 |
|
||
 |
|||
 |
 |
 |
   | 
| |||||||||||||||||||||
Ronaldinho is crowned world No. 1
ZURICH, Switzerland (Reuters) -- Brazil and Barcelona star Ronaldinho was named World Player of the Year for the second straight year by soccer's governing body FIFA on Monday. He is the third Brazilian to win the world and European player awards in the same year after Ronaldo in 1997 and 2002, and Rivaldo in 1999. Ronaldinho picked up 956 points to beat Chelsea's England midfielder Frank Lampard (306) and Barca team-mate Samuel Eto'o (190) in the vote by national coaches and captains around the world. The 25-year-old Ronaldinho also won the inaugural FIFPro World Player of the Year award, selected by his fellow players, in September. Ronaldinho enjoyed a hugely successful year, helping Barcelona win the Primera Liga title and featuring in Brazil's Confederations Cup triumph in Germany. "He will undoubtedly be one of the star turns at next year's World Cup in Germany," FIFA said in a statement. Germany's Birgit Prinz beat off competition from Brazilian player Marta and U.S. challenger Shannon Boxx to win the women's crown for the third successive year. Although Brazil's Ronaldo and Zinedine Zidane of France have each won the men's award three times, FIFA said Prinz's triumph was historic as it was the first time a player had achieved a consecutive hat-trick. FIFA also handed the Peruvian city of Iquitos its Fair Play award. The community, located in the middle of the Amazon region, was one of the venues for the under-17 world championship held between September and October. 
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||
 |
|
| © 2007 Cable News Network LP, LLLP. A Time Warner Company. All Rights Reserved. Terms under which this service is provided to you. Read our privacy guidelines. Contact us. Site Map. |
|
External sites open in new window; not endorsed by CNN.com
Pay service with live and archived video. 
