The FIFA Ballon d'Or was an annual association football award presented to the world's best men's player from 2010 to 2015. Awarded jointly by FIFA and France Football, the prize was a merger of the FIFA World Player of the Year award and the Ballon d'Or, the two most prestigious individual honours in world football. Unlike the Ballon d'Or awarded by France Football, the FIFA Ballon d'Or, was not awarded based on votes from international journalists, but votes from national team coaches and captains, who selected the players they deemed to have performed the best in the previous calendar year.
FIFA Ballon d'Or awarded to Messi in 2010
FIFA President Sepp Blatter holds up the agreement creating the FIFA Ballon d'Or in Johannesburg in July 2010.
FIFA World Player of the Year
The FIFA World Player of the Year was an association football award presented annually by the sport's governing body, FIFA, between 1991 and 2015 at the FIFA World Player Gala. Coaches and captains of international teams and media representatives selected the player they deem to have performed the best in the previous calendar year.
Ronaldo, the youngest recipient of the award aged 20, won it three times.
Marta, the youngest recipient of the award aged 20, won it five times.
Birgit Prinz won the award three times.
Image: Ronaldo em campo