Coaches and captains of international teams and media representatives selected the player they deem to have performed the best in the previous calendar year.

[7] Eight women's footballers – three Germans, three Americans, one Brazilian, and one Japanese – have won the award.

Marta, the youngest recipient at age 20 in 2006, has won five successive awards, the most of any player.

The winners are chosen by the coaches and captains of national teams as well as by international media representatives invited by FIFA.

Following criticism from some sections of the media over nominations in previous years, FIFA has since 2004 provided shortlists from which its voters can select their choices.