Everyone has a player soccer favourite, even those who are not fans of the sport, and this can even lead to arguments between friends and family.
What would be the solution to this problem? Well, every year FIFA, the International Football Federation, elects the best soccer players in the world (female and male). So, you can't deny the opinion of the sporting community, can you?
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See below, the list with the best soccer players in the world in each year. The players listed here broke some records and deserved their position due to their professional performance.
Luis Figo
Country: Portugal
Luís brought the first title of best in the world to Portugal, not to mention the numerous awards he won throughout his career.
Mia Hamm
Country: U.S
Mia was the first to receive the female player award. Unlike many countries, in the United States soccer is seen as a game for women.
ronaldo
Country: Brazil
Known as “the phenomenon”, Ronaldo was a player widely recognized for his performance on the pitch. In the year 2002, he was collecting his 3rd time in his career being named the best player in the world.
Mia Hamm
Country: U.S
Winning the title for the second time, Mia Hamm placed herself among the best soccer players of all time!
Zinedine Zidane
Country: France
Being the only Frenchman to be elected the best player in the world, Zinedine Zidane received the FIFA award in 2003 for the 3rd and last time.
Birgit Prinz
Country: Germany
With Germany's victory in the Women's World Cup in 2003, Birgit Prinz was recognized as the best in the world that year.
Ronaldinho
Country: Brazil
Ronaldinho is one of the great heroes of Brazilian football. After Brazil's victory in the 2002 World Cup, he was voted the best player in the world for the first time.
Birgit Prinz
Country: Germany
Mia Hamm and Marta lost to Birgit Prinz in 2004, once again a German player who stood out as the best in the world.
Ronaldinho
Country: Brazil
2005 was repeated in 2004 and Ronaldinho's title remained intact.
Birgit Prinz
Country: Germany
Among women it also remained the same, with Birgit Prinz winning her 3rd title.
Fabio Cannavaro
Country: Italy
A defensive player won the World Player of the Year award for the first time in 2006.
Marta
Country: Brazil
Throughout her career, Marta has broken several records, including Pelé's record for Brazil's top goalscorer. Fortunately, she was recognized with that title in 2006.
Kaka
Country: Brazil
2007 was the year of the Brazilians! Playing for Inter Milan, Kaká managed to stand out ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.
Marta
Country: Brazil
On the other hand, Marta stood out again as the best in the world, helping Umeå IK to win the Swedish Cup.
Cristiano Ronaldo
Country: Portugal
In 2008, for the first time Cristiano Ronaldo was recognized as the best player in the world.
Marta
Country: Brazil
On the women's side, Marta remained the best female soccer player in the world in 2008. This time, she helped Santos win the Copa do Brasil.
Lionel Messi
Country: Argentina
Messi took the title and is the only Argentine to be considered the best player in the world, at least so far. After this achievement, there was a great rivalry between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Marta
Country: Brazil
Once again, Marta won the prize. On that occasion, Gold Pride won the US Women's Soccer League thanks to Marta's help.
Lionel Messi
Country: Argentina
Messi continued with the title of best player in the world for the second time.
Marta
Country: Brazil
The 2010 victory made Marta the first person to win the title of best player in the world five times (both men and women).
Lionel Messi
Country: Argentina
Messi again won the title of the best player in the world in 2011.
Homare Sawa
Country: Japan
To end Marta's leadership, in 2011 Homare Sana takes the title, due to his goal 3 minutes from the end of the game in the final that saved his Japanese team from defeat.
Lionel Messi
Country: Argentina
Even Brazilians can recognize that Lionel Messi is a great player, so much so that he won the honor of best player in the world four times in a row.
Abby Wambach
Country: U.S
Already with a long successful career, including three World Cups and three Olympics, Abby Wambach was recognized as the best player in the world. She was known for scoring goals with a header.
Cristiano Ronaldo
Country: Portugal
Dethroning Messi in 2013, Cristiano Ronaldo took the honor this time around.
Nadine Angerer
Country: Germany
This time something unprecedented happened, a goalkeeper won the title of best player in the world. The German team won Euro 2013 with the help of Nadine Angerer. In fact, during the entire 2007 World Cup, she didn't concede a single goal!
Cristiano Ronaldo
Country: Portugal
Further strengthening the rivalry with Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo won the award for the best in the world for the third time.
Nadine Kessler
Country: Germany
Nadine Kessler's performance for German team VfL Wolfsburg earned her multiple championship wins in 2014.
Lionel Messi
Country: Argentina
Who thought it was over... none of that! Lionel Messi won again, and became the first man to be named player of the year five times.
Carl Lloyd
Country: U.S
Leading the United States to World Cup victory in the final, Carli Lloyd scored three goals in the first 16 minutes!
Cristiano Ronaldo
Country: Portugal
It gets repetitive and can bother other players, but Cristiano Ronaldo deserved the title once again.
Carl Lloyd
Country: U.S
Carli Lloyd maintained her performance, receiving her second title of best player in the world. She is considered the best midfield player with the most goals scored.
Cristiano Ronaldo
Country: Portugal
Nothing has changed among male players. It was the fifth time that Cristiano Ronaldo won the award for the best player in the world.
Lieke Martens
Country: Netherlands
The European championship brought Lieke Martens to prominence in 2017 when playing for his national team.
Luka Modric
Country: Croatia
Croatia's arrival at the final of the World Cup in Russia received a great and deserved highlight. Thus, Luka Modric's performance at the Cup earned him the Ballon d'Or!
Ada Hegerberg
Country: Norway
As a striker at Olympique Lyonnais and top scorer in the Women's Champions League in 2016, Ada Hegerberg deservedly won the Ballon d'Or in 2018.
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