For the fifteenth time, the greatest footballers in the world met in Monaco, invited by H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco for the presentation of the Golden Foot Hublot Award. Founded in 2003 by Antonio Caliendo, the former renowned agent who managed the careers of Maradona and Trezeguet, this international prize stands out for two reasons: the winner is chosen by the fans, and not by journalists, and it can only be won once.
For the second time, Hublot has committed to the Golden Foot organisation and its President and Founder, Antonio Caliendo, with the goal of supporting this “democratic” award so as to make it into the equivalent of a new “Ballon d’Or”.
The people have cast their vote: the Spanish goalkeeper Iker Casillas has been voted best player of the year! This award crowns an exceptional career: the 36-year-old Spaniard has accumulated three Champions League titles with Real Madrid as well as two European Championships and one World Cup with the Spanish team. During a ceremony held on 6 and 7 November at Hôtel Le Méridien in Monaco in the presence of H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco, Iker Casillas was presented with his Hublot Golden Foot Award trophy, as well as a Hublot Big Bang watch.
“Among all the titles and awards received during my career, the Hublot Golden Foot is particularly moving for me! It’s the fans who have voted! I’d like to thank them from the bottom of my heart. I’d also like to thank the Golden Foot organisation and Hublot for giving the supporters the opportunity to express themselves. They are the ones who make football so magical!” Iker Casillas, winner of the Golden Foot Hublot 2017
It should also be noted that the Hublot Golden Foot organisation was keen to celebrate the careers of other legends by honouring them with a special award. These players include: Oliver Kahn, the legendary German goalkeeper; the former player and current Under 20s coach for China, Li Ming; world champion Marcel Desailly; the exceptional striker Michael Owen; and the Italian international, now coach, Roberto Mancini.
THE HUBLOT GOLDEN FOOT AWARD
2003 Roberto Baggio, Italy
2004 Pavel Nedved, Czech Republic
2005 Andry Shevchenko, Ukraine
2006 Ronaldo, Brazil
2007 Alessandro Del Piero, Italy
2008 Roberto Carlos, Brazil
2009 Ronaldinho, Brazil
2010 Francesco Totti, Italy
2011 Ryan Giggs, Wales
2012 Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Sweden
2013 Didier Drogba, Côte d’Ivoire
2014 Andres Iniesta, Spain
2015 Samuel Eto’o, Cameroon
2016 Gianluigi Buffon, Italy
2017 Iker Casillas
THE HUBLOT GOLDEN FOOT LEGENDS
2003 Maradona, Eusebio, Riviera, Fontaine
2004 di Stefano, Zoff, Platini
2005 Gento, Best, Weah, Riva, Rivelino
2006 Ghiggia, Puskas, Facchetti, Kopa, Zico
2007 Müller, Stoitchkov, Kempes, Rossi, Romario
2008 Aldair, Belanov, Suarez, Zidane
2009 Rummenigge, Santos, Blokhine, Higuita, Boniek
2010 Dunga, Varallo, Beckenbauer, Antognoni
2011 Pelé, Zanetti, Figo, Madjer, Gullit
2012 Cantona, Baresi, Matthaus, Pelé
2013 Valderrama, Ardiles, Papin
2014 Panenka, Pfaff, Sukur, Nakata, Hamm, Milla
2015 Hagi, Passarella, Dasaev, Trezeguet
2016 Deco, Carles Puyol, Didier Deschamps, Claudio Ranieri, Frank de Boer
2017 Oliver Kahn, Marcel Desailly, Michael Owen, Li Ming, Roberto Mancini