Best football referee in the world, in addition to excellent players, talented coaches or famous clubs, referees also play an extremely important role. They are the ones responsible for running the match, ensuring that the rules are followed and deciding on important situations. Determining who is the best football referee in the world is not an easy task, because it depends on many factors such as judgment, fairness, match management skills, and the ability to handle stressful situations. So, who are the best football referees in the world today? Today, let’s find out with Bestsoccertips.com through the article below!
Top 10 best football referee in the world
1. Pierluigi Collina
Best football referee in the world it is impossible not to mention Pierluigi Collina, a name that has been associated with world football. If you are a regular follower of live football matches at Cakhia, you must have witnessed his outstanding talent. With his confident and courageous demeanor, Collina always stands out every time he referees, and no trickery from the players can fool him.
Pierluigi Collina started his career working with FIFA in 1995 and maintained an impressive career until 2005. During this time, he was honored as the best referee of the year 6 times in a row. The career of this former Italian referee was not only distinguished by his ability to judge accurately in foul situations, but also by his decisiveness and absolute fairness, factors that helped him gain the respect of players, coaches and fans all over the world.
2. Marcus Merk
Marcus Merk is one of the most outstanding and influential referees in world football, having been named the best referee in 2004, 2005 and 2008. Not only that, he also set an impressive record when he was awarded the title of best referee in Germany 6 times. In addition, Merk also became the youngest referee to be registered in the Bundesliga and after only 4 years, he was selected as a FIFA referee, marking an important turning point in his career.
After giving up his refereeing career, Marcus Merk turned to the field of football commentary and analysis on Lig TV, where he not only shared his incisive assessments but also updated news about the Turkish league. This new career allowed him to continue to be involved with football and bring in-depth analysis to fans.
3. Howard Webb
Howard Webb is best football referee in the world, known for his patience, decisiveness and fairness in his decisions. Therefore, he is always trusted to take charge of big matches, especially the 2010 World Cup final and the 2010 UEFA Champions League final – the peak moments of his refereeing career.
However, in 2014, Howard Webb suddenly announced his decision to retire early, causing regret not only for the players but also for the fans. After leaving the field, Webb continued to contribute to football as the president of the referees association of the Saudi Arabian Football Federation, where he brought improvements to refereeing. At the same time, he also held the position of analyst at BT Sport television station, where he provided sharp analysis of matches and tactics.
4. Franck de Bleeckere
Frank de Bleeckere is one of the most prominent referees and has had a successful international career. He has set an impressive record of being named the best referee of the year 7 times, affirming his talent and prestige in the football world. With an impressive career, Frank de Bleeckere has had the opportunity to officiate many major tournaments, including the 2006 FIFA World Cup qualifiers and the 2005 FIFA U-17 World Cup, two important events in his international career.
In addition, he was also the main referee at the Euro 2004 and Euro 2008 seasons, where he demonstrated his excellent refereeing ability in the top matches of European football. In 2012, Frank de Bleeckere was named one of 16 “Referee Technical Advisors,” continuing to contribute to the development of refereeing and international football.
5. Kim Milton Nielsen
Kim Milton Nielsen is one of the world’s leading referees, a Danish national, who has distinguished himself with a successful career since he was very young. He started refereeing at the age of 28 and quickly established his talent and reputation. Nielsen’s career is not only long but also impressive, as he has been entrusted with the responsibility of officiating matches at the biggest tournaments in world football.
Throughout his career, Kim Milton Nielsen has had the honor of officiating at three World Cups (1998, 2002, 2006) and five Euros (1996, 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012), the pinnacle of international football. This demonstrates his talent, fairness and leadership on the pitch, as he has always been trusted by football organizations to officiate at important events. In addition, Nielsen also had an impressive career at club level, with a total of 53 Champions League matches. With 154 international matches, he became an icon in the refereeing world, respected not only by players, coaches but also by fans around the world. After retiring, he continued to contribute to refereeing and football in general.
6. Oscar Ruiz
Oscar Ruiz, besides being a famous referee in the football world, is also a lawyer with a fair, clear and decisive personality. He was recognized by FIFA as an international referee from 1995 to 2011, and during this time, he demonstrated his ability to control matches with absolute precision and impartiality. His strong and decisive personality helps him deal effectively with tense situations on the pitch, and always receives respect from players and coaches.
During his career, Oscar Ruiz officiated at three consecutive World Cups, from 2002 to 2010, establishing his reputation and ability at the highest levels of world football. After retiring, he continued to contribute to the football refereeing community as a lecturer, imparting his experience and knowledge to younger generations of referees. Oscar Ruiz’s career not only left an impression on fans but also had a profound influence on international football refereeing.
7. Pedro Proenca
Proença began his refereeing career at the age of 18 and in 2003, he received his official FIFA certification. Throughout his career, he has been regarded as one of the top referees in Europe, thanks to his confidence, ability to control the game, decisiveness and fairness. It is these qualities that have helped him gain the trust of being entrusted with important responsibilities in major matches, including important tournaments such as the Portuguese National Championship, the Champions League final and the Europa League.
In addition, Proença was also honored with the best referee award of the year voted by the Portuguese Football Federation in 2007 and 2011. These achievements have affirmed his position not only domestically but also in the international arena, when he is always trusted by major football organizations and assigned important tasks.
8. Michel Vautrot
Michel Vautrot is a famous French referee, known for his impressive career when he was often assigned to take charge of many big matches, including the 1982 and 1990 World Cups, as well as the 1983 Intercontinental Cup final in Tokyo. His fairness and ability to control the game have made him one of the most respected referees in the world. In particular, he was voted the best referee in the world by the IFFHS (International Federation of Football History and Statistics) for two consecutive years.
In addition to his international career, Michel Vautrot has also made great contributions to the European Championships. He refereed three European Championships from 1984 to 1988 and was especially in charge of the 1986 European Championship final between FC Barcelona and Steaua Bucharest. These achievements have helped Vautrot affirm his position in the international refereeing community, being honored not only in France but also around the world.
9. Sandor Puhl
Sandor Puhl is one of the most prominent referees in the history of world football. He has been named the best referee in the world for four consecutive years, an impressive achievement, affirming his talent and fairness in officiating international matches. With his decisive and fair working style, Puhl has become one of the most trusted referees in major tournaments.
In addition to his refereeing career, Sandor Puhl has also made important contributions to Hungarian football as Vice President of the Hungarian Football Association from 2000 to 2006. In this role, he helped promote the development of domestic football and enhance the prestige of the association, creating a solid foundation for the long-term development of Hungarian football.
10. Peter Mikkelsen
Best football referee in the world Peter Mikkelsen, especially known for two matches at the 1990 FIFA World Cup. He continued his impressive international career by officiating at the 1994 World Cup held in the United States and officiated many European club cup matches. Mikkelsen’s fairness and ability to control the game have made him one of the most highly regarded referees in world football.
In particular, in 1991 and 1993, the IFFHS honored Peter Mikkelsen as the best referee in the world, affirming his influence and prestige in the international refereeing community. However, after the 1998 World Cup, Mikkelsen decided to announce the end of his refereeing career, ending a long and successful journey in his refereeing career.
Conclusion
The best football referee in the world is not only a person with excellent match management skills, but also the ability to manage emotions and make the right decisions in stressful situations. Famous referees such as Pierluigi Collina, Mark Clattenburg, or Nicola Rizzoli have left an indelible mark on the hearts of fans. Although they did not directly score goals or set records, their correct decisions have contributed significantly to the success of memorable matches in the history of world football.
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