Spain - Footballer of the Year
Spain - Footballer of the Year
Since 1975-76, different prizes were awarded to the best players and trainers of
the Spanish championship by the magazine Don Bal?n.
These awards ceased to exist after the closure of the magazine in 2011.
Don Bal?n Awards
Best Spanish Player
Season Player Club
1975-76 MIGUEL ?NGEL Gonz?lez Su?rez Real Madrid CF
1976-77 Juan G?mez Gonz?lez, ?JUANITO? Real Burgos CF
1977-78 Miguel Bernardo Bianqueti, ?MIGUELI? FC Barcelona
1978-79 Enrique Castro Gonz?lez, ?QUINI? Real Sporting de Gij?n
1979-80 Rafel GORDILLO V?zquez Real Betis Balompi?
1980-81 Francisco Jos? Gonz?lez Urrutikoetxea, ?URRUTI? RCD Espa?ol
1981-82 Miguel TENDILLO Berenguer Valencia CF
1982-83 Juan Antonio SE?OR G?mez Real Zaragoza CD
1983-84 CERVANTES Real Murcia CF
1984-85 Miguel Bernardo Bianqueti, ?MIGUELI? FC Barcelona
1985-86 Jos? Miguel Gonz?lez Mart?n del Campo, ?M?CHEL? Real Madrid CF
1986-87 Andoni ZUBIZARRETA Urreta FC Barcelona
1987-88 Jos? Antonio LARRA?AGA Gurrutxaga Real Sociedad de F?tbol
1988-89 FERNANDO G?mez Colomer Valencia CF
1989-90 Rafael MART?N V?ZQUEZ Real Madrid CF
1990-91 Jon Andoni GOIKOETXEA Lasa FC Barcelona
1991-92 Agust?n de Carlos ELDUAYEN Real Burgos CF
1992-93 Francisco Javier Gonz?lez P?rez, ?FRAN? RC Deportivo A Coru?a
1993-94 Julen GUERRERO L?pez Athletic Club de Bilbao
1994-95 Jos? Emilio AMAVISCA G?rate Real Madrid CF
1995-96 Jos? Luis P?rez CAMINERO Club Atl?tico de Madrid
1996-97 RA?L Gonz?lez Blanco Real Madrid CF
1997-98 ALFONSO P?rez Mu?oz Real Betis Balompi?
1998-99 RA?L Gonz?lez Blanco Real Madrid CF
1999-00 RA?L Gonz?lez Blanco Real Madrid CF
2000-01 RA?L Gonz?lez Blanco Real Madrid CF
2001-02 RA?L Gonz?lez Blanco Real Madrid CF
2002-03 XABI ALONSO Olano Real Sociedad de F?tbol
2003-04 Vicente RODR?GUEZ Valencia CF
2004-05 XAVI Hern?ndez FC Barcelona
2005-06 David VILLA Valencia CF
2006-07 Santi CAZORLA Recreativo de Huelva
2007-08 Marcos SENNA Villarreal CF
2008-09 Andr?s INIESTA FC Barcelona
2009-10 BORJA VALERO Iglesias RCD Mallorca
Best Foreign Player
Season Player Club
1975-76 Johan NEESKENS (Netherlands) FC Barcelona
1976-77 Johan CRUIJFF (Netherlands) FC Barcelona
1977-78 Johan CRUIJFF (Netherlands) FC Barcelona
1978-79 Ulrich STIELIKE (Germany) Real Madrid CF
1979-80 Ulrich STIELIKE (Germany) Real Madrid CF
1980-81 Ulrich STIELIKE (Germany) Real Madrid CF
1981-82 Ulrich STIELIKE (Germany) Real Madrid CF
1982-83 Juan Alberto BARBAS (Argentina) Real Zaragoza CD
1983-84 Juan Alberto BARBAS (Argentina) Real Zaragoza CD
1984-85 Bernd SCHUSTER (Germany) FC Barcelona
1985-86 Jorge Alberto VALDANO Castellanos (Argentina) Real Madrid CF
1986-87 HUGO S?NCHEZ M?rquez (Mexico) Real Madrid CF
1987-88 Ricardo Rogerio de Brito, ?ALEM?O? (Brazil) Club Atl?tico de Madrid
1988-89 ?scar Alfredo RUGGERI (Argentina) CD Logro??s
1989-90 HUGO S?NCHEZ M?rquez (Mexico) Real Madrid CF
1990-91 Bernd SCHUSTER (Germany) Club Atl?tico de Madrid
1991-92 Michael LAUDRUP (Denmark) FC Barcelona
1992-93 Miroslav DJUKIC (Yugoslavia) RC Deportivo A Coru?a
1993-94 Hristo STOICHKOV (Bulgaria) FC Barcelona
1994-95 Iv?n Luis ZAMORANO Zamora (Chile) Real Madrid CF
1995-96 Predrag MIJATOVIC (Yugoslavia) Valencia CF
1996-97 RONALDO Luiz Nazario da Lima (Brazil) FC Barcelona
1997-98 Vitor Borba Ferreira, ?RIVALDO? (Brazil) FC Barcelona
1998-99 Luis Filipe Madeira Caeiro, ?FIGO? (Portugal) FC Barcelona
1999-00 Luis Filipe Madeira Caeiro, ?FIGO? (Portugal) FC Barcelona
2000-01 Luis Filipe Madeira Caeiro, ?FIGO? (Portugal) FC Barcelona
2001-02 Zinedine ZIDANE (France) Real Madrid CF
2002-03 NIHAT Kahveci (Turkey) Real Sociedad de F?tbol
2003-04 Ronaldo de Assis Moreira, RONALDINHO (Brazil) FC Barcelona
2004-05 Juan Rom?n RIQUELME (Argentina) Villarreal CF
2005-06 Ronaldo de Assis Moreira, RONALDINHO (Brazil) FC Barcelona
2006-07 Lionel MESSI (Argentina) FC Barcelona
2007-08 Sergio AG?ERO (Argentina) Club Atl?tico de Madrid
2008-09 Lionel MESSI (Argentina) FC Barcelona
2009-10 Lionel MESSI (Argentina) FC Barcelona
Best Trainer
Season Trainer Club
1975-76 Miljan MILJANIC (Yugoslavia) Real Madrid CF
1976-77 Luis ARAGON?S G?rate (Spain) Club Atl?tico de Madrid
1977-78 Luis MOLOWNY Arbelo (Spain) Real Madrid CF
1978-79 Luis MOLOWNY Arbelo (Spain) Real Madrid CF
1979-80 Luis MOLOWNY Arbelo (Spain) Real Madrid CF
1980-81 Alberto ORMAECHEA (Spain) Real Sociedad de F?tbol
1981-82 Alberto ORMAECHEA (Spain) Real Sociedad de F?tbol
1982-83 Javier CLEMENTE L?zaro (Spain) Athletic Club de Bilbao
1983-84 Javier CLEMENTE L?zaro (Spain) Athletic Club de Bilbao
1984-85 Terry VENABLES (Inglaterra) FC Barcelona
1985-86 Luis MOLOWNY Arbelo (Spain) Real Madrid CF
1986-87 Javier CLEMENTE L?zaro (Spain) RCD Espa?ol
1987-88 Leo BEENHAKKER (Netherlands) Real Madrid CF
1988-89 John B. TOSHACK (Wales) Real Sociedad de F?tbol
1989-90 John B. TOSHACK (Wales) Real Madrid CF
1990-91 Johan CRUIJFF (Netherlands) FC Barcelona
1991-92 Johan CRUIJFF (Netherlands) FC Barcelona
1992-93 Arsenio IGLESIAS (Spain) RC Deportivo A Coru?a
1993-94 V?ctor FERN?NDEZ (Spain) Real Zaragoza
1994-95 Arsenio IGLESIAS (Spain) RC Deportivo A Coru?a
1995-96 Radomir ANTIC (Yugoslavia) Club Atl?tico de Madrid
1996-97 Vicente CANTATORE (Uruguay) Real Valladolid
1997-98 Javier Iruretagoyena Amiano, ?IRURETA? RC Celta de Vigo
1998-99 H?ctor C?PER (Argentina) RCD Mallorca
1999-00 Javier Iruretagoyena Amiano, ?IRURETA? RC Deportivo A Coru?a
2000-01 Jos? Manuel Esnal Pardo, ?MAN? (Spain) Deportivo Alav?s
2001-02 Rafael BEN?TEZ Maudes (Spain) Valencia CF
2002-03 Raynald DENOUEIX (France) Real Sociedad de F?tbol
2003-04 Javier IRURETA (Spain) RC Deportivo A Coru?a
2004-05 Frank RIJKAARD (Netherlands) FC Barcelona
2005-06 Frank RIJKAARD (Netherlands) FC Barcelona
2006-07 Juan de la Cruz Cano, JUANDE RAMOS (Spain) Sevilla CF
2007-08 Gregorio MANZANO (Spain) RCD Mallorca
2008-09 Josep GUARDIOLA Sala (Spain) FC Barcelona
2009-10 Josep GUARDIOLA Sala (Spain) FC Barcelona
LPF Awards
This award was established in 2008/09 by the Liga de F?tbol Profesional.
Best Player
Season Player Club
2008-09 Lionel MESSI (Argentina) FC Barcelona
2009-10 Lionel MESSI (Argentina) FC Barcelona
2010-11 Lionel MESSI (Argentina) FC Barcelona
2011-12 Lionel MESSI (Argentina) FC Barcelona
2012-13 Lionel MESSI (Argentina) FC Barcelona
2013-14 Cristiano RONALDO (Portugal) Real Madrid CF
2014-15 Lionel MESSI (Argentina) FC Barcelona
2015-16 Antoine GRIEZMANN (France) Club Atl?tico de Madrid
2016-17 Lionel MESSI (Argentina) FC Barcelona
2017-18 Lionel MESSI (Argentina) FC Barcelona
2018-19 Lionel MESSI (Argentina) FC Barcelona
2019-20 Karim BENZEMA (France) Real Madrid CF
2020-21 Jan OBLAK (Slovenia) Club Atl?tico de Madrid
2021-22 Karim BENZEMA (France) Real Madrid CF
2022-23 Marc-Andr? TER STEGEN (Germany) FC Barcelona
Best Trainer
Season Trainer Club
2008-09 Josep GUARDIOLA Sala (Spain) FC Barcelona
2009-10 Josep GUARDIOLA Sala (Spain) FC Barcelona
2010-11 Josep GUARDIOLA Sala (Spain) FC Barcelona
2011-12 Josep GUARDIOLA Sala (Spain) FC Barcelona
2012-13 Diego Pablo SIMEONE (Argentina) Club Atl?tico de Madrid
2013-14 Diego Pablo SIMEONE (Argentina) Club Atl?tico de Madrid
2014-15 LUIS ENRIQUE Mart?nez Garc?a (Spain) FC Barcelona
2015-16 Diego Pablo SIMEONE (Argentina) Club Atl?tico de Madrid
2016-17 Jos? Luis MENDILIBAR (Spain) SD Eibar
Asier GARITANO (Spain) Legan?s
2017-18 Ernesto VALVERDE (Spain) FC Barcelona
2018-19 Jos? BORDAL?S (Spain) Getafe
2019-20 Zinedine ZIDANE (France) Real Madrid CF
2020-21 Diego Pablo SIMEONE (Argentina) Club Atl?tico de Madrid
2021-22 Manuel Luis PELLEGRINI (Chile) Real Betis Balompi?
El Pa?s Awards
Another award is organised by Madrid newspaper El Pa?s.
Best Spanish Player
Season Player Club
1989-90 Manuel SANCHIS Real Madrid CF
1990-91 Jon Andoni GOIKOETXEA FC Barcelona
1991-92 Manuel S?nchez MANOLO C Atl?tico Madrid
1992-93 Miguel Gonz?lez del Campo MICHEL Real Madrid CF
1993-94 JULEN GUERRERO Athletic Bilbao
1994-95 Emilio AMAVISCA Real Madrid CF
1995-96 RA?L Gonz?lez Blanco / Real Madrid CF /
Jos? Luis P?rez CAMINERO C Atl?tico Madrid
1996-97 Fernando HIERRO / Real Madrid CF /
RA?L Gonz?lez Blanco Real Madrid CF
1997-98 LUIS ENRIQUE Mart?nez FC Barcelona
1998-99 RA?L Gonz?lez Blanco Real Madrid CF
1999-00 RA?L Gonz?lez Blanco Real Madrid CF
2000-01 RA?L Gonz?lez Blanco Real Madrid CF
2001-02 Diego TRIST?N RC Deportivo A Coru?a
Best Foreign Player
Season Player Club
1989-90 not awarded
1990-91 not awarded
1991-92 Hristo STOICHKOV (Bulgaria) FC Barcelona
1992-93 Michael LAUDRUP (Denmark) FC Barcelona
1993-94 Michael LAUDRUP (Denmark) / FC Barcelona /
ROM?RIO de Sousa (Br) FC Barcelona
1994-95 Iv?n Zamorano (Chile) Real Madrid CF
1995-96 Pedja Mijatovic? (Yugoslavia) Valencia CF
1996-97 RONALDO Luiz Naz?rio de Lima (Brazil) FC Barcelona
1997-98 Vitor Borba Ferrerira, RIVALDO (Brazil) FC Barcelona
1998-99 Vitor Borba Ferreira, ?RIVALDO? (Brazil) FC Barcelona
1999-00 Luis Filipe Madeira Caeiro, ?FIGO? (Portugal) FC Barcelona
2000-01 Luis Filipe Madeira Caeiro, ?FIGO? (Portugal) FC Barcelona
2001-02 Zinedine ZIDANE (France) Real Madrid CF
Best Rookie (Revelaci?n)
Season Player Club
1989-90 Luis MILLA FC Barcelona
1990-91 LUIS ENRIQUE Mart?nez R Sporting Gij?n
1991-92 Josep GUARDIOLA FC Barcelona
1992-93 JULEN GUERRERO Athletic C Bilbao
1993-94 SERGI Barjuan FC Barcelona
1994-95 Emilio AMAVISCA Real Madrid CF
1995-96 Fernando MORIENTES / R Zaragoza /
Jordi LARD?N / RCD Espanyol /
Iv?n DE LA PE?A FC Barcelona
1996-97 Iv?n DE LA PE?A FC Barcelona
1997-98 Albert CELADES FC Barcelona
1998-99 XAVI Hern?ndez FC Barcelona
1999-00 GERARD L?pez Valencia CF
2000-01 JAVI MORENO Deportivo Alav?s
2001-02 JOAQU?N S?nchez Real Betis Balompi?
Best Trainer
Season Trainer Club
1989-90 not awarded
1990-91 not awarded
1991-92 not awarded
1992-93 not awarded
1993-94 ARSENIO Iglesias (Spain) / RC Deportivo A Coru?a /
VICTOR Fern?ndez (Spain) Real Zaragoza
1994-95 Jorge VALDANO (Argentina) Real Madrid CF
1995-96 LUIS ARAGON?S (Spain) Valencia CF
1996-97 Vicente CANTATORA (Chile) Real Valladolid
1997-98 Louis VAN GAAL (Netherlands) / FC Barcelona
Javier IRURETA (Spain) / RC Celta
H?ctor C?PER (Argentina) RCD Mallorca
1998-99 H?ctor C?PER (Argentina) RCD Mallorca
1999-00 J.A. CAMACHO Spain (national team)
2000-01 not awarded
2001-02 Rafael BEN?TEZ Maudes (Spain) Valencia CF
About this document
El Pa?s awards thanks to Carles Lozano;
thanks to Roberto Di Maggio for updates since 2004.
Prepared and maintained by
Emilio Pla Diaz
for the
Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation
Author: Emilio Pla Diaz
Last updated: 17 Jan 2024
(C) Copyright Emilio Pla Diaz and RSSSF 2001/24
You are free to copy this document in whole or part provided that proper
acknowledgement is given to the author. All rights reserved.