Best Player In The World ?

[scousemouse]

Kaka got the vote for the best player and is probably a deserved winner.

Kaka named Europe's best player

AC Milan's Brazilian star Kaka has been named Europe's footballer of the year after winning France Football magazine's Golden Ball award.

The 25-year-old was the key figure in AC Milan's triumphant Champions League campaign this year.

"This is very special for me - it culminates an astonishing year for me," Kaka said.

Second place went to Manchester United winger Cristiano Ronaldo with Barcelona's Lionel Messi placing third.

The prize was voted for by 96 international journalists from a shortlist of 50 players.

Kaka succeeds Italy's World Cup winning captain and defender Fabio Cannavaro and comes two years after the last Brazilian winner of the trophy, Barcelona's Ronaldinho.

The Brazilian playmaker was hugely influential in Milan winning the 2007 Champions League, ending as top scorer in the tournament with 10 goals.

"It's the top prize around and the only way to win something like this is to play for a team like AC Milan," he said.

"It's great to be part of a team that wins."

In October Kaka was named FIFPro world player of the year, claiming that accolade after 45,000 members of the players' union voted in the awards.

[mrtoad]

A pretty fair reflection of last year.

Ronaldo may have won it,had United won the champions league, but Kaka's dominent displays in the later stages probably swayed it.

The top three are all very special players, and watch out for the next Brazillian on at AC Milan called Pato, they say he's even better than Kaka

[ThaiPauly]

I agree with that.

He was class last year

[mrbojangles]

Kaka got the vote for the best player and is probably a deserved winner.

I like him

Ronaldo may have won it,had United won the champions league,

I don't like him

Short memory MrT, getting Rooney sent off last year doesn't make him anywhere near qualified to getting player of the year. It's also about sportsmanship.

[scousemouse]

Best player in the world ... confirmed , and a nice award for Barcelona :

Kaka wins Fifa world player crown

AC Milan and Brazil star Kaka has been named Fifa's world player of the year, beating Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi to the honour in Zurich.

Kaka's latest award crowns a superb year in which he led AC Milan to Champions League victory, scoring 10 goals in the process.

In a poll of all national coaches and captains, Kaka polled 1,047 votes, Messi 504 and Ronaldo 426.

The 25-year-old was also named European player of the year earlier this month.

Kaka, a devout Christian, said he had never expected to reach such heights in the sport.

"It's really special for me - it was a dream for me just to play for Sao Paulo and one game for Brazil," he said.

PREVIOUS WINNERS 1991: Lothar Matthaeus (Ger)

1992: Marco Van Basten (Hol)

1993: Roberto Baggio (Ita)

1994: Romario (Bra)

1995: George Weah (Lib)

1996: Ronaldo (Bra)

1997: Ronaldo (Bra)

1998: Zinedine Zidane (Fra)

1999: Rivaldo (Bra)

2000: Zinedine Zidane (Fra)

2001: Luis Figo (Por)

2002: Ronaldo (Bra)

2003: Zinedine Zidane (Fra)

2004: Ronaldinho (Bra)

2005: Ronaldinho (Bra)

2006: Fabio Cannavaro (Ita)

"But the Bible says God can give you more than you even ask for and that is what has happened in my life.

"I had always thought about winning this award, but there are always doubts until it is actually confirmed.

"It is not just this award but the whole year that has been very nice. Winning the Champions League and everything that has happened, it's just been wonderful."

Chelsea and Ivory Coast striker Didier Drogba was fourth in the voting with 209, while 2004 and 2005 winner Ronaldinho came fifth.

Kaka, who has won 42 caps for Brazil, scored one goal and set up two others at the Club World Cup final in Japan on Sunday to hand AC Milan a record fourth title.

He follows in some illustrious footsteps, with Marco van Basten, Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldinho and George Weah among previous winners of the award.

Meanwhile, the legendary Pele - one of Kaka's predecessors in Brazil's famous yellow shirts - was given the Fifa presidential award for his lifetime contribution to football.

"My father told me it was a gift from God to play football," said a tearful Pele.

The three-time World Cup-winner went on to praise Kaka as a worthy winner of the award.

"Ronaldo and Messi have played some great football this year but they are not yet the most prominent players in their national teams," he said.

"Kaka has been playing at this level for Brazil for four years now, he helps out in midfield and he is also a great example off the pitch. He's the complete player."

In the women's player of the year award, Brazil's Marta won for the second year running, beating Germany's World Cup-winning captain Birgit Prinz and her fellow Brazilian Cristiane.

"I'm very happy to be here once more, and you can be sure I am going to give my best to be here on other occasions," she said. Barcelona's gesture of displaying the name of children's fund Unicef on their shirts was recognised with the Fair Play Award.

[Travel2003]

I don't like him

Short memory MrT, getting Rooney sent off last year doesn't make him anywhere near qualified to getting player of the year. It's also about sportsmanship.

If it is about sportmanship, then Ronaldhino never should have won it.

He is probably one of the biggest cheats and whiners (cry babies) in Europe.

He has been booked quite a few times for diving, and even whining to the referee.

Amazing football player though. Veeery good indeed.