UEFA Men's Player of the Year Award

This article is about the men's award. For the women's award, see UEFA Women's Player of the Year Award.
UEFA Men's Player of the Year
UEFA Men's Player of the Year Award
Sponsored byESM[1]
Presented byUEFA
Formerly calledUEFA Club Footballer of the Year (1998–2010)
UEFA Best Player in Europe (2011–16)
First awarded2011
Last awarded2023
Current holderNorway Erling Haaland
(1st award)
Most awardsPortugal Cristiano Ronaldo
(3 awards)
WebsiteUEFA.com
UEFA Club Football Awards

The UEFA Men's Player of the Year Award (previously known as the UEFA Best Player in Europe Award) is an association football award given to the footballer playing for a men's football club in Europe that is considered the best in the previous season of both club and national team competition. The award, created in 2011 by UEFA in partnership with European Sports Media (ESM) group, was initially aimed at reviving the European Footballer of the Year Award (Ballon d'Or),[2][3] which was merged with the FIFA World Player of the Year Award in 2010 to become the FIFA Ballon d'Or.[4] It also replaced the UEFA Club Footballer of the Year award.[5]

Cristiano Ronaldo has won the award the most time with 3 awards and is the only player to win it twice in a row.[6][7] Female players are awarded the UEFA Women's Player of the Year Award, introduced in 2013.[8]

UEFA partnered with Groupe Amaury to co-organise the Ballon d'Or awards from 2024. The partnership means UEFA's awards for the best player and best coach will cease to exist. But UEFA will continue to present the President's Award as well as prizes for the best player in each of their competitions.[9]

  1. ^ "UEFA Best Player in Europe Award". European Sports Media. Archived from the original on 6 February 2019. Retrieved 8 December 2018.
  2. ^ "UEFA Best Player in Europe Award launched". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 18 July 2011. Retrieved 30 August 2018.
  3. ^ Landolina, Salvatore (18 July 2011). "Uefa Launches Best Player In Europe Award". Goal.com. Retrieved 18 July 2011.
  4. ^ "UEFA announces new award". ESPNSoccernet. 18 July 2011. Archived from the original on 26 October 2012. Retrieved 18 July 2011.
  5. ^ "UEFA announces Shortlist for UEFA Best Player in Europe". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 26 July 2011. Retrieved 26 July 2011.
  6. ^ "Cristiano Ronaldo named Best Player in Europe". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 25 August 2016. Retrieved 25 August 2016.
  7. ^ "Ronaldo named 2016/17 Men's Player of the Year". UEFA.com. 24 August 2017. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
  8. ^ "UEFA launches Best Women's Player in Europe Award". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 22 August 2013. Retrieved 29 August 2013.
  9. ^ "UEFA to co-organise Ballon D'Or from 2024". reuters.com. reuters. 3 November 2023. Retrieved 29 August 2024.