The 1996 FIFA World Player of the Year award was won by Ronaldo, the youngest player to ever win the award, aged 20. The ceremony took place at the Belem Cultural Centre in Lisbon, on January 20, 1997. For the first time a record of 120 national team coaches, based on the current FIFA Men's World Ranking were chosen to vote. It was organised by European Sports Media, Adidas and FIFA.
| Rank | Player | Club(s) | Country | Points | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ronaldo | PSV Barcelona |  Brazil | 329 | |
| 2 | George Weah |  Milan |  Liberia | 140 | |
| 3 | Alan Shearer | Blackburn Rovers Newcastle United | England | 123 | |
| 4 | Matthias Sammer |  Borussia Dortmund | Germany | 109 | |
| 5 | Jürgen Klinsmann | Bayern Munich | Germany | 54 | |
| 6 | Nwankwo Kanu | Ajax Inter Milan |  Nigeria | 32 | |
| 7 | Paolo Maldini | Milan | Italy | 25 | |
| 8 | Davor Šuker | Sevilla Real Madrid |  Croatia | 24 | |
| 9 | Gabriel Batistuta | Fiorentina |  Argentina | 19 | |
| 10 | Romário | Flamengo Valencia | Brazil | 13 |