<P> In 2010, the FIFA World Player of the Year award combined with the Ballon d'Or to create the FIFA Ballon d'Or in a six - year partnership . FIFA presided over the FIFA Ballon d'Or after agreeing to pay £ 13million for merge of the two major player awards with France Football . The six editions of the FIFA Ballon d'Or were dominated by Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, as part of their ongoing rivalry . In 2016, the Ballon d'Or again lost its' FIFA' tag and would be voted for exclusively by journalists, while the FIFA World Player of the Year award--which ran from 1991 to 2009--was resurrected, this time as The Best FIFA Men's Player . </P> <P> According to reports, FIFA's decision not to renew the deal was made in order to improve the organisation's strained relationship with England's FA . This was based on the fact the annual ceremony was held in Zurich--and new FIFA president Gianni Infantino wanted to move the next one to London . </P> <P> The selection criteria for the players of the year are sporting performance, as well as general conduct on and off the pitch . </P> <P> The votes are decided by media representatives, national team coaches, and national team captains . In October 2016, it was announced that the general public would also be allowed to vote . Each group has 25% of the overall vote . </P>

The best fifa men's player winners list