The selection of the Mr. Of the Year awards began in 1991 and was originally contested by the head coaches of the national teams of all FIFA's association member states. In 2010, the award was merged with the European Ballon d'Or awards by French Football magazine to form the FIFA Ballon d'Or. After 2016, FIFA and French Football magazine parted ways and once again made their own selections.
In 1991, the voting rules formulated in the early days of the World Footballer of the Year Selection were: 1. The head coach of the national team of each member association voted for the top 3 candidates, but could not choose the members of the national team he coached. 2. The player who chooses the first choice can get 5 points, the player who chooses the second choice scores 3 points, the player who chooses the third choice scores 1 point, and then calculate the total score according to the number of votes of the player, and the player with the first total score is elected.
In 2004, the voting rules for the World Footballer of the Year voting changed: 1. 80% of the votes were cast by the head coach and captain of the national teams. 2. The International Professional Players Union accounts for 20%.
In 2016, the voting rules were reformulated after the split of the World Footballer of the Year selection: 1. The votes of the manager and captain of each national team accounted for 25% of the votes. 2. More than 200 journalists from more than 200 media around the world accounted for 25% of the vote. 3. Fans around the world vote 25%.
The first winner was midfielder Lothar Mateus from Germany, and the last winner before merging with the European Ballon d'Or in 2009 was Lionel Messi from Argentina. In 1996, laureate Ronaldo was the youngest player to win the award, when he was only 20 years old; 2006 laureate Fabio Cannavaro was the first defender to receive the award.
In 1991
1. Lothar Matthäus, Germany, from Inter Milan, scored 128 points.
2. Jean-Pierre Papin, France, from Marseille, scored 113 points.
3. Gary Lineker, England, from Tottenham, scored 40 points.
In 1992
1. Marco van Basten, the Netherlands, from AC Milan, scored 166 points.
2. Hristo Stoichkov, Bulgarian, from Barcelona, scored 88 points.
3. Thomas Häßler, Germany, from Roma, scored 61 points.
In 1993
1. Roberto Baggio, Italy, from Juventus, scored 152 points.
2. Romário, Brazil, from Barcelona, scored 84 points.
3. Dennis Bergkamp, the Netherlands, from Inter Milan, scored 58 points.
In 1994
1. Romário, Brazil, from Barcelona, scored 346 points.
2. Hristo Stoichkov, Bulgarian, from Barcelona, scored 100 points.
3. Roberto Baggio, Italy, from Juventus, scored 80 points.
In 1995
1. George Weah, Liberia, from AC Milan, scored 170 points.
2. Paolo Maldini, Italy, from AC Milan, scored 80 points.
3. Jürgen Klinsmann, Germany, from Bayern Munich, scored 58 points.
In 1996
1. Ronaldo, Brazil, from Barcelona, scored 329 points.
2. George Weah, Liberia, from AC Milan, scored 140 points.
3. Alan Shearer, England, from Newcastle United, scored 123 points.
In 1997
1. Ronaldo, Brazil, from Inter Milan, scored 480 points.
2. Roberto Carlos, Brazil, from Real Madrid, scored 85 points.
3. Dennis Bergkamp, the Netherlands, from Arsenal, scored 62 points.
3. Zinedine Zidane, Italy, from Juventus, scored 62 points.
In 1998
1. Zinedine Zidane, Italy, from Juventus, scored 518 points.
2. Ronaldo, Brazil, from Inter Milan, scored 164 points.
3. Davor Šuker, Croatia, from Real Madrid, scored 108 points.
In 1999
1. Rivaldo, Brazil, from Barcelona, scored 543 points.
2. David Beckham, England, from Manchester United, scored 194 points.
3. Gabriel Batistuta, Argentina, from Fiorentina, scored 79 points.
Year 2000
1. Zinedine Zidane, Italy, from Juventus, scored 370 points.
2. Luís Figo, Portugal, from Real Madrid, scored 329 points.
3. Rivaldo, Brazil, from Barcelona, scored 263 points.
In 2001
1. Luís Figo, Portugal, from Real Madrid, scored 250 points.
2. David Beckham, England, from Manchester United, scored 238 points.
3. Raúl, Spain, from Real Madrid, scored 96 points.
In 2002
1. Ronaldo, Brazil, from Real Madrid, scored 387 points.
2. Oliver Kahn, Germany, from Bayern Munich, scored 171 points.
3. Zinedine Zidane, France, from Real Madrid, scored 148 points.
In 2003
1. Zinedine Zidane, France, from Real Madrid, scored 264 points.
2. Thierry Henry, France, from Arsenal, scored 200 points.
3. Ronaldo, Brazil, from Real Madrid, scored 176 points.
In 2004
1. Ronaldinho, Brazil, from Barcelona, scored 620 points.
2. Thierry Henry, France, from Arsenal, scored 552 points.
3. Andriy Shevchenko, Ukraine, from AC Milan, scored 253 points.
In 2005
1. Ronaldinho, Brazil, from Barcelona, scored 956 points.
2. Frank Lampard, England, from Chelsea, scored 306 points.
3. Samuel Eto'o, Spain, from Barcelona, scored 190 points.
In 2006
1. Fabio Cannavaro, Italy, from Real Madrid, scored 498 points.
2. Zinedine Zidane, France, from Real Madrid, scored 454 points.
3. Ronaldinho, Brazil, from Barcelona, scored 380 points.
In 2007
1. Kaká, Brazil, from AC Milan, scored 1047 points.
2. Lionel Messi, Argentina, from Barcelona, scored 504 points.
3. Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal, from Manchester United, scored 426 points.
In 2008
1. Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal, from Manchester United, scored 935 points.
2. Lionel Messi, Argentina, from Barcelona, scored 678 points.
3. Fernando Torres, Spain, from Liverpool, scored 203 points.
In 2009
1. Lionel Messi, Argentina, from Barcelona, scored 1073 points.
2. Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal, from Real Madrid, scored 352 points.
3. Xavi, Spain, from Barcelona, scored 196 points.