What is Goal 50? Previous winners & everything you need to know

The 11th edition’s winner is set to be unveiled, so we bring you up to speed on what it is and who has won it before

The 2018 Goal 50 will be unveiled on Tuesday November 13 as the best players in the world are recognised.

Stars such as Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Kylian Mbappe and Luka Modric all enjoyed stellar years, but there is only room for one at the top. 

Some surprises have already been revealed, such as the fact that Neymar hasn’t made the top 20, while Mohamed Salah has come third after a sensational debut campaign with Liverpool.

With the 2018 Goal 50 set to be announced, Goal brings you all the past winners and everything you need to know.

Goal 50 is an annual award presented by Goal which ranks the 50 best footballers in the world over the previous 12 months.

Editors and correspondents from Goal’s 42 editions across the world cast their votes, making it a truly global ballot.

Players are judged on their level of consistency during the course of the year, individual big-game performances and their contribution to the team effort.

Games at both club and international level are taken into consideration.

Ronaldo is the most successful player in the history of Goal 50, coming out on top of the pile five times, with Messi taking the ultimate prize on four occasions.

Former Inter and Real Madrid star Wesley Sneijder – who was crowned the best in 2010 – is the only player outside of the aforementioned duo to win Goal 50 since its inception.

Messi has failed to place in the top three in the past two years, while Ronaldo – who won the inaugural Goal 50 in 2008 – faded into the background in 2009 and 2010.

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Players such as Andres Iniesta, Luis Suarez, Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben have come close to upsetting the duopoly, as have goalkeepers Iker Casillas and Gianluigi Buffon.

Others who have been in the top three include Fernando Torres, Xavi, Antoine Griezmann and Luka Modric.