IFFHS AWARD: Messi emerges best player of the decade

The International Federation of Football History & Statistics, IFFHS, has named Argentine’s superstar, Lionel Messi, as the best player of the decade (2011 and 2020).

Since 1991, IFFHS has produced a monthly Club World Ranking

33-year old Argentine footballer emerged winner over Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) and eight other superstars to win the prestigious award.

Other strong contenders are Andres Iniesta (Spain), Neymar (Brazil) and Sergio Ramos (Spain).

Ronaldo came second, Gianluigi Buffon and Zlatan Ibrahimovic were voted as the eighth and ninth-best in the world in the last decade

However, no current Premier League player was shortlisted among the top 10 best players in the last 10 years.

As Ronaldo came second, Gianluigi Buffon and Zlatan Ibrahimovic were voted as the eighth and ninth-best in the world in the last decade.

IFFHS

IFFHS is an organization that chronicles the history and records of association football. It was founded on 27 March 1984 in Leipzig by Alfredo Pöge with the blessings of general secretary of the FIFA at the time, Helmut Käser.

The IFFHS was based at Al-Muroor Street 147, Abu Dhabi for some time but, in 2010, relocated to Bonn, Germany, and then in 2014 to Zurich.

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

Since 1991, IFFHS 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 organized by a continental confederation, or any intercontinental events not recognized by FIFA, are not taken into consideration.