<P> FIFA Player of the Century was a one - off award created by FIFA to decide the greatest football player of the 20th century, announced at the annual FIFA World gala, held in Rome on 11 December 2000 . Diego Maradona and Pelé were joint winners of the award . Maradona won the award based on the Internet poll, while Pelé won the award based on votes from FIFA officials, journalists and coaches . </P> <P> Since 1991, FIFA have had awards for FIFA World Player of the Year and they decided to bring in the new millennium by conducting a public vote to decide the FIFA Player of the Century . This was to be decided by votes on their official website, their official magazine and a grand jury . Maradona won the Internet - based poll by wide margins, garnering 53.6% of the votes against 18.53% for Pelé . Despite the fact that Eusébio, who played football professionally during Pelé's era, placed third in the poll, many observers complained that the Internet nature of the poll would have meant a skewed demographic of younger fans who would have seen Maradona play, but not Pelé . As a result, FIFA decided to add a second poll and appointed a "Football Family" committee composed of football journalists, officials and coaches, who voted Pelé the best player of the century with 72.75% of the vote, thus both were joint winners of the award . </P>

Who has received the player of the century award