The FIFA football awards ceremonies are always ones fans look forward to, as we see who wins the FIFA Best Men's and Women's Player awards, among many other accolades.
In this article, we have ranked the top five best FIFA football awards, taking a number of different factors into account. Feel free to dispute the order with your family and friends!
The best FIFA football awards ceremonies ranked – Our top 5
5. FIFA Fair Play Award
The FIFA Fair Play Award is the oldest current award being given out by FIFA, with its introduction in 1987. It is presented to the teams, individuals, or entities that have demonstrated outstanding sportsmanship and fair play in the footballing world.
Brazil were the last to win the award in 2023 for their stand against racism, and it has been awarded in every year except 1994.
4. FIFA Puskas Award
The FIFA Puskas Award is one that football fans all around the world look forward to seeing, as it is awarded to the “most beautiful” goal of the year. It is named after legendary Hungary and Real Madrid striker Ferenc Puskas, and was first awarded in 2009.
The recipient of the award in 2023 was Guilherme Madruga, who scored a spectacular bicycle kick from distance, and another bicycle kick could win the award in 2024, as Manchester United winger Alejandro Garnacho's sublime effort in the Premier League against Everton is currently our pick.
3. The Best FIFA Coach of the Year
A lot of credit for these awards rightfully goes to the players on the pitch, but what about the coaches? The Best FIFA Coach of the Year comes third in our list, as testament to the hard work that is being done off of the pitch which translates to what is being done on it.
It was first awarded in 2010, although from 2010 until 2015, the award was the FIFA World Coach of the Year, a joint award by FIFA and Ballon d'Or. After the split of FIFA and Ballon d'Or, the award has been called the Best FIFA Football Coach Award. There is also a new Ballon d'Or Coach of the Year Award, which will be first awarded this year.
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola won the last award in 2023 after a treble-winning season, accumulating 38.8% of the overall vote.
2. The Best FIFA Women's Player
Women's football has often been in the shadow of men's football, but it is finally starting to get the recognition that it thoroughly deserves. Indeed, The Best FIFA Women's Player award ranks second on our list, and has been given out since 2001.
The award itself is pretty self-explanatory, as it is given to the female player who is thought to be the best in the world, based on votes by coaches of international teams. Brazilian Marta has won it the most times, six in total after a streak of winning five in a row between 2006 and 2010. Spain's Aitana Bonmati is the most recent recipient of the award in 2023.
1. The Best FIFA Men's Player
It is no surprise to see The Best FIFA Men's Player award top our list, as it is given to the male player who is thought to be the best in the world, based on votes by coaches of international teams. It was first given in 1991, although it should be noted that the Ballon d’Or was merged with that award between 2010 and 2015.
Lionel Messi tops the charts having won the award eight times, while main rival and nearest challenger Cristiano Ronaldo has five. Messi won the last award in 2023, based on receiving more points from national captains, as he was originally tied with Manchester City striker Erling Haaland on 48 points.
