The Best FIFA Football Awards past winners: List of players, coaches to win soccer prize

Kyle Bonn

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The Best FIFA Football Awards past winners: List of players, coaches to win soccer prize image

Since 2016, international football governing body FIFA has hosted its own annual award gala to recognize some of the world's most illustrious stars from around the globe.

Formerly partnering with the Ballon d'Or ceremony, FIFA has since split off to put on its own ceremony known as The Best awards, held annually either at the end of the calendar year or in January.

Greats such as Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Pep Guardiola are just a few of the individuals who have been recognized over the years of the award's lifetime. Most recently, Vinicius Jr. won The Best Men's Player award at the 2024 gala in Doha, Qatar.

The Sporting News brings you the full list of individuals who have achieved greatness at FIFA's recognition since the awards began.

MORE: A full list of winners and nominees for all of FIFA's The Best awards in 2024

What are The Best FIFA Football Awards?

The Best FIFA Football Awards have been handed out since 2017 as part of FIFA's plan to create an award solely within its organisation.

Briefly, FIFA partnered with France Football for the Ballon d'Or award, but that ended in 2016. Football's governing body then embarked on its own set of awards for the top players and coaches in the sport.

The Ballon d'Or has been in circulation since 1956, and despite FIFA's global standing as a football entity, The Best awards still have some catching up to do to be considered of the same prestige as the Ballon d'Or.

MORE: See who Lionel Messi voted for at FIFA's 2024 The Best Awards

FIFA The Best past award winners

Below is the full tables of former winners in the main awards since 2016.

The Best FIFA Men's Player Award

YearPlayerClubNation
2024Vinicius JrReal MadridBrazil
2023Lionel MessiPSG/Inter MiamiArgentina
2022Lionel MessiPSGArgentina
2021Robert LewandowskiBayern MunichPoland
2020Robert LewandowskiBayern MunichPoland
2019Lionel MessiBarcelonaArgentina
2018Luka ModricReal MadridCroatia
2017Cristiano RonaldoReal MadridPortugal
2016Cristiano RonaldoReal MadridPortugal

The Best FIFA Men's Goalkeeper Award

YearPlayerClubNation
2024Emiliano MartinezAston VillaArgentina
2023EdersonManchester CityBrazil
2022Emiliano MartinezAston VillaArgentina
2021Edouard MendyChelseaSenegal
2020Manuel NeuerBayern MunichGermany
2019AlissonLiverpoolBrazil
2018Thibaut CourtoisChelsea/Real MadridBelgium
2017Gianluigi BuffonJuventusItaly

The Best FIFA Men's Coach Award

YearPlayerTeamNationality
2024Carlo AncelottiReal MadridItaly
2023Pep GuardiolaManchester CitySpain
2022Lionel ScaloniArgentinaArgentina
2021Thomas TuchelChelseaGermany
2020Jurgen KloppLiverpoolGermany
2019Jurgen KloppLiverpoolGermany
2018Didier DeschampsFranceFrance
2017Zinedine ZidaneReal MadridFrance
2016Claudio RanieriLeicester CityItaly

The Best FIFA Women's Player Award

YearPlayerClubNation
2024Aitana BonmatiBarcelonaSpain
2023Aitana BonmatiBarcelonaSpain
2022Alexia PutellasBarcelonaSpain
2021Alexia PutellasBarcelonaSpain
2020Lucy BronzeLyon/Man CityEngland
2019Megan RapinoeReign FCUSA
2018MartaOrlando PrideBrazil
2017Lieke MartensRosengard/BarcelonaNetherlands
2016Carli LloydHouston DashUSA

The Best FIFA Women's Goalkeeper Award

YearPlayerClubNation
2024Alyssa NaeherChicago Red StarsUSA
2023Mary EarpsManchester UnitedEngland
2022Mary EarpsManchester UnitedEngland
2021Christiane EndlerPSGChile
2020Sarah BouhaddiLyonFrance
2019Sari van VeenendaalArsenal/Atletico MadridNetherlands

The Best FIFA Women's Coach Award

YearPlayerTeamNationality
2024Emma HayesChelsea/USAEngland
2023Sarina WiegmanEnglandNetherlands
2022Sarina WiegmanEnglandNetherlands
2021Emma HayesChelseaEngland
2020Sarina WeigmanNetherlandsNetherlands
2019Jill EllisEnglandUSA
2018Reynald PedrosLyonFrance
2017Sarina WiegmanNetherlandsNetherlands
2016Silvia NeidGermanyGermany

The Best FIFA Fair Play Award

YearWinnerNationality/ClubNominated for
2024Thiago MaiaBrazil / InternacionalActions in rescuing victims during the flooding in Porto Alegre.
2023Brazil National TeamBrazilMade anti-racism plea by wearing all-black kits for friendly vs. Guinea.
2022Luka LochoshviliGeorgia / CremoneseResponse to on-pitch emergency saved life of opposition player.
2021Denmark National TeamDenmarkResponse to Christian Eriksen emergency at Euro 2020.
2020Mattia AgneseItalyResponse to on-pitch emergency saved life of opposition player.
2019Marcelo BielsaArgentina / Leeds UnitedAllowed Aston Villa to score uncontested goal after injury amidst promotion chase.
2018Lennart ThyGermany / BB ErzurumsporMissed a club match to donate blood, saving the life of a leukemia patient.
2017Francis KoneIvory Coast / SlovackoResponse to on-pitch emergency saved life of opposition player.
2016Atletico NacionalColombiaRequested Copa Sudamericana final opponents Chapecoense be awarded title after flight disaster.

FIFA Puskas Award — the prize for the best men's goal*

YearPlayerTeamMatch / Goal
2024Alejandro GarnachoManchester Unitedvs. Everton (3-0)
2023Guilherme MadrugaBotafogovs. Novorizontino (1-0)
2022Marcin OleksyWarta Poznanvs. Stal Rzeszow
2021Erik LamelaTottenhamvs. Arsenal (1-0)
2020Son Heung-MinTottenhamvs. Burnley (3-0)
2019Daniel ZsoriDebrecenvs. Ferencvaros (2-1)
2018Mohamed SalahLiverpoolvs. Everton (1-0)
2017Oliver GiroudArsenalvs. Crystal Palace (1-0)
2016Mohd Faiz SubriPenangvs. Pahang (4-1)
2015Wendell LiraGoianesiavs. Atletico Goianiense (1-0)
2014James RodriguezColombiavs. Uruguay (1-0)
2013Zlatan IbrahimovicSwedenvs. England (4-2)
2012Miroslav StochFenerbahcevs. Genclerbirligi (6-1)
2011NeymarSantosvs. Flamengo (4-5)
2010Hamit AltintopTurkeyvs. Kazakhstan (2-0)
2009Cristiano RonaldoMan Unitedvs. Porto (1-0)

* Until 2024, the Puskas Award was given to the best goal in the world over that year, men's or women's

FIFA Marta Award — the prize for the best women's goal

YearPlayerTeamMatch / Goal
2024MartaBrazilvs. Jamaica (4-0)

Kyle Bonn

Kyle Bonn Photo

Kyle Bonn, is a Syracuse University broadcast journalism graduate with over a decade of experience covering soccer globally. Kyle specializes in soccer tactics and betting, with a degree in data analytics. Kyle also does TV broadcasts for Wake Forest soccer, and has had previous stops with NBC Soccer and IMG College. When not covering the game, he has long enjoyed loyalty to the New York Giants, Yankees, and Fulham. Kyle enjoys playing racquetball and video games when not watching or covering sports.