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UEFA Men's Player of the Year Award

Association football award


Association football award

FieldValue
nameUEFA Men's Player of the Year
year2011
year22023
presenterUEFA
sponsorESM
former nameUEFA Club Footballer of the Year (1998–2010)
UEFA Best Player in Europe (2011–16)
holder_labelCurrent holder
holderNOR Erling Haaland
(1st award)
most_winsPOR Cristiano Ronaldo
(3 awards)
website
mainUEFA Club Football Awards
imageUEFA Best Player in Europe Trophy CR7Museum.jpg
image captionUEFA Men's Player of the Year Award
Note

the men's award

UEFA Best Player in Europe (2011–16) (1st award) (3 awards) The UEFA Men's Player of the Year Award (previously known as the UEFA Best Player in Europe Award) is an association football award given to the footballer playing for a men's football club in Europe that is considered the best in the previous season of both club and national team competition. The award, created in 2011 by UEFA in partnership with European Sports Media (ESM) group, was initially aimed at reviving the European Footballer of the Year Award (Ballon d'Or), which was merged with the FIFA World Player of the Year Award in 2010 to become the FIFA Ballon d'Or. It also replaced the UEFA Club Footballer of the Year award.

Cristiano Ronaldo has won the award the most time with 3 awards and is the only player to win it twice in a row. Female players are awarded the UEFA Women's Player of the Year Award, introduced in 2013.

UEFA partnered with Groupe Amaury to co-organise the Ballon d'Or awards from 2024. The partnership means UEFA's awards for the best player and best coach will cease to exist. But UEFA will continue to present the President's Award as well as prizes for the best player in each of their competitions.

Criteria

According to UEFA, the award "recognise[s] the best player playing for a football club within the territory of a UEFA member association during the previous season." Players are judged by their performances in all competitions, domestic and international, and at club and national team levels throughout the season.

Voting

At the beginning, the award's voting format was a return to the old Ballon d'Or, which was decided purely by journalists.

In the first round of voting, 53 sports journalists representing each of the UEFA national associations provided a list of their three best-ranked players from one to three, with the first player receiving five points, the second three points and the third one point. The three players with the most points overall were shortlisted. The jury comprised renowned sports journalists representing each of UEFA's national associations, from RTV Albania to the Daily Post in Wales via members of European Sports Media, with whom UEFA collaborated on this award. The final vote, also by the journalists, then took place live via electronic voting during the presentation ceremony.

In 2017, however, UEFA added 80 coaches, from the clubs that participated in the group stages of that year's UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League, to its jury. The amount of journalists selected by European Sports Media was also increased to 55, representing each of UEFA's member associations.

In 2020/21 UEFA National Team Coaches were added to the jury

In 2022/23 the Coaches from the UEFA Conference League Group stages were added to the jury

Award history

Winners

SeasonPlayerClubUEFA Best Player in Europe AwardUEFA Men's Player of the Year Award
2010–11Lionel MessiBarcelona
2011–12ESP Andrés IniestaBarcelona
2012–13FRA Franck RibéryBayern Munich
2013–14POR Cristiano RonaldoReal Madrid
2014–15ARG Lionel MessiBarcelona
2015–16POR Cristiano RonaldoReal Madrid
2016–17POR Cristiano RonaldoReal Madrid
2017–18CRO Luka ModrićReal Madrid
2018–19NED Virgil van DijkLiverpool
2019–20POL Robert LewandowskiBayern Munich
2020–21ITA JorginhoChelsea
2021–22FRA Karim BenzemaReal Madrid
2022–23NOR Erling HaalandManchester City

Finalists

2010–11

RankPlayerFirst roundFinal roundClub
1ARG Lionel Messi38Barcelona
2ESP Xavi11Barcelona
3POR Cristiano Ronaldo3Real Madrid
4ESP Andrés Iniesta33Barcelona
5COL Radamel Falcao17Porto
6ENG Wayne Rooney15Manchester United
7SER Nemanja Vidić5Manchester United
8SWE Zlatan Ibrahimović4Milan
ESP Gerard PiquéBarcelona
10GER Manuel Neuer3Schalke 04

2011–12

RankPlayerFirst roundFinal roundClub
1ESP Andrés Iniesta19Barcelona
2ARG Lionel Messi17Barcelona
POR Cristiano RonaldoReal Madrid
4ITA Andrea Pirlo90Juventus
5ESP Xavi57Barcelona
6ESP Iker Casillas53Real Madrid
7CIV Didier Drogba31Chelsea
8CZE Petr Čech14Chelsea
COL Radamel FalcaoAtlético Madrid
10GER Mesut Özil10Real Madrid

2012–13

RankPlayerFirst roundFinal roundClub
1FRA Franck Ribéry36Bayern Munich
2ARG Lionel Messi14Barcelona
3POR Cristiano Ronaldo3Real Madrid
4NED Arjen Robben57Bayern Munich
5POL Robert Lewandowski39Borussia Dortmund
6GER Thomas Müller38Bayern Munich
7GER Bastian Schweinsteiger32Bayern Munich
8WAL Gareth Bale24Tottenham Hotspur
9SWE Zlatan Ibrahimović14Paris Saint-Germain
10NED Robin van Persie10Manchester United

2013–14

RankPlayerFirst roundFinal roundClub
1POR Cristiano Ronaldo26Real Madrid
2GER Manuel Neuer19Bayern Munich
3NED Arjen Robben9Bayern Munich
4GER Thomas Müller39Bayern Munich
5GER Philipp Lahm24Bayern Munich
ARG Lionel MessiBarcelona
7COL James Rodríguez16Monaco
8URU Luis Suárez13Liverpool
9ARG Ángel Di María12Real Madrid
10ESP Diego Costa8Atlético Madrid

2014–15

RankPlayerFirst roundFinal roundClub
1ARG Lionel Messi49Barcelona
2URU Luis Suárez3Barcelona
3POR Cristiano Ronaldo2Real Madrid
4ITA Gianluigi Buffon24Juventus
5BRA Neymar23Barcelona
6BEL Eden Hazard21Chelsea
7ITA Andrea Pirlo12Juventus
8CHI Arturo Vidal11Juventus
9ARG Carlos Tevez8Juventus
10FRA Paul Pogba5Juventus

2015–16

RankPlayerFirst roundFinal roundClub
1POR Cristiano Ronaldo40Real Madrid
2FRA Antoine Griezmann8Atlético Madrid
3WAL Gareth Bale7Real Madrid
4URU Luis Suárez29Barcelona
5ARG Lionel Messi25Barcelona
6ITA Gianluigi Buffon19Juventus
7POR Pepe9Real Madrid
8GER Manuel Neuer6Bayern Munich
9GER Toni Kroos5Real Madrid
10GER Thomas Müller2Bayern Munich

2016–17

RankPlayerFirst roundFinal roundClub
1POR Cristiano Ronaldo482Real Madrid
2ARG Lionel Messi141Barcelona
3ITA Gianluigi Buffon109Juventus
4CRO Luka ModrićReal Madrid
5GER Toni KroosReal Madrid
6ARG Paulo DybalaJuventus
7ESP Sergio RamosReal Madrid
8FRA Kylian MbappéMonaco
9POL Robert LewandowskiBayern Munich
10SWE Zlatan IbrahimovićManchester United

2017–18

RankPlayerPointsClub
1CRO Luka Modrić313Real Madrid
2POR Cristiano Ronaldo223Real Madrid
3EGY Mohamed Salah134Liverpool
4FRA Antoine Griezmann72Atlético Madrid
5ARG Lionel Messi55Barcelona
6FRA Kylian Mbappé43Paris Saint-Germain
7BEL Kevin De Bruyne28Manchester City
8FRA Raphaël Varane23Real Madrid
9BEL Eden Hazard15Chelsea
10ESP Sergio Ramos12Real Madrid

2018–19

RankPlayerPointsClub
1NED Virgil van Dijk305Liverpool
2ARG Lionel Messi207Barcelona
3POR Cristiano Ronaldo74Juventus
4BRA Alisson57Liverpool
5SEN Sadio Mané51Liverpool
6EGY Mohamed Salah49Liverpool
7BEL Eden Hazard38Chelsea
8NED Frenkie de Jong27Ajax
NED Matthijs de LigtAjax
10ENG Raheem Sterling12Manchester City

2019–20

RankPlayerPointsClub
1POL Robert Lewandowski477Bayern Munich
2BEL Kevin De Bruyne90Manchester City
3GER Manuel Neuer66Bayern Munich
4ARG Lionel Messi53Barcelona
BRA NeymarParis Saint-Germain
6GER Thomas Müller41Bayern Munich
7FRA Kylian Mbappé39Paris Saint-Germain
8ESP Thiago27Bayern Munich
9GER Joshua Kimmich26Bayern Munich
10POR Cristiano Ronaldo25Juventus

2020–21

RankPlayerPointsClub
1ITA Jorginho175Chelsea
2BEL Kevin De Bruyne167Manchester City
3FRA N'Golo Kanté160Chelsea
4ARG Lionel Messi148Barcelona
5POL Robert Lewandowski140Bayern Munich
6ITA Gianluigi Donnarumma49Milan
7FRA Kylian Mbappé31Paris Saint-Germain
8ENG Raheem Sterling18Manchester City
9POR Cristiano Ronaldo16Juventus
10NOR Erling Haaland15Borussia Dortmund

2021–22

RankPlayerPointsClub
1FRA Karim Benzema523Real Madrid
2BEL Kevin De Bruyne122Manchester City
3BEL Thibaut Courtois118Real Madrid
4POL Robert Lewandowski54Bayern Munich
5CRO Luka Modrić52Real Madrid
6SEN Sadio Mané51Liverpool
7EGY Mohamed Salah46Liverpool
8FRA Kylian Mbappé25Paris Saint-Germain
9BRA Vinícius Júnior21Real Madrid
10NED Virgil van Dijk19Liverpool
11POR Bernardo Silva7Manchester City
12SRB Filip KostićEintracht Frankfurt
13ITA Lorenzo Pellegrini5Roma
14ENG Trent Alexander-Arnold2Liverpool
15BRA Fabinho1Liverpool

2022–23

RankPlayerPointsClub
1NOR Erling Haaland352Manchester City
2ARG Lionel Messi227Paris Saint-Germain
3BEL Kevin De Bruyne225Manchester City
4GER İlkay Gündoğan129Manchester City
5ESP Rodri110Manchester City
6FRA Kylian Mbappé82Paris Saint-Germain
7CRO Luka Modrić33Real Madrid
8CRO Marcelo Brozović20Inter Milan
9ENG Declan Rice14West Ham United
10ARG Alexis Mac Allister12Brighton & Hove Albion
11ESP Jesús Navas6Sevilla

By player

PlayerWinnerSecond placeThird placePOR Cristiano RonaldoARG Lionel MessiESP Andrés IniestaFRA Franck RibéryCRO Luka ModrićNED Virgil van DijkPOL Robert LewandowskiITA JorginhoFRA Karim BenzemaNOR Erling HaalandBEL Kevin De BruyneGER Manuel NeuerSPA XaviURU Luis SuárezFRA Antoine GriezmannHOL Arjen RobbenWAL Gareth BaleITA Gianluigi BuffonEGY Mohamed SalahFRA N'Golo KanteBEL Thibaut Courtois
315
25
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
31
11
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1

References

References

  1. "UEFA Best Player in Europe Award".
  2. (18 July 2011). "UEFA Best Player in Europe Award launched". Union of European Football Associations.
  3. Landolina, Salvatore. (18 July 2011). "Uefa Launches Best Player In Europe Award". Goal.com.
  4. (18 July 2011). "UEFA announces new award". ESPNSoccernet.
  5. (26 July 2011). "UEFA announces Shortlist for UEFA Best Player in Europe". Union of European Football Associations.
  6. (25 August 2016). "Cristiano Ronaldo named Best Player in Europe". Union of European Football Associations.
  7. (24 August 2017). "Ronaldo named 2016/17 Men's Player of the Year".
  8. (22 August 2013). "UEFA launches Best Women's Player in Europe Award". Union of European Football Associations.
  9. (3 November 2023). "UEFA to co-organise Ballon D'Or from 2024". reuters.
  10. (15 August 2017). "Nominees revealed for 2016/17 UEFA Player of the Year Awards". Union of European Football Associations.
  11. (26 August 2021). "Jorginho wins UEFA Men's Player of the Year award". Union of European Football Associations.
  12. (31 August 2023). "Haalandwins UEFA Men's Player of the Year award". Union of European Football Associations.
  13. (25 August 2011). "Messi wins UEFA Best Player in Europe Award 2010/11".
  14. (14 August 2012). "Iniesta, Messi, Ronaldo up for Best Player Award". Union of European Football Associations.
  15. (30 August 2012). "Andrés Iniesta wins UEFA Best Player in Europe Award 2011/12".
  16. (29 August 2013). "Franck Ribéry wins UEFA Best Player in Europe Award 2012/13 {{!}} Inside UEFA".
  17. (14 August 2014). "Neuer und Robben unter den Top 3 Europas". FC Bayern München.
  18. (28 August 2014). "Nadine Kessler and Cristiano Ronaldo voted UEFA Best Players in Europe 2013/14".
  19. (12 August 2015). "Best Player in Europe: Messi, Ronaldo or Suárez". Union of European Football Associations.
  20. (11 October 2015). "Premio al Mejor Jugador de la UEFA en Europa - 2015".
  21. (5 August 2016). "Best Player in Europe: Bale, Griezmann or Ronaldo". Union of European Football Associations.
  22. (15 August 2017). "Buffon, Messi and Ronaldo on Player of the Year shortlist". Union of European Football Associations.
  23. (30 August 2018). "Luka Modrić wins UEFA Men's Player of the Year award". Union of European Football Associations.
  24. (29 August 2019). "Virgil van Dijk wins UEFA Men's Player of the Year award". Union of European Football Associations.
  25. (1 October 2020). "Robert Lewandowski wins UEFA Men's Player of the Year award". Union of European Football Associations.
  26. (26 August 2021). "Jorginho wins UEFA Men's Player of the Year award". Union of European Football Associations.
  27. (12 August 2022). "UEFA Men's Player of the Year nominees: Benzema, Courtois, De Bruyne". Union of European Football Associations.
  28. (25 August 2022). "Karim Benzema wins UEFA Men's Player of the Year award". Union of European Football Associations.
  29. (17 August 2023). "2022/23 UEFA Men's Player of the Year award nominees announced: Kevin De Bruyne, Erling Haaland, Lionel Messi". Union of European Football Associations.
  30. (31 August 2023). "Erling Haaland wins UEFA Men's Player of the Year award". Union of European Football Associations.
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