The 2011 FIFA Ballon d'Or Gala was the second year for FIFA's awards for the top football players and coaches of the year. The awards were given out in

Zürich Zurich (; ) is the list of cities in Switzerland, largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is in north-central Switzerland, at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich. , the municipality had 448,664 inhabitants. The ...

on 9 January 2012, with

Lionel Messi Lionel Andrés "Leo" Messi (; born 24 June 1987) is an Argentine professional Association football, footballer who plays as a forward (association football), forward for and Captain (association football), captains both Major League Soccer ...

claiming the title of world player of the year for the third time in a row. The gala ceremony was hosted by former Ballon d'Or winner

Ruud Gullit Ruud Gullit (; born Rudi Dil; 1 September 1962) is a former Dutch Association football, footballer and subsequent manager. Regarded among the greatest footballers of all time, he was also noted for his Utility player#Association football, abili ...

and broadcast journalist Kay Murray of Real Madrid TV and

Fox Soccer Channel Fox Soccer (formerly Fox Soccer Channel & Fox Sports World before that) was an American television specialty channel specializing in soccer, owned by 21st Century Fox, which operated from 1997 to 2013. It formerly broadcast rugby and Australia ...

, with singer-songwriter

James Blunt James Blunt (born James Hillier Blount, 22 February 1974) is an English singer, songwriter and musician. He is known for his songs "You're Beautiful" and "Goodbye My Lover". As a British Army captain in the aftermath of the Kosovo War, Blunt ...

and his band providing musical entertainment.

Winners and nominees

FIFA Ballon d'Or

The top three nominees for the 2011 FIFA Ballon d'Or were: The following twenty players were also in contention for the award:

FIFA Women's World Player of the Year

The top three nominees for the 2011 FIFA Women's World Player of the Year were: The following seven players also in contention for the award:

FIFA World Coach of the Year for Men's Football

FIFA World Coach of the Year for Women's Football

FIFA/ FIFPro World XI

FIFA Puskás Award

FIFA Presidential Award

* Sir Alex Ferguson

FIFA Fair Play Award

Japan Football Association The Japan Football Association (JFA, ) is the Sport governing body, governing body responsible for the administration of Association football, football, futsal, beach soccer and Esports, efootball in Japan. It is responsible for the Japan national ...

Controversy

The day after the awards ceremony, Spanish newspaper '' Marca'' reported that none of the four captains of the Spanish women's national team had voted for the Women's World Player of the Year award. According to the list of votes published by FIFA, captain Sandra Vilanova had awarded five points to Hope Solo, three to Louisa Nécib and one to Marta.List of votes
in FIFA's website

References

External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Fifa Ballon D'Or 2011

2011 The year marked the start of a Arab Spring, series of protests and revolutions throughout the Arab world advocating for democracy, reform, and economic recovery, later leading to the depositions of world leaders in Tunisia, Egypt, and Yemen ...

Fifa Ballon Dor, 2011

Basel Basel ( ; ), also known as Basle ( ), ; ; ; . is a city in northwestern Switzerland on the river Rhine (at the transition from the High Rhine, High to the Upper Rhine). Basel is Switzerland's List of cities in Switzerland, third-most-populo ...

2011 sports awards 2011 in women's association football Women's association football trophies and awards