Overview
The International Federation of Football History & Statistics (IFFHS) is an organisation that chronicles the history and records of association football. It was founded in 1984 by Alfredo Pöge in Leipzig. From its early stages to 2002, the IFFHS concentrated on publishing the quarterly magazines Fußball-Weltzeitschrift, Libero spezial deutsch and Libero international. When these had to be discontinued for reasons which were not officially told, the organisation published its material in a series of multi-lingual books in co-operation with sponsors. The statistical organisation has now confined its publishing activities to its website. The IFFHS has no affiliation with FIFA, but FIFA has cited awards and records conducted by the IFFHS on their website.
In 2008, Karl Lennartz, a sports historian and professor at the University of Cologne, Germany, called the organisation "obscure", describing it as a one-man show of its founder Alfredo Pöge. IFFHS rankings and their significance have been a matter of criticism and the largest German news agency, Deutsche Presse-Agentur, refuse to publish them. Deutsche Welle, Kicker-Sportmagazin, the German Football Association (DFB), and former president of the Association of West German Sports Journalists ( — VWS) Heribert Faßbender have referenced the IFFHS.
The World's Best Club
and Barcelona, ten-time winners of the world's Best Club award. Since 1991, the entity has produced a monthly Club World Ranking. The ranking takes into consideration the results of twelve months of continental and intercontinental competitions, national league matches (including play-offs) and the most important national cup (excluding points won before the round of 16). All countries are rated at four levels based upon the national league performance—clubs in the highest level leagues receive 4 points for each match won, 2 for a draw and 0 for a defeat. Level 2 is assigned 3 pts. (win), 1.5 (draw) and 0 (lost), and so on with the next lower levels. In continental competitions, all clubs receive the same number of points at all stages regardless of the performance level of their leagues.
However, the UEFA Champions League and the Copa Libertadores yield more points than UEFA Europa League and Copa Sudamericana, respectively. The point assignment system is still lower for the AFC, CAF, CONCACAF and OFC continental tournaments. Competitions between two continents are evaluated depending upon their importance. Competitions not organised by a continental confederation, or any intercontinental events not recognized by FIFA, are not taken into consideration.
Continental Men's Clubs of the Century (1901–2000)
, European club of the 20th century. , South American team of the decade (2001–2010). In 2009, the IFFHS released the results of a statistical study series which determined the best continental clubs of the 20th century. The ranking did not consider the performance of the teams in national football tournaments (except in the Oceania's club ranking due to limited editions held under OFC club competitions), the performance in the intercontinental or worldwide club competitions or those submitted in the IFFHS Club World Ranking, available since 1991. Based on this study, which assigned a weighted score criteria applied for each competition analysed, the below six clubs were named as "continental clubs of the century" by the IFFHS between 10 September and 13 October 2009.
These clubs were awarded with a golden trophy and a certificate during the World Football Gala celebrated at Fulham, London, on 11 May 2010.
The Best Men's Club of the Decade
In 2012, the IFFHS recognised Barcelona as the World's Best Club Team of the Decade for the first decade of the 21st century (2001–2010). In 2021, Barcelona were recognised as the world's best club also for the second decade (2011–2020).
Women's winners
, seven-time winner of the Women's World's Best Club award.
The World's Strongest National League
, Strongest National League of the Decade (2001–2010).
The World's Best Player
won the Best Player award in 2020 and 2021. 215x215px
Men's winners
From 1991 until 2009, FIFA continued this distinction named FIFA World Player of the Year; this award was later replaced by the FIFA Ballon d'Or in 2010, and The Best FIFA Men's Player in 2016. The award was reinstated in 2020. won the Best Player award in 2021 and 2022.
The World's Best Man Player of the Century (1901–2000)
, Male Player of the Century (1901–2000). 350x350px
The World's Best Woman Player of the Century (1901–2000)
, Female Player of the Century (1901–2000). 323x323px IFFHS gave out an award decided by votes which was conducted with the participation of journalists and former players (no further details given).
The World's Best Man Player of the 19th Century (until 1900)
In November 2021, IFFHS announced the Dream Team of the 19th Century and the top 3 players. , Male Player of the 19th Century. 150x300px
Top 10 Players of All Time (2025)
In May 2025, IFFHS announced the top 10 players of all time, based on performance statistics, with Lionel Messi being the winner surpassing Pelé, the IFFHS Player of the 20th Century.
World's Best Player and Coach
It was a one-time award under the name world's universal genius won by Franz Beckenbauer for his world success as both player and coach in 2007.
World's Most Popular Player
won World's most popular player award 3 times. The World‘s most popular player as voted by IFFHS users:
Best European Player (1956–1989)
, Best European Player (1956–1989) On 24 April 1990, ahead of the 1990 FIFA World Cup, IFFHS gave out an award for the best European player, taking into consideration players who were voted in the shortlist of the France Footballs Ballon D'Or from 1956 until 1989.
European Player of Decade (2011–2020)
On 2 February 2021, IFFHS announced the best European players (UEFA) of the decade.
South American Player of Decade (2011–2020)
On 2 February 2021, IFFHS announced the best South American players (CONMEBOL) of the decade.
Player of Decade (2011–2020)
On 5 February 2021, IFFHS announced the best CONCACAF players of the decade.
Player of Decade (2011–2020)
On 5 February 2021, IFFHS announced the best African players (CAF) of the decade.
Player of Decade (2011–2020)
On 5 February 2021, IFFHS announced the best Asian players (AFC) of the decade.
Player of Decade (2011–2020)
On 6 February 2021, IFFHS announced the best Oceanian players (OFC) of the decade.
The World's Best Youth (U20) Player
won the Men's World Best Youth (U20) Player award twice won the Women's World Best Youth (U20) Player award twice The award was introduced in 2021.
Men's winners
won the award a record four consecutive years. The IFFHS World's Best Playmaker is a footballing award which, since 2006, is given annually to the best playmaker of the year, as chosen by the International Federation of Football History & Statistics (IFFHS). The award is awarded at the end of the year at the World Football Gala: the winning playmaker is awarded a gold trophy. Argentina's Lionel Messi has won the award a record five times. Spain's Xavi won the award four times, all consecutively, while Belgian Kevin De Bruyne won the award three times. Barcelona is the club with the most wins, with ten in total. Lionel Messi was named the Best Playmaker since 2006 and the Best Playmaker of the Decade 2011–2020.
Women's winners
was named Best Playmaker a record three consecutive years. Dzsenifer Marozsán was named the Best Playmaker since 2006 and the Best Playmaker of the Decade 2011–2020.
The World's Best Goalkeeper
is tied with Gianluigi Buffon and Manuel Neuer (5), with a record five consecutive wins between 2008 and 2012.
The World's Best Top Goal Scorer
has been the Top Goal Scorer of the Year a record five times. He is also the Best Goal Scorer in History. This award is given annually since 2020, and retroactively from 2011 to 2019, to the world's top goalscorer in the calendar year.
All-time World's Best Goal Scorer ranking
ranks 4th in the All-time World's Best Goal Scorer ranking with 756 goals. :Bold indicates players currently active. scored 48 goals in 2021.
Women's winners
The women's award was introduced in 2021.
The World's Best International Goal Scorer
This award is given annually since 1991 to the world's top international goalscorer in the calendar year. scored 12 goals for her country in 2022.
Women's winners
The women's award was introduced in 2021.
The World's Best Top Division Goal Scorer
has won the award a record four times. This award is given annually since 1997 to the player who scores the most goals in a league season (in a calendar year since 2020) in any of the top 60 leagues in the world (as ranked by IFFHS for that given year).
All-time World's Best Top Division Goal Scorer ranking
:Bold indicates players currently active.
The World's Best Top Division Goal Scorer of the First Decade (2001–2010)
The final list includes the 18 players who scored 150 or more goals in top-tier national leagues in the period of time from 1 January 2001 to 31 December 2010. The results were posted on the IFFHS' official website on 25 September 2022.
The World's Best Top Division Goal Scorer of the Second Decade (2011–2020)
The final list includes the 36 players who scored 150 or more goals in top-tier national leagues in the period of time from 1 January 2011 to 31 December 2020. The results were posted on the IFFHS' official website on 6 January 2021. was the top women's goal scorer for club in 2021.
Women's winners
The women's award was introduced in 2021.
The World's Most Effective Top Division Goal Scorer
is the only Japanese player to win the award. This award was given annually from 1997 to 2004 to the player with the best goal ratio (goals/matches played) in a league season in any of the top 60 leagues in the world (as ranked by IFFHS for that given year).
The World Team
made four appearances in the World Team since 2017.
Men's winners
In 2017, IFFHS started to nominate a world team of the year.
19th Century Men's Dream Team (2021)
The XI covers the 1863–1900 period. was selected as right inside forward for the All-time Men's Dream Team of the 19th Century.
20th Century Men's Dream Team (2000)
The XIs cover the 1901–2000 period. was selected as one of the three defenders in the 20th Century World XI.
All-time Men's Dream Team (2021)
The XIs published by IFFHS cover the 1901–2020 period. was selected as the goalkeeper for the All-time Men's Dream Team as well as the Men Team of the Century, both times for the World's and Europe's first team. was part of the World and South America team. shares the fourth place for most appearances in the Women World Team (4) with Alex Morgan, behind Aitana Bonmatí (5), Lucy Bronze (6) and Wendie Renard (7).
Women's winners
In 2017, IFFHS started to nominate a world team of the year.
All-time Women's Dream Team (2021)
was selected in the World and CONCACAF All-time Women's Dream Team. was selected in the World and Asia All-time Women's Dream Team. 325x325px
The World Youth (U20) Team
is one of four players to have appeared three times in the Men's World Youth (U20) Team, the others are Jamal Musiala, Jude Bellingham and Warren Zaïre-Emery. 319x319px The award was introduced in 2020.
Men's winners
is the only player to have appeared five times in the Women's World Youth (U20) Team.
The World's Best Club Coach
, World's Best Club Coach with three different clubs (Porto, Chelsea and Real Madrid). 236x236px
Men's winners
, first person to win the UEFA Women's Champions League as both a player and a manager.
The World's Best National Coach
, World's Best National Coach with Germany in 2014 and 2017. 170x170px
Men's winners
, World's Best National Coach for Netherlands and England.
The World's Best Referee
, World's Best Referee in 2017 and 2021. 236x236px
Men's winners
Felix Brych was awarded the prize for Men's Referee of the Decade 2011–20. , World's Best Referee for five years in a row.
Women's winners
Bibiana Steinhaus was awarded the prize for Women's Referee of the Decade 2011–20.
See also
*IFFHS World Team *IFFHS World's Best Club *IFFHS World's Best Club Coach *IFFHS World's Best Goalkeeper *IFFHS World's Best National Coach *IFFHS World's Best Player *IFFHS World's Best Top Division Goal Scorer *IFFHS World's Best Top Goal Scorer *IFFHS World's Best International Goal Scorer