What Is 2010 FIFA Ballon d'Or

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Last updated: April 15, 2026

Quick Answer: The 2010 FIFA Ballon d'Or was awarded to Lionel Messi on January 10, 2011, marking his second consecutive win; it honored the best male football player in 2010, combining votes from national team captains, coaches, and journalists worldwide.

Key Facts

Lionel Messi won the 2010 FIFA Ballon d'Or on January 10, 2011
The award merged the FIFA World Player of the Year and the Ballon d'Or starting in 2010
Voting included national team captains, coaches, and international journalists
Andrés Iniesta finished second, and Diego Forlán placed third in the rankings
The ceremony took place in Zurich, Switzerland, at the Hallenstadion arena

Overview

The 2010 FIFA Ballon d'Or marked the inaugural edition of the unified award, merging the FIFA World Player of the Year and France Football's Ballon d'Or. This unification created a single global honor for the best male footballer, voted on by national team captains and coaches, along with select journalists.

It was awarded to Lionel Messi, recognizing his dominant 2009–2010 season with FC Barcelona, where he scored 47 goals across all competitions. The ceremony occurred on January 10, 2011, in Zurich, Switzerland, and highlighted a new era in football's most prestigious individual accolade.

Lionel Messi won with 22.65% of the total points, becoming the first player to win back-to-back Ballon d'Or awards under the new format.
The award combined voting from over 200 national team captains and head coaches, along with registered journalists from FIFA-recognized countries.
Andrés Iniesta finished second, receiving 17.33% of the points, largely due to his UEFA Euro 2008 and 2010 World Cup performances.
Diego Forlán placed third with 16.48% of the vote, recognized for his pivotal role in Uruguay’s fourth-place finish at the 2010 World Cup.
The voting system used a weighted point system: first-place votes earned 5 points, second earned 3, and third earned 1.

How It Works

The 2010 FIFA Ballon d'Or introduced a new voting structure that unified two major football awards into one global honor. This system aimed to eliminate past controversies and establish a universally recognized player of the year.

Term: The 'FIFA Ballon d'Or' refers to the official merger in 2010 between FIFA's Player of the Year award and France Football's Ballon d'Or. This combined voting from national team captains, coaches, and journalists to determine the best male player globally.
Voting Pool: Over 208 national teams participated in the voting, with each captain and head coach allowed one ballot, alongside approximately 150 international journalists.
Eligibility Period: The award considered performances between July 1, 2009, and August 31, 2010, covering club and international matches in that timeframe.
Scoring System: A ranked-choice method was used: first-place votes received 5 points, second-place votes 3 points, and third-place votes 1 point.
Transparency: FIFA published detailed voting results, including breakdowns by country, making the 2010 process one of the most transparent in the award's history.
Eligibility Criteria: Only male players from FIFA-affiliated nations were eligible, and nominees had to be active during the evaluation period.

Comparison at a Glance

The following table compares the top five finishers in the 2010 FIFA Ballon d'Or based on total points and vote distribution:

Rank	Player	Nationality	Points (%)	Key Achievement (2009–2010)
1	Lionel Messi	Argentina	22.65%	Scored 47 goals; won La Liga and Supercopa with Barcelona
2	Andrés Iniesta	Spain	17.33%	Scored winning goal in 2010 World Cup final
3	Diego Forlán	Uruguay	16.48%	Won Golden Ball at 2010 World Cup
4	Xavi Hernández	Spain	12.89%	Key playmaker for Spain and FC Barcelona
5	Wesley Sneijder	Netherlands	10.91%	Won Serie A, Coppa Italia, and Champions League with Inter

The table illustrates how international success influenced voting, with Spain and Uruguay players highly ranked due to their 2010 World Cup runs. Messi’s club dominance gave him an edge, though Iniesta and Forlán’s tournament performances kept them close. This balance between club and international performance defined the award’s new credibility.

Why It Matters

The 2010 FIFA Ballon d'Or set a precedent for global football recognition, combining two historic awards into a unified standard. It reshaped how excellence is measured, influencing future voting and player legacies.

Historic Merger: The 2010 edition ended a 14-year split between FIFA and France Football, restoring unity to the sport’s top individual prize.
Global Credibility: By including votes from all FIFA nations, the award gained broader legitimacy compared to the Eurocentric original Ballon d'Or.
Messi’s Legacy: Winning in 2010 solidified Lionel Messi as a generational talent, beginning a streak of four consecutive wins from 2009 to 2012.
Impact on Rivals: The close results for Iniesta and Forlán highlighted how World Cup performance could rival club dominance in voter consideration.
Media Influence: Journalists accounted for roughly 25% of votes, ensuring media narratives played a measurable role in outcomes.
Precedent for Future Awards: The 2010 model remained in place until 2016, when FIFA and France Football briefly separated before reuniting under a revised format.

The 2010 FIFA Ballon d'Or was more than a trophy—it symbolized football’s globalization and the evolving criteria for greatness in the modern era.