010 – Lionel Messi (Argentina)
2011 – Lionel Messi (Argentina)
2012 – Lionel Messi (Argentina)
2013 – Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal)
2014 – Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal)
2015 – Lionel Messi (Argentina)
2016 – Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal)
2017 – Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal)
2018 – Luka Modric (Croatia)
2019 – Lionel Messi (Argentina)
2020 – Robert Lewandowski (Poland)
2021 – Robert Lewandowski (Poland)
2022 – Lionel Messi (Argentina)
2023 – Lionel Messi (Argentina)
2024 – Vini Jr. (Brazil)
