BACKGROUND: FIFA World Footballer of the Year award winners

Jan 9, 2012, 19:15 GMT

Zurich - Argentine Lionel Messi and Japan's Homare Sawa were on Monday crowned as the FIFA Ballon d'Or winners for 2011.

The following is a list of all men's and women's winners since the FIFA World Player award was introduced in 1991.

Men's award:

Year Name Country Club(s)

2011 Lionel Messi Argentina Barcelona 2010 Lionel Messi Argentina Barcelona 2009 Lionel Messi Argentina Barcelona 2008 Cristiano Ronaldo Portugal Manchester United 2007 Kaka Brazil AC Milan 2006 Fabio Cannavaro Italy Real Madrid/Juventus 2005 Ronaldinho Brazil Barcelona 2004 Ronaldinho Brazil Barcelona 2003 Zinedine Zidane France Real Madrid 2002 Ronaldo Brazil Real Madrid 2001 Luis Figo Portugal Real Madrid 2000 Zinedine Zidane France Juventus 1999 Rivaldo Brazil Barcelona 1998 Zinedine Zidane France Juventus 1997 Ronaldo Brazil Inter Milan 1996 Ronaldo Brazil Barcelona/PSV 1995 George Weah Liberia AC Milan 1994 Romario Brazil Barcelona 1993 Roberto Baggio Italy Juventus 1992 Marco van Basten Netherlands AC Milan 1991 Lothar Matthaeus Germany Inter Milan

Women's award:

Year Name Country Club(s)

2011 Homare Sawa Japan Inac Kobe Leonessa 2010 Marta Brazil Gold Pride/Santos 2009 Marta Brazil Los Angeles Sol/Santos 2008 Marta Brazil Umea IF 2007 Marta Brazil Umea IF 2006 Marta Brazil Umea IF 2005 Birgit Prinz Germany FFC Frankfurt 2004 Birgit Prinz Germany FFC Frankfurt 2003 Birgit Prinz Germany FFC Frankfurt 2002 Mia Hamm US Washington Freedom 2001 Mia Hamm US Washington Freedom