From Ronaldo to Lewandowski: Meet the full list of winners of FIFA’s Best Football Awards

January 17, 2022 Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski has been named FIFA’s best male footballer for the second consecutive year. The Polish striker of Bayern Munich beat Lionel Messi and Mohamed Salah. Meanwhile, Alexia Putellas won the FIFA best female footballer award after her Ballon d’Or success.

The FIFA Best Female Footballer award is given annually by soccer’s governing body and has existed since 2016. Previously, the award was called FIFA World Player of the Year and was merged with the Ballon d’Or. As of 2016, these are two different awards.

Unlike the Ballon d’Or, fans have a major influence on the selection of the best FIFA footballer. The results are decided by votes cast based on the following parameters:

1. Current national team coaches
2. The current captain of each national team
3. One specialist journalist from each territory
4. Fans registered on FIFA.com

Cristiano Ronaldo became the first ever to be named the Best FIFA Footballer for Men, and Carli Lloyd of the USA was named the Best FIFA Footballer for Women in 2016.

In addition to this, special recognition is given to goalkeepers in the form of the FIFA Best Goalkeeper title. This award was given in 2017 in the men’s category, while the first FIFA Best Goalkeeper for Women award was given in 2019.

Another category in these awards is the FIFA Best Football Coach. The first recipient of the award in 2016 was former Leicester City boss Claudio Ranieri, while in 2021 the award will go to current Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel.

In addition to the individual awards, the organizing body also announces the FIFA FIFPRO Men’s World 11 in the men’s and women’s categories.

The record for the most number of FIFA Best Footballer awards won belongs to Cristiano Ronaldo and Robert Lewandowski. This duo has won this award twice.

FIFA men’s top football players list

FIFA women’s top players list