The UEFA Club Footballer of the Year is a football award presented by UEFA to the most outstanding performers of the European club football season. The award, along with "Best Goalkeeper," "Best Defender," "Best Midfielder," and "Best Forward," is given at the end of each season at a special gala in Monaco prior to the UEFA Super Cup. The honour has been bestowed upon first-class European football stars since the 1997–98 season, when it was awarded to Ronaldo, then of Internazionale.

[edit] Winners

Below is a list of all the recipients of this prestigious award:

Season	Country	Player	Playing position	Club	Also won
1997–98	BRA  BRA	Ronaldo	Forward	Internazionale	Best Forward
1998–99	ENG  ENG	David Beckham	Midfielder	Manchester United	Best Midfielder
1999–00	ARG  ARG	Fernando Redondo	Midfielder	Real Madrid
2000–01	GER  GER	Stefan Effenberg	Midfielder	Bayern Munich
2001–02	FRA  FRA	Zinedine Zidane	Midfielder	Real Madrid
2002–03	ITA  ITA	Gianluigi Buffon	Goalkeeper	Juventus	Best Goalkeeper
2003–04	POR  POR	Deco	Midfielder	Porto	Best Midfielder
2004–05	ENG  ENG	Steven Gerrard	Midfielder	Liverpool
2005–06	BRA  BRA	Ronaldinho	Midfielder	Barcelona
2006–07	BRA  BRA	Kaká	Midfielder	Milan	Best Forward
2007–08	POR  POR	Cristiano Ronaldo	Forward	Manchester United	Best Forward
2008–09	POR  ARG	Lionel Messi	Forward	Barcelona	Best Forward

[edit] 2004–05: Steven Gerrard

Steven Gerrard won the award in 2005.

After his goals had steered Liverpool past Grazer AK in the pre-qualifying stage, Gerrard was instrumental in getting Liverpool out of the group phase, with a late winner against Olympiakos at Anfield in December. He then guided his team to the final with assured captain's displays against the likes of Bayer Leverkusen, Juventus and Chelsea. During the final itself, Gerrard was instrumental in the comeback from 3-0 down which saw Liverpool win on penalties, scoring a goal and winning the controversial penalty which resulted in the equaliser.

[edit] Stats

• Ap: Appearances
• GS: Games Started
• Go: Goals scored
• As: Assists
• Sh: Shots
• SG: Shots on goal
• FC: Fouls Committed
• YC: Yellow Cards
• RC: Red Cards

[edit] 2005–06: Ronaldinho

Ronaldinho won it in 2006.

Ronaldinho was the 2005–06 winner and was a huge factor to all Barcelona victories, including the Final against Arsenal. He scored 7 goals and made 4 assist in 12 Champions League games.

[edit] Stats

• Ap: Appearances
• GS: Games Started
• Go: Goals scored
• As: Assists
• Sh: Shots
• SG: Shots on goal
• FC: Fouls Committed
• YC: Yellow Cards
• RC: Red Cards

[edit] 2006–07: Kaká

Kaká was the 2006–07 winner, and also won the award for "Best Forward" of the season.

The winner of "UEFA Club Footballer of the Year" award this season was Kaká. He was the UEFA Champions League top scorer, scoring 10 goals in 14 games and also receiving the honour of being the "Best Forward" of the season.

[edit] Stats

• Ap: Appearances
• GS: Games Started
• Go: Goals scored
• As: Assists
• Sh: Shots
• SG: Shots on goal
• FC: Fouls Committed
• YC: Yellow Cards
• RC: Red Cards

[edit] 2007–08: Cristiano Ronaldo

Cristiano Ronaldo won the award in 2008, and was also selected as the "Best Forward" of the year.

Cristiano Ronaldo of Manchester United was the 2007–08 "UEFA Club Footballer of the Year", finishing the competition as the top scorer with 8 goals in 11 games, and also winning the award for "Best Forward". Adding these 8 goals to the others 34 (League and Cup), Ronaldo ended the campaign with a career-high 42 goals in all competitions.

[edit] Stats

• Ap: Appearances
• GS: Games Started
• Go: Goals scored
• As: Assists
• Sh: Shots
• SG: Shots on goal
• FC: Fouls Committed
• YC: Yellow Cards
• RC: Red Cards

[edit] 2008–09: Lionel Messi

Lionel Messi won the award in 2009, and was also selected as the "Best Forward" of the year.

Lionel Messi from Barcelona was the 2008–09 "UEFA Club Footballer of the Year", finishing the competition as the top scorer with 9 goals and 6 assists in 12 appearances, and also winning the award for "Best Forward". Adding these 9 goals to the others 29 (League and Cup), Messi ended the campaign with a great return of 38 goals and 18 assists in all competitions.

[edit] Stats

• Ap: Appearances
• GS: Games Started
• Go: Goals scored
• As: Assists
• Sh: Shots
• SG: Shots on goal
• FC: Fouls Committed
• YC: Yellow Cards
• RC: Red Cards

[edit] See also

• Castrol Rankings

[edit] External links

• 2008 Awards at uefa.com
• 2007 Awards at uefa.com
• 2006 Awards at uefa.com
• 2005 Awards at uefa.com
• 2004 Awards at uefa.com