| Sport | Handball |
|---|---|
| Competition | International Handball |
| Awarded for | Best Performance in International Handball Competitions |
| History | |
| First award | 1988 |
| Most wins | Men: Mikkel Hansen Nikola Karabatić(3 awards each) Women:  Cristina Neagu(4 awards) |
| Most recent | Men: Mathias Gidsel (1st title) Women:  Henny Reistad (1st title) |
The IHF World Player of the Year is a handball award given annually to the player who is considered to have performed the best in the previous season, both at club and international competitions. It is awarded based on votes from experts, media and fans.