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

Men

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

Women

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

References

  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.
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