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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

Rank	Player	Points	Club(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

Rank	Player	Points	Club(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

References

1. "FIFA World Player of the Year - Men's votes by player" (PDF). FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. 12 January 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 26, 2009. Retrieved 12 January 2009.
2. "FIFA World Player of the Year - Women's votes by player" (PDF). FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. 12 January 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 24, 2009. Retrieved 12 January 2009.
3. "Ronaldo takes first award, Marta makes it three in a row". FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. 12 January 2009. Archived from the original on January 20, 2009. Retrieved 12 January 2009.
4. "Shortlists for FIFA awards revealed". FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. 29 October 2008. Archived from the original on December 21, 2008. Retrieved 16 December 2008.
5. "Gala nominees revealed". FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. 12 December 2008. Archived from the original on December 13, 2008. Retrieved 16 December 2008.

• 2008 in association football
• FIFA World Player of the Year
• Women's association football trophies and awards
• 2008 in women's association football