The countdown has begun in advance of the award ceremony for the coveted “Golden Foot“. This prestigious prize, is being presented tonight, in Monaco, in the presence of His Serene Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco.
The winner, in addition to being awarded the prize, will have his or her footprints preserved for posterity. They will be added to all those already present in the famous “Promenade of Champions” in Monte-Carlo.
The Golden Foot award is an international football award, given to players who stand out for their athletic achievements (both as individuals and team players) and for their personality. The award is only given to active players of at least 28 years of age, and can only be won once.
The winner of the award leaves a permanent mould of his footprints on "The Champions Promenade", on the seafront of the Principality of Monaco.
This prestigious award was created in 2003 by Antonio Caliendo, the founding father” of Italian sports agents who managed in particular the career of Maradona and Trezeguet. His philosophy? It is to allow football lovers to express themselves.
Indeed, they are the ones who will make the final choice for the best player and not a committee of journalists or football professionals as for other awards.
The prize list for this award is impressive and includes current players as well as football legends, such as Baggio (first winner in 2003), Maradona and Pelè, full of stars.
For 2019 the selection of players will be from 10 nominees, initially selected by a jury of the world’s leading media journalists. There are, of course, legends too who are eligible. But the eventual winner of the Golden Foot, whether currently playing or legend is elected solely on the basis of the votes of the public made by internet on the official website of the event www.goldenfoot.com.
The ten player contenders are: Lionel Messi (Barcelona), Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus), Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus), Luka Modric (Real Madrid), Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid), Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich), Sergio Aguero (Manchester City), Gerard Pique (Barcelona), Wayne Rooney (D.C. United) and Thiago Silva (PSG).
And among legends are the celebrated: Patrick Viera, Paulo Roberto Falcao, Josè Altafini and also Carolina Morace, best Italian women’s footballer and second at world level, after the American Mia Ham, rewarded in 2014. One of these great men or women will write his or her own name among the stars at the Monegasque event in the presence of Prince Albert this November 12th.
Previous winners of each year:
2003 Roberto Baggio (Italy, Brescia)
2004 Pavel Nedvěd (Czech Republic, Juventus)
2005 Andriy Shevchenko (Ukraine, Milan)
2006 Ronaldo (Brazil, Real Madrid)
2007 Alessandro Del Piero (Italy, Juventus)
2008 Roberto Carlos (Brazil, Fenerbahçe)
2009 Ronaldinho (Brazil, Milan)
2010 Francesco Totti (Italy, Roma)
2011 Ryan Giggs (Wales, Manchester United)
2012 Zlatan Ibrahimović (Sweden, PSG)
2013 Didier Drogba (Ivory Coast, Galatasaray)
2014 Andrés Iniesta (Spain, Barcelona)
2015 Samuel Eto'o (Cameroon, Antalyaspor)
2016 Gianluigi Buffon (Italy, Juventus)
2017 Iker Casillas (Spain, Porto)
2018 Edinson Cavani (Uruguay, PSG)