2008 FIFA World Player of the Year

The 2008 FIFA World Player of the Year awards took place on 12 January 2009 at the Zurich Opera House, Zürich, Switzerland, with Cristiano Ronaldo of Manchester United and Portugal taking the men's award,[1] and Marta of Umeå IK and Brazil taking the women's award for the third year in a row.[2]

Other awards included the FIFA Development Award, which went to the Palestinian Football Federation for keeping its organisation and national team active; Federation President Jibril Al Rajoub, captain of the men's team Ahmad Kashkash, and women's team captain Honey Thaljiyeh were presented with the award. The Palestinian FA carried out a major refurbishment of the Al-Husseini Stadium, meaning that it met the standards to host an international match, becoming the first stadium in Palestinian territories to achieve this honour. Women's football received the FIFA Presidential Award, with the US team presented with the award (for their achievements), and player Heather O'Reilly collecting it. The FIFA Fair Play Award went to the representatives of the Turkish and Armenian national teams. Prior to a European World Cup qualifying match, the Presidents of the two FAs, Mahmut Özgener (Turkey) and Ruben Hayrapetyan (Armenia) shook hands, which was significant as the countries shared a long history of hostility towards each other.[3]

Shortlists of 23 men and 10 women were announced on 29 October 2008,[4] before being reduced to five men and five women by 12 December 2008.[5] The male nominees were Kaká, Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Fernando Torres and Xavi, and the female nominees were Nadine Angerer, Cristiane, Marta, Birgit Prinz and Kelly Smith.

Results edit

Men edit

Rank Player Points Club(s)
1   Cristiano Ronaldo 935   Manchester United
2   Lionel Messi 678   Barcelona
3   Fernando Torres 203   Liverpool
4   Kaká 183   Milan
5   Xavi 155   Barcelona
6   Steven Gerrard 98   Liverpool
7   Samuel Eto'o 58   Barcelona
8   Iker Casillas 49   Real Madrid
9=   Andrés Iniesta 37   Barcelona
9=   David Villa 37   Valencia
11   Andrey Arshavin 36   Zenit Saint Petersburg
12   Frank Lampard 33   Chelsea
13   Didier Drogba 30   Chelsea
14=   Michael Ballack 27   Chelsea
14=   Cesc Fàbregas 27   Arsenal
16   Zlatan Ibrahimović 26   Internazionale
17   Emmanuel Adebayor 25   Arsenal
18   Franck Ribéry 23   Bayern Munich
19   Ruud van Nistelrooy 14   Real Madrid
20   Sergio Agüero 12   Atlético Madrid
21   John Terry 11   Chelsea
22   Gianluigi Buffon 8   Juventus
23   Deco 1   Barcelona
  Chelsea

Women edit

Rank Player Points Club(s)
1   Marta 1002   Umeå
2   Birgit Prinz 328   Frankfurt
3   Cristiane 275   Linköping
  Corinthians
4   Nadine Angerer 198   1. FFC Turbine Potsdam
  Djurgården
5   Kelly Smith 150   Arsenal
6   Daniela 130   Saad
  Linköping
7   Shannon Boxx 115
8   Hope Solo 83
9   Christine Sinclair 47   Vancouver Whitecaps
10   Ingvild Stensland 41   Kopparbergs/Göteborg

References edit

  1. ^ "FIFA World Player of the Year - Men's votes by player" (PDF). FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. 12 January 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 26, 2009. Retrieved 12 January 2009.
  2. ^ "FIFA World Player of the Year - Women's votes by player" (PDF). FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. 12 January 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 24, 2009. Retrieved 12 January 2009.
  3. ^ "Ronaldo takes first award, Marta makes it three in a row". FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. 12 January 2009. Archived from the original on January 20, 2009. Retrieved 12 January 2009.
  4. ^ "Shortlists for FIFA awards revealed". FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. 29 October 2008. Archived from the original on December 21, 2008. Retrieved 16 December 2008.
  5. ^ "Gala nominees revealed". FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. 12 December 2008. Archived from the original on December 13, 2008. Retrieved 16 December 2008.