2011 FIFA Ballon d'Or


The 2011 FIFA Ballon d'Or Gala was the second year for FIFA's awards for the top football players and coaches of the year. The awards were given out in Zürich on 9 January 2012, with Lionel Messi claiming the title of world player of the year for the third time in a row.
The gala ceremony was hosted by former Ballon d'Or winner Ruud Gullit and broadcast journalist Kay Murray of Real Madrid TV and Fox Soccer Channel, with singer-songwriter James Blunt and his band providing musical entertainment.

Winners and nominees

FIFA Ballon d'Or

The top three nominees for the 2011 FIFA Ballon d'Or were:
RankPlayerNational teamClubPercent
1stLionel Messi Barcelona47.88%
2ndCristiano Ronaldo Real Madrid21.60%
3rdXavi Barcelona9.23%

The following twenty players were also in contention for the award:
RankPlayerNational teamClubPercent
4thAndrés Iniesta Barcelona6.01%
5thWayne Rooney Manchester United2.31%
6thLuis Suárez Ajax
Liverpool		1.48%
7thDiego Forlán Atlético Madrid
Internazionale		1.43%
8thSamuel Eto'o Internazionale
Anzhi Makhachkala		1.34%
9thIker Casillas Real Madrid1.29%
10thNeymar Santos1.12%
11thMesut Özil Real Madrid0.76%
12thWesley Sneijder Internazionale0.72%
13thThomas Müller Bayern Munich0.64%
14thDavid Villa Barcelona0.53%
15thBastian Schweinsteiger Bayern Munich0.50%
16thXabi Alonso Real Madrid0.48%
17thSergio Agüero Atlético Madrid
Manchester City		0.48%
18thEric Abidal Barcelona0.36%
19thDani Alves Barcelona0.34%
20thKarim Benzema Real Madrid0.34%
21stCesc Fàbregas Arsenal
Barcelona		0.29%
22ndNani Manchester United0.26%
23rdGerard Piqué Barcelona0.22%

FIFA Women's World Player of the Year

The top three nominees for the 2011 FIFA Women's World Player of the Year were:
RankPlayerNational teamClubPercent
1stHomare Sawa INAC Kobe Leonessa28.51%
2ndMarta Western New York Flash17.28%
3rdAbby Wambach magicJack13.26%

The following seven players also in contention for the award:
RankPlayerNationalityClubPercent
4thAya Miyama Okayama Yunogo Belle12.18%
5thHope Solo magicJack7.83%
6thLotta Schelin Lyon4.85%
7thKerstin Garefrekes 1. FFC Frankfurt4.73%
8thAlex Morgan Western New York Flash4.34%
9thLouisa Nécib Lyon3.21%
10thSonia Bompastor Lyon2.99%

FIFA World Coach of the Year for Men's Football

RankCoachNationalityTeamVotes
4thVicente del BosqueSpainfb|ESP

FIFA World Coach of the Year for Women's Football

RankCoachNationalityTeamPercent
1stNorio SasakiJapanfbw|JPN

FIFA/[FIFPro World XI]

PositionPlayerNational teamClub
GKIker Casillas Real Madrid
DFDani Alves Barcelona
DFGerard Piqué Barcelona
DFSergio Ramos Real Madrid
DFNemanja Vidić Manchester United
MFXabi Alonso Real Madrid
MFAndrés Iniesta Barcelona
MFXavi Barcelona
FWCristiano Ronaldo Real Madrid
FWLionel Messi Barcelona
FWWayne Rooney Manchester United

FIFA Presidential Award

FIFA Fair Play Award

Controversy

The day after the awards ceremony, Spanish newspaper Marca reported that none of the four captains of the Spanish women's national team had voted for the Women's World Player of the Year award. According to the list of votes published by FIFA, captain Sandra Vilanova had awarded five points to Hope Solo, three to Louisa Nécib and one to Marta.