Photo: EPA
The International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) has created a new global football award that will be presented annually.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino signed a memorandum of understanding with the Dubai Sports Council (UAE) to establish the award. The first ceremony is set to take place in Dubai next year.
At the same time, the announcement makes no reference to The Best FIFA Football Awards, the official ceremony at which prizes have been presented in recent years. In 2025, the event was held in Qatar, with Paris Saint-Germain forward Ousmane Dembélé named the world’s best footballer.
It is likely that the new award will replace The Best. According to the statement, the event will become FIFA’s only official annual awards ceremony. Further details regarding nominations, the voting format, and the exact date of the ceremony will be announced at a later stage.
Despite this, football’s most prestigious individual honor remains the Ballon d’Or, awarded by French magazine France Football. This year’s Ballon d’Or was also won by Dembélé.
