No More FIFA Ballon d'Or - FIFA Reveals 'The Best' Football Awards Trophy
Jan 7, 2017, by Chris
- New Awards: FIFA has created a new award called "The Best FIFA Football Awards" to rival the Ballon d'Or, after their partnership with France Football ended.
- Voting System: The winner selection will be based on a combined vote of national team captains, head coaches, fans, and media representatives.
- Multiple Awards: Eight trophies will be presented at the ceremony, including awards for best male and female players and coaches, goal of the year, fair play, fan award and a world 11 team.
Update: FIFA has unveiled the trophy of their 'The Best' football awards which looks a bit like a mixture of the World Cup trophy and the Ballon d'Or trophy. The winner of the FIFA The Best awards will be revealed at a ceremony in Zürich on 9 January.
The Best FIFA Football Awards Trophy
Here is a video that shows how the trophy was created.
The relationship between FIFA and France Football is history. And as both parties decided to continue to name the best players of the year, there will be two best player awards from 2016 - the original Ballon d'Or and the all-new ''The Best FIFA Football Awards' award that was revealed by FIFA today.
FIFA Launches Ballon d'Or Rival - The Best FIFA Football Awards
Celebrating "the greatest performers of 2016", the all-new The Best FIFA Football Awards will not only be the "game's highest honor for coaches and footballers, but also a celebration in which football fans will play a vital and active part."
"This event will be about football and its most passionate participants – players, coaches and fans," said FIFA President Gianni Infantino. "It is a new event with new approaches to celebrating the game we all love."
The Best of 2016 will feature an improved voting system that will enable fans to support the player and coach of the year in both men's and women's football. The winners will be chosen via a process in which 50% of the result is based on the choices of captains and head coaches of all of the world's national teams. The other 50% will be split between the result of an online public ballot and the submissions from a selected group of more than 200 media representatives from around the world.
A total of eight trophies will be presented at The Best FIFA Football Awards ceremony:
- The Best FIFA Men's Player 2016
- The Best FIFA Women's Player 2016
- The Best FIFA Men's Coach 2016
- The Best FIFA Women's Coach 2016
- The FIFA Puskás Award 2016
- The FIFA Fair Play Award 2016
- The FIFA Fan Award 2016
- FIFA FIFPro World11
The FIFA FIFPro World11 will be selected by professional footballers from around the world, while fans will choose the winner of the FIFA Puskás Award for goal of the year through an online public ballot, and a group of football experts will decide the recipient of the FIFA Fair Play Award.
The first activity related to The Best of 2016 will get underway this week with the unveiling of the shortlists for four awards. The voting process for The Best FIFA Football Awards 2016 in the four categories above will be launched on 4 November and will close on 22 November with the final list with the three nominees for each of these awards unveiled on 2 December.
- Tuesday, 1 November: ten candidates for The Best FIFA Women's Coach 2016
- Wednesday, 2 November: ten candidates for The Best FIFA Men's Coach 2016
- Thursday, 3 November: ten candidates for The Best FIFA Women's Player 2016
- Friday, 4 November: 23 candidates for The Best FIFA Men's Player 2016
Share your thoughts below and find out even more about the award here.
Newcastle United 26-27 Third Kit Released
Newcastle United and Adidas have officially revealed the club's new third kit for the 26-27 season. The new jersey introduces a distinctive light purple base shade officially designated as Powder Plum, giving the Magpies a subtle and modern alternative look.
Deep purple accents feature throughout the shirt, applied to the V-neck collar, sleeve cuffs, and the signature Adidas Three Stripes across the shoulders. A minimalist approach has been taken for the details, with both the Adidas logo and Newcastle United crest presented in a clean monochrome dark purple. The front of the jersey features KNOX Hydrate branding, while a bright yellow noon patch on the sleeve adds a contrasting pop of color.
Designed with a clean aesthetic, the 26-27 third kit stays free of heavy graphic patterns, letting the pastel palette take center stage. Completing Newcastle's lineup alongside the classic home kit and Night Navy away jersey, the third uniform goes on sale from August 13, 2026.
Glenavon FC 26-27 Third Kit Released
Northern Irish club Glenavon FC and Adidas have officially revealed the club's new 26-27 third kit, named the 'Master McGrath Heritage Kit'. The bespoke design pays tribute to one of Lurgan's most celebrated sporting legends, Master McGrath, a famous 19th-century greyhound whose crest silhouette has long been associated with the town and football club.
The Glenavon 26-27 third jersey is based on the Adidas Saqudra 25 template, with a custom colorway. It features a dark navy base paired with gold detailing on the collar, sleeve cuffs, and Adidas shoulder stripes. In a unique touch, the traditional club badge is replaced on the left chest by a dedicated gold silhouette of Master McGrath.
Gold branding for both Adidas and shirt sponsor Avondale Foods completes the clean look, paired with matching navy and gold shorts and socks. This special release completes the team's alternative set alongside the previously unveiled 26-27 away kit, which features a classic white jersey with a royal blue polo collar and blue trim.
Liverpool 26-27 Third Kit Leaked - Official Pictures
Official images of the Liverpool 26-27 third kit have been leaked by @opaleak, offering a complete look at Adidas' latest design for the club. The jersey features a black base paired with an abstract maroon graphic pattern across the front and sleeves, inspired by the waving flags seen on the Kop at Anfield.
All brand and sponsor detailing on the shirt is applied in monochrome silver, including the Adidas logo, the LFC Liver Bird crest, and the Standard Chartered chest sponsor. The shoulders carry Adidas' iconic Three Stripes in silver, while the back of the shirt is plain black. The 97 Hillsborough memorial emblem is positioned on the back collar.
Matching black shorts and socks complete the full kit ensemble, featuring silver Adidas stripes and LFC branding. The Liverpool 26-27 third strip is scheduled for an official launch on August 12, 2026.
River Plate 26-27 Away Kit Leaked - Official Images
Official images of the River Plate 26-27 away kit have been shared by KamilBerberler, giving the first look at the alternative black shorts.
FC Barcelona 26-27 Long-Sleeve Third Kit Leaked
Official studio images of FC Barcelona's 26-27 third kit long-sleeve version have been leaked courtesy of Barcelona shirt collector @memorabilia1899. Designed by Nike, the new jersey pays homage to the classic 96-97 Kappa away shirt, combining nostalgia with modern performance materials. FC Barcelona and Nike are expected to officially present the 26-27 third kit on August 12.