The 2008 FIFA World Player of the Year awards took place on 12 January 2009 at the Zurich Opera House, Zürich, Switzerland, with Cristiano Ronaldo of Manchester United and Portugal taking the men's award, and Marta of Umeå IK and Brazil taking the women's award for the third consecutive season.
Other awards included the FIFA Development Award, which went to the Palestinian Football Federation for keeping its organisation and national team active; Federation President Jibril Al Rajoub, captain of the men's team Ahmad Kashkash, and women's team captain Honey Thaljiyeh were presented with the award. The Palestinian FA carried out a major refurbishment of the Al-Husseini Stadium, meaning that it met the standards to host an international match, becoming the first stadium in Palestinian territories to achieve this honour. Women's football received the FIFA Presidential Award, with the US team presented with the award (for their achievements), and player Heather O'Reilly collecting it. The FIFA Fair Play Award went to the representatives of the Turkish and Armenia national teams. Prior to a European World Cup qualifying match, the Presidents of the two FAs, Mahmut Özgener (Turkey) and Ruben Hayrapetyan (Armenia) shook hands, which was significant as the countries shared a long history of hostility towards each other.
Shortlists of 23 men and 10 women were announced on 29 October 2008, before being reduced to five men and five women by 12 December 2008. The male nominees were Kaká, Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Fernando Torres and Xavi, and the female nominees were Nadine Angerer, Cristiane, Marta, Birgit Prinz and Kelly Smith.
Results Men RankPlayerPointsClub(s) 1 Cristiano Ronaldo 935 Manchester United 2 Lionel Messi 678 Barcelona 3 Fernando Torres 203 Liverpool 4 Kaká 183 Milan 5 Xavi 155 Barcelona 6 Steven Gerrard 98 Liverpool 7 Samuel Eto'o 58 Barcelona 8 Iker Casillas 49 Real Madrid 9= Andrés Iniesta 37 Barcelona 9= David Villa 37 Valencia 11 Andrey Arshavin 36 Zenit Saint Petersburg 12 Frank Lampard 33 Chelsea 13 Didier Drogba 30 Chelsea 14= Michael Ballack 27 Chelsea 14= Cesc Fàbregas 27 Arsenal 16 Zlatan Ibrahimović 26 Internazionale 17 Emmanuel Adebayor 25 Arsenal 18 Franck Ribéry 23 Bayern Munich 19 Ruud van Nistelrooy 14 Real Madrid 20 Sergio Agüero 12 Atlético Madrid 21 John Terry 11 Chelsea 22 Gianluigi Buffon 8 Juventus 23 Deco 1 Barcelona Chelsea
Women RankPlayerPointsClub(s) 1 Marta 1002 Umeå 2 Birgit Prinz 328 Frankfurt 3 Cristiane 275 Linköping Corinthians 4 Nadine Angerer 198 1. FFC Turbine Potsdam Djurgården 5 Kelly Smith 150 Arsenal 6 Daniela 130 Saad Linköping 7 Shannon Boxx 115 8 Hope Solo 83 9 Christine Sinclair 47 Vancouver Whitecaps 10 Ingvild Stensland 41 Kopparbergs/Göteborg
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