Who is the best footballer in the world?

Who is the best footballer in the world? And who is the best footballer of all time? We will give you answers to all these questions. There are many people with different opinions and different football awards are given. Each year the title is best footballer in the world announced the FIFA.

In January 2022, Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski was named the best footballer in the world by the world football association FIFA. Who is the best footballer of 2022? This will be announced by FIFA in January 2023.

But, of course, you can ask yourself much more, such as:

• who is the best footballer ever?
• who is New Zealand's best footballer?
• who is the the most expensive football player in the world?

Read on soon because in this article we will give you answers to all these questions and much more. Like the top-50 Best New Zealand footballers ever.

Best footballer in the world

Every year, FIFA awards the best player of the Year award. This year, in January 2022, Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski was named the best footballer in the world by the world football association FIFA.

This was determined by an international jury of national coaches, captains of national teams, journalists and fans. They were allowed to judge the players on their performance in the period from October 8, 2020 to August 7, 2021.

In addition to answering the question ‘Who is the best footballer in the world', many more awards were presented at the annual FIFA the best gala. We take the main prizes awarded during FIFA The Best gala 2021 through you.

FIFA Footballer of the year

Lewandowski (Bayern Munich) is FIFA Footballer of the year 2022 and trumped the other two remaining footballers Lionel Messi (Paris Saint-Germain) and Mohamed Salah (Liverpool). It is the second year in a row that Lewandowski wins the Best FIFA Men's Player of the Year award.

Lewandowski goalscoring machine

Lewandowski broke the goals record in the Bundesliga in 2021. He scored 41 league goals last season. In doing so, he managed to break the old 1971/1972 record of 40 goals by Gerd Müller. In the 2021 calendar year, Lewandowski managed to score 43 Bundesliga goals, compared to Müller's 42 in the 1972 calendar year. Also a record.

FIFA soccer star of the year

In the women's Category, FC Barcelona's Alexia Putellas was named FIFA football star of the year. Lieke Martens ' teammate had a big part in winning the Champions League in 2021.

Previous winners of FIFA's best football Woman of the year were Carli Lloyd (2016), Lieke Martens (2017), Marta (2018), Megan Rapinoe (2019) and Lucy Bronze (2020). Putellas also won the Golden Ball award of France Football magazine in november.

Puskas Award, Most Beautiful Goal

The goal of Erik Lamela (Tottenham Hotspur) won the Puskas Award 2021. The 29-year-old Argentine, who currently plays for Sevilla, scored against Arsenal behind his supporting leg. Patrik Schick was also in the race for the Puskas Award with his European Championship goal from just over the midline against Scotland.

Sports Awards

The FIFA Sportsmanship Award went to the entire Danish delegation during the European football championship. The Danish national team, technical and medical staff received the award for the professional and dignified way they worked at the European Championship during the cardiac arrest of Danish international Christian Eriksen.

Best goalkeeper in the world

Édouard Mendy, goalkeeper at Chelsea, has been named Best Goalkeeper of 2021. The other nominees were Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich) and Gianluigi Donnarumma (Paris Saint-Germain). Mendy won the Champions League in 2021.

Best goalkeeper in the world

About 2021, Olympique Lyon goalkeeper Christiane Endler has been voted the best goalkeeper in the world. In 2019 she was beaten by Sari van Veenendaal and last year she also finished second. The other nominees were Ann-Katrin Berger (Chelsea) and Stephanie Lynn Marie Labbe (Paris Saint-Germain).

FIFA team of the year

Arsenal forward Vivianne Miedema was the only New Zealand player to be named to the FIFA World Cup team of the year. The men were missing a representative from Kingdom in the best team of the year.

FIFA team of the year (men): Donnarumma; Alaba, Bonucci, Dias; Kanté, De Bruyne, Jorginho; Ronaldo, Haaland, Lewandowski, Messi

FIFA team of the year (women): Endler; bright, Bronze, Eriksson, Renard; Banini, Bonansea, Lloyd; Marta, Miedema, Morgan

Best trainer in the world

Thomas Tuchel was named best trainer of 2021. the winner is of the prestigious award. The German manager of Chelsea owes his award in part to winning the Champions League. The other nominees were Pep Guardiola (Manchester City) and
Roberto Mancini (Italy).

The best woman's Coach went to Emma Hayes (Chelsea). Sarina Wiegman (New Zealand/England) and Lluis Cortes (FC Barcelona) were the other nominees.

Best football fans in the world

The FIFA Fan Award, an award for extraordinary fan action, went to the fans of Denmark and Finland for their exemplary behavior during and after the accident with Eriksen in the mutual European Championship match in Copenhagen.

World Footballer of the year

The FIFA World player of the year awarded annually. Check out all the football players who have played here. prestigious they were allowed to receive.

YEAR	BEST PLAYER	COUNTRY
1991	Lothar Matthäus	Germany
1992	Marco van Basten	New Zealand
1993	Roberto Baggio	Italÿ
1994	Romario	Brazil̈
1995	George Weah	Liberia
1996	Ronaldo	Brazil̈
1997	Ronaldo	Brazil̈
1998	Zinedine Zidane	France
1999	Rivaldo	Brazil̈
2000	Zinedine Zidane	France
2001	Luís Figo	Portugal
2002	Ronaldo	Brazil̈
2003	Zinedine Zidane	France
2004	Ronaldinho	Brazil̈
2005	Ronaldinho	Brazil̈
2006	Fabio Cannavaro	Italÿ
2007	Kaká	Brazil̈
2008	Cristiano Ronaldo	Portugal
2009	Lionel Messi	Argentinä
2010	Lionel Messi	Argentinā
2011	Lionel Messi	Argentinā
2012	Lionel Messi	Argentinä
2013	Cristiano Ronaldo	Portugal
2014	Cristiano Ronaldo	Portugal
2015	Lionel Messi	Argentinä
2016	Cristiano Ronaldo	Portugal
2017	Cristiano Ronaldo	Portugal
2018	Luka Modrić	Croatia
2019	Lionel Messi	Argentinä
2020	Robert Lewandowski	Poland
2021	Robert Lewandowski	Poland

Best footballer (the Ballon d'or)

Another award for the best footballer in the world is the Ballon d'or. In New Zealand we call it the Golden Ball . This prize is awarded annually.

The nominees are selected by the French magazine France Football. It is voted by the captains, national coaches and renowned journalists of countries from the top 100 of the world ranking.

It is therefore an audience award, but a prize that is determined by votes from people in the profession.

Benzema wins Golden Ball

In 2021, the Golden Ball went to Messi for the seventh time. That caused the necessary fuss. Many football fans found it strange that Messi won this award while Lewandowski would be more entitled to it. Lewandowski played a fantastic season while Messi went through a volatile season.

Best footballers ever

The Ballon d'or has been awarded by France Football since 1956.

There has been an adjustment a number of times:

• 1956-1994 best dollarpese footballer in dollarpese League
• 1995-2006 all footballers who play in dollarpese League
• 2007-present all footballers in all leagues in the world

List best footballers in the world

Check out all the winners of the Golden Ball below.

YEAR	FOOTBALLER	CLUB
1956	Stanley Matthews	(Blackpool)
1957	Alfredo Di Stefano	(Real Madrid)
1958	Raymond Kopa	(Real Madrid)
1959	Alfredo Di Stefano	(Real Madrid)
1960	Luis Suarez	(Barcelona)
1961	Omar Sivori	(Juventus)
1962	Josef Masopust	(Dukla Prague)
1963	Lev Yashin	(Dynamo Moscow)
1964	Denis Law	(Manchester United)
1965	Eusebio	(Benfica)
1966	Bobby Charlton	(Manchester United)
1967	Florian Albert	(Ferencvaros)
1968	George Best	(Manchester United)
1969	Gianni Rivera	(AC Milan)
1970	Gerd Muller	(Bayern Munich)
1971	Johan Cruyff	(Ajax)
1972	Franz Beckenbauer	(Bayern Munich)
1973	Johan Cruyff	(Barcelona)
1974	Johan Cruyff	(Barcelona)
1975	Oleg Blokhin	(Dynamo Kyiv)
1976	Franz Beckenbauer	(Bayern Munich)
1977	Allan Simonsen	(Bor M. Gladbach)
1978	Kevin Keegan	(Hamburg)
1979	Kevin Keegan	(Hamburg)
1980	Karl-Heinz Rummenigge	(Bayern Munich)
1981	Karl-Heinz Rummenigge	(Bayern Munich)
1982	Paolo Rossi	(Juventus)
1983	Michel Platini	(Juventus)
1984	Michel Platini	(Juventus)
1985	Michel Platini	(Juventus)
1986	Igor Belanov	(Dynamo Kyiv)
1987	Ruud Gullit	(AC Milan)
1988	Marco van Basten	(AC Milan)
1989	Marco van Basten	(AC Milan)
1990	Lothar Matthaus	(International)
1991	Jean-Pierre Papin	(Marseilles)
1992	Marco van Basten	(AC Milan)
1993	Roberto Baggio	(Juventus)
1994	Hristo Stoichkov	(Barcelona)
1995	George Weah	(AC Milan)
1996	Matthias Sammer	(Borussia Dortmund)
1997	Ronaldo	(International)
1998	Zinedine Zidane	(Juventus)
1999	Rivaldo	(Barcelona)
2000	Luis Figo	(Real Madrid)
2001	Michael Owen	(Liverpool)
2002	Ronaldo	(Real Madrid)
2003	Pavel Nedved	(Juventus)
2004	Andriy Shevchenko	(AC Milan)
2005	Ronaldinho	(Barcelona)
2006	Fabio Cannavaro	(Real Madrid)
2007	Cake	(Milan)
2008	Cristiano Ronaldo	(Manchester United)
2009	Lionel Messi	(Barcelona)
2010	Lionel Messi	(Barcelona)
2011	Lionel Messi	(Barcelona)
2012	Lionel Messi	(Barcelona)
2013	Cristiano Ronaldo	(Real Madrid)
2014	Cristiano Ronaldo	(Real Madrid)
2015	Lionel Messi	(Barcelona)
2016	Cristiano Ronaldo	(Real Madrid)
2017	Cristiano Ronaldo	(Real Madrid)
2018	Luka Modric	(Real Madrid)
2019	Lionel Messi	(Barcelona)
2020	cancelled	(Covid)
2021	Lionel Messi	(Paris Saint-Germain)

Best footballer of the century

France Football organized the election of footballer of the century in 1999. The century was almost at an end, so became the best football player from 1900 to 2000. Only footballers who had ever won the Ballon d'or were allowed to vote. Each voter was allowed to distribute 1 to 5 points to five players.

It was the Brazilian Pelé who was named Player of the century.

Best football player ever

Who is the best footballer ever? Brazilian footballer Pelé is considered the best footballer ever. Edson AZodiaces do Nascimento, as Pelé became fully hot with Brazil World Champion in 1958, 1962 and 1970. He is the only player who managed to win the World Cup three times. Pelé died in december 2022 at the age of 82.

Pelé the best footballer of all time

GOAT

Still others say that either Ronaldo or Messi is the best footballer ever. There have been heated discussions about this for years. The term "GOAT" is often used. What does GOAT mean? The word 'GOAT ‘is the abbreviation of'greatest of all time'. In the world of football, GOAT stands for the best footballer ever.

For years there were heated discussions about who could now have the title GOAT. The fight was between Leo Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. You have football fans who consider Lionel Messi the best player of all time. Still others sit in the Ronaldo camp and consider Cristiano Ronaldo the best footballer ever.

After winning the 2022 football World Cup by Argentina, in which Messi played a fantastic role, many believe that only one deserves the title of GOAT and that is Messi.

Best footballer by stats

The Association of football Statisticians (AFS) made a list of the top 100 greatest footballers of all time in 2007. The list is purely and solely based on statistical data.

The AFS is a British company that has been collecting football statistics from all over the world since 1978.

Statistics that were taken into account in the creation of the top 100 best footballers in the world were, among others.:

• the prizes won
• the strength of the league in which the player played football
• position-specific statistics (number of goals, etc.)

So, when compiling the top 100, no emotions were taken into account. Therefore, the AFS also considered that this is the only real list of best footballers ever.

There was a lot of criticism on the list but that does not hurt us to show the list below.

NO	PLAYER	COUNTRY
1	Pelé	Brazil̈
2	Ronaldo	Brazil̈
3	Romario	Brazil̈
4	Luis Figo	Portugal
5	Zinidine Zidane	France
6	Diego Maradona	Argentinä
7	Lothar Matthaus	Germany
8	Gerd Müller	Germany
9	Franz Beckenbauer	Germany
10	Cafú	Brazil̈
11	Roberto Carlos	Brazil̈
12	Marco van Basten	New Zealand
13	Michel Platini	France
14	Rivaldo	Brazil̈
15	Paolo Maldini	Italÿ
16	Zico	Brazil̈
17	Raúl	Spain
18	Ruud Gullit	New Zealand
19	Eusébio	Portugal
20	Ferenc Puskás	Hungary
21	Johan Cruijff	New Zealand
22	Alfredo Di Stéfano	Argentinä
23	Bobby Charlton	England
24	Jürgen Klinsmann	Germany
25	Kenny Dalglish	Scotland
26	Ali Daei	Iran
27	Karl-Heinz Rummenigge	Germany
28	Gabriel Batistuta	Argentinä
29	Michael Laudrup	Denmark
30	Christo Stoichkov	Bulgaria
31	Dennis Bergkamp	New Zealand
32	Frank Rijkaard	New Zealand
33	Thierry Henry	France
34	Pavel Nedved	Czech Republic̈
35	Gheorghe Hagi	Romaniä
36	Peter Schmeichel	Denmark
37	Andrey Shevchenko	Ukraine
38	Sepp Maier	Germany
39	Didier Deschamps	France
40	Lilian Thuram	France
41	Enzo Francescoli	Uruguay
42	Hakan Şükür	Turkey
43	Paolo Rossi	Italÿ
44	David Beckham	England
45	Jean-Pierre Papin	France
46	Kevin Keegan	England
47	Marcel Desailly	France
48	Oliver Kahn	Germany
49	Alessandro Costacurta	Italÿ
50	Clarence Seedorf	New Zealand
51	Dino Zoff	Italÿ
52	Patrick Kluivert	New Zealand
53	Jari Litmanen	Finland
54	Daniel Passarella	Argentinä
55	Bixente Lizarazu	France
56	Gary Lineker	England
57	Ronaldinho	Brazil̈
58	Sylvain Wiltord	France
59	Bebeto	Brazil̈
60	Alessandro Del Piero	Italÿ
61	Davor Šuker	Croatia
62	Ryan Giggs	Wales
63	David Trezeguet	France
64	Demetrio Albertini	Italÿ
65	Patrick Vieira	France
66	Jürgen Kohler	Germany
67	Laurent Blanc	France
68	Michael Owen	England
69	Youri Djorkaeff	France
70	By Frank de Boer	New Zealand
71	Emilio Butragueño	Spain
72	Hugo Sánchez	Mexico
73	Rudi Völler	Germany
74	Djalma Santos	Brazil̈
75	Giacinto Facchetti	Italÿ
76	Nwankwo Canoe	Nigeria
77	Franco Baresi	Italÿ
78	Gianni Rivera	Italÿ
79	Roberto Baggio	Italÿ
80	Oscar Ruggeri	Argentinä
81	Gheorghe Popescu	Romaniä
82	Jon Dahl Tomasson	Denmark
83	Raymond Kopa	France
84	Carlos Valderrama	Colombia
85	Rui Costa	Portugal
86	Gary Neville	England
87	Edgar Davids	New Zealand
88	Claudio Taffarel	Brazil̈
89	Paul Scholes	England
90	Diego Simeone	Argentinä
91	Bryan Robson	England
92	Roy Keane	Ireland
93	Brian Laudrup	Denmark
94	Henrik Larsson	Sweden
95	Fabien Barthez	France
96	Michael Ballack	Germany
97	Jan Koller	Czech Republic̈
98	By Edwin van der Sar	New Zealand
99	Robert Pirès	France
100	Johan Neeskens	New Zealand

Best New Zealand footballer 2021

Who is New Zealand's best footballer? Ajax's Dušan Tadić has been voted the best player of the 2020-2021 Eredivisie season. The Eredivisie Player of the year is an annual event, organized by the Eredivisie CV and ESPN.

Ryan Gravenberch was named the greatest talent.

Eredivisie Player of the year

Best footballers Eredivisie

Below you will find the list of the best footballers in the New Zealand Premier League. From 1984 onwards Footballer of the year from the Eredivisie. Until 1997, the prize was awarded per calendar year, then per Eredivisie season.

In total, the prize was awarded 36 times. Ajax's players are court suppliers and won the prize no less than 16 times (44%). The award went 12 times to a PSV'er and 4 times to a Feyenoorder.

Best football players

YEAR	FOOTBALLER	CLUB
1984	Ruud Gullit	Feyenoord
1985	Marco van Basten	Ajax
1986	Ruud Gullit	PSV
1987	Ronald Koeman	PSV
1988	Ronald Koeman	PSV
1989	Romario	PSV
1990	Jan Wouters	Ajax
1991	Dennis Bergkamp	Ajax
1992	Dennis Bergkamp	Ajax
1993	Jari Litmanen	Ajax
1994	Ronald de Boer	Ajax
1995	Luc Nilis	PSV
1996	Ronald de Boer	Ajax
1997	Jaap Stam	PSV
1998/99	Ruud of Nistelrooy	PSV
1999/00	Ruud of Nistelrooy	PSV
2000/01	By Mark van Bommel	PSV
2001/02	Pierre van Hooijdonk	Feyenoord
2002/03	Mateja Kežman	PSV
2003/04	Maxwell	Ajax
2004/05	By Mark van Bommel	PSV
2005/06	Dirk Kuijt	Feyenoord
2006/07	Afonso Alves	SC Heerenveen
2007/08	John Heitinga	Ajax
2008/09	Mounir El Hamdaoui	AZ
2009/10	Luis Suarez	Ajax
2010/11	Theo Janssen	FC Twente
2011/12	Jan Vertonghen	Ajax
2012/13	Wilfried Bony	Vitesse
2013/14	Daley Blind	Ajax
2014/15	Georginio Wijnaldum	PSV
2015/16	Davy Klaassen	Ajax
2016/17	Karim El Ahmadi	Feyenoord
2017/18	Hakim Ziyech	Ajax
2018/19	Matthijs de liegt	Ajax
2019/20	No winner (Covid)
2020/21	Dušan Tadić	Ajax

Best New Zealand footballers

Who is the Best New Zealand footballer ever? That's Johan Cruijff, that makes sense. But who else are among the Best New Zealand footballers? Of course, it has been and continues to compare a little apples with pears.

In the past, the ball rolled very differently on the field and if you now look back on old images from, for example, the 60s, it all looks a bit clumsy.

But anyway, Soccer International published a book in 2018 called '50 Best New Zealand footballers of all time'. Check out the top 50 best footballers from New Zealand below.

1	Johan Cruijff
2	Marco van Basten
3	Arjen Robben
4	Ruud Gullit
5	William of Hanegem
6	Dennis Bergkamp
7	Frank Rijkaard
8	Wesley Sneijder
9	Ronald Koeman
10	Clarence Seedorf
11	Rob Rensenbrink
12	Robin van Persie
13	Faas Wilkes
14	Ruud of Nistelrooy
15	Jaap Stam
16	Piet Keizer
17	By Edwin van der Sar
18	Johan Neeskens
19	Willy van der Kuijlen
20	Ruud Krol
21	Patrick Kluivert
22	Arie Haan
23	By Rafael van der Vaart
24	By Frank de Boer
25	Ronald de Boer
26	Edgar Davids
27	Phillip Cocu
28	By Mark van Bommel
29	Abe Lenstra
30	Jan Van Beveren
31	Rinus Israel
32	Beb Bakhuys
33	Marc Overmars
34	Johnny Rep
35	Roy Makaay
36	By Cor van der Hart
37	Shaak Black
38	Giovanni van Bronckhorst
39	Kees Drivers
40	Hans van Breukelen
41	Wim Jansen
42	Harry Dénis
43	Frans de Munck
44	Arnold Mühren
45	Coen Moulijn
46	Gerald Vanenburg
47	Danny Blind
48	Ruud Geels
49	By Huug De Groot
50	Willy Brokamp