FIFA World Player of the Year

YearRankPlayerNationalityClub1991 
Details1stLothar Matthäus Germany Internazionale2ndJean-Pierre Papin France Marseille3rdGary Lineker England Tottenham Hotspur1992 
Details1stMarco van Basten Netherlands Milan2ndHristo Stoichkov Bulgaria Barcelona3rdThomas Häßler Germany Roma1993 
Details1stRoberto Baggio Italy Juventus2ndRomário Brazil Barcelona
 PSV Eindhoven3rdDennis Bergkamp Netherlands Internazionale
 Ajax1994 
Details1stRomário Brazil Barcelona2ndHristo Stoitchkov Bulgaria Barcelona3rdRoberto Baggio Italy Juventus1995 
Details1stGeorge Weah Liberia Milan
 Paris Saint-Germain2ndPaolo Maldini Italy Milan3rdJürgen Klinsmann Germany Bayern Munich
 Tottenham Hotspur1996 
Details1stRonaldo Brazil Barcelona
 PSV Eindhoven2ndGeorge Weah Liberia Milan3rdAlan Shearer England Newcastle United
 Blackburn Rovers1997 
Details1stRonaldo Brazil Internazionale
 Barcelona2ndRoberto Carlos Brazil Real Madrid3rd 
(tie)Dennis Bergkamp Netherlands ArsenalZinedine Zidane France Juventus1998 
Details1stZinedine Zidane France Juventus2ndRonaldo Brazil Internazionale3rdDavor Šuker Croatia Real Madrid1999 
Details1stRivaldo Brazil Barcelona2ndDavid Beckham England Manchester United3rdGabriel Batistuta Argentina Fiorentina2000 
Details1stZinedine Zidane France Juventus2ndLuís Figo Portugal Real Madrid
 Barcelona3rdRivaldo Brazil Barcelona2001 
Details1stLuís Figo Portugal Real Madrid2ndDavid Beckham England Manchester United3rdRaúl Spain Real Madrid2002 
Details1stRonaldo Brazil Real Madrid
 Internazionale2ndOliver Kahn Germany Bayern Munich3rdZinedine Zidane France Real Madrid2003 
Details1stZinedine Zidane France Real Madrid2ndThierry Henry France Arsenal3rdRonaldo Brazil Real Madrid2004 
Details1stRonaldinho Brazil Barcelona2ndThierry Henry France Arsenal3rdAndriy Shevchenko Ukraine Milan2005 
Details1stRonaldinho Brazil Barcelona2ndFrank Lampard England Chelsea3rdSamuel Eto'o Cameroon Barcelona2006 
Details1stFabio Cannavaro Italy Real Madrid
 Juventus2ndZinedine Zidane France Real Madrid3rdRonaldinho Brazil Barcelona2007 
Details1stKaká Brazil Milan2ndLionel Messi Argentina Barcelona3rdCristiano Ronaldo Portugal Manchester United2008 
Details1stCristiano Ronaldo Portugal Manchester United2ndLionel Messi Argentina Barcelona3rdFernando Torres Spain Liverpool2009 
Details1stLionel Messi Argentina Barcelona2ndCristiano Ronaldo Portugal Real Madrid
 Manchester United3rdXavi Hernandez Spain BarcelonaSince 2010, the world's best player will be awarded the FIFA Ballon d'Or.