TheUEFA President's Award recognises outstanding achievements, professional excellence and exemplary personal qualities. The accolade, first introduced byUEFA in 1998, is usually awarded annually to afootball personality who is deemed to have advanced the game's development and success.[1][2]
The 2021 UEFA President's Award went to Denmark's national football team captain and their medical and coaching staff for their heroic response when Danish midfielderChristian Eriksen suffered a cardiac arrest on the field during a Euro 2020 match against Finland. During the game, Eriksen collapsed unexpectedly, and his teammates quickly formed a protective circle around him to shield him from the cameras, providing privacy while the medical team performed life-saving CPR. Denmark’s captain,Simon Kjær, played a crucial role in comforting Eriksen’s partner and directing the team to support each other. The medical team’s swift response saved Eriksen’s life, and their professionalism and composure were widely praised.[3]
Recently,Eric Cantona has become infamous for his bizarre acceptance speech for the 2019 UEFA Presidents Award. Dressed in a flat cap, he began by quotingWilliam Shakespeare'sKing Lear – "As flies to wanton boys we are for the gods" – before referencing science, war and crime.[4]
| Year | Winner | Ref. |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 |  Jacques Delors | [5] |
| 1999 | Not Awarded | |
| 2000 | Guy Roux | |
| 2001 |  Juan Santisteban | |
| 2002 |  Bobby Robson | |
| 2003 |  Paolo Maldini | |
| 2004 |  Ernie Walker | |
| 2005 |  Frank Rijkaard | |
| 2006 |  Wilfried Straub | |
| 2007 |  Alfredo Di Stéfano | |
| 2008 | Bobby Charlton | |
| 2009 |  Eusébio | |
| 2010 | Raymond Kopa | |
| 2011 | Gianni Rivera | |
| 2012 | Franz Beckenbauer | |
| 2013 | Johan Cruyff | |
| 2014 |  Josef Masopust | |
| 2015 | Not Awarded | |
| 2016 | Not Awarded | |
| 2017 | Francesco Totti | [3] |
| 2018 | David Beckham | [6] |
| 2019 | Eric Cantona | [7] |
| 2020 |  Didier Drogba | [8] |
| 2021 |  Mogens Kreutzfeldt Frederik Flensted Anders Boesen Peder Ersgaard Jens Kleinefeld Valentin Velikov Morten Skjoldager Morten BoesenSimon Kjær | [9] |
| 2022 | Arrigo Sacchi | [10] |
| 2023 | Miroslav Klose | [11] |
| 2024 | Gianluigi Buffon | [12] |
| 2025 |  Zlatan Ibrahimović | [13] |