2008 FIFA World Player of the Year

The 2008 FIFA World Player of the Year awards took place on 560 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 (now of Los Angeles Sol) 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
RankPlayerPointsClub(s)
1 Cristiano Ronaldo935 Manchester United
2 Lionel Messi678 Barcelona
3 Fernando Torres203 Liverpool
4 Kaká183 Milan
5 Xavi155 Barcelona
6 Steven Gerrard98 Liverpool
7 Samuel Eto'o58 Barcelona
8 Iker Casillas49 Real Madrid
9= Andrés Iniesta37 Barcelona
9= David Villa37 Valencia
11 Andrey Arshavin36 Zenit Saint Petersburg
12 Frank Lampard33 Chelsea
13 Didier Drogba30 Chelsea
14= Michael Ballack27 Chelsea
14= Cesc Fàbregas27 Arsenal
16 Zlatan Ibrahimović26 Internazionale
17 Emmanuel Adebayor25 Arsenal
18 Franck Ribéry23 Bayern Munich
19 Ruud van Nistelrooy14 Real Madrid
20 Sergio Agüero12 Atlético Madrid
21 John Terry11 Chelsea
22 Gianluigi Buffon8 Juventus
23 Deco1 Barcelona
Chelsea

Women
RankPlayerPointsClub(s)
1 Marta1002 Umeå
2 Birgit Prinz328 Frankfurt
3 Cristiane275 Linköping
Corinthians
4 Nadine Angerer198 1. FFC Turbine Potsdam
Djurgården
5 Kelly Smith150 Arsenal
6 Daniela130 Saad
Linköping
7 Shannon Boxx115
8 Hope Solo83
9 Christine Sinclair47 Vancouver Whitecaps
10 Ingvild Stensland41 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. 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. 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. Retrieved 12 January 2009.
  4. "Shortlists for FIFA awards revealed". FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. 29 October 2008. Retrieved 16 December 2008.
  5. "Gala nominees revealed". FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. 12 December 2008. Retrieved 16 December 2008.
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