21/11/2009

FIFA/FIFPro World XI award introduced

FIFPro and FIFA have joined forces to honour the best eleven players of the year with the FIFA/FIFPro World XI award, which will be presented at the 2009 FIFA World Player Gala on 21 December in Zurich.

 ‘FIFA is delighted to join the FIFPro in order to pay tribute to the best footballers of the year in each position’, said FIFA president Joseph Blatter. 

‘We will be happy to welcome the top players chosen by their peers, at the FIFA World Player Gala in Zürich.’ 

‘The election is extremely well appreciated by the players, because its their own colleagues who are voting for them’, added FIFPro president Gerardo Movilla. 

‘As no other they know what you have to do and what you have to miss to reach the top as a professional footballer. It is perfect that through the cooperation with FIFA we can honour these winners on the biggest stage of all at the FIFA World Player Gala.’ 

The FIFA/FIFPro World XI is chosen by over 55,000 professional football players from all over the world, who have voted for the best player in each position. 

From 2005 to 2008, FIFPro organised its own World XI player award, with the same election. 

The FIFA World Player Gala has been organised by FIFA since 1991. At this ceremony the best male and female player of the year are chosen by the national team coaches and captains.