And the new FIFA World Player of the Year...

[G-O-D]

Ronaldinho crowned king of the world

ZURICH, Dec 20 (Reuters) - Barcelona's Brazilian playmaker Ronaldinho was named FIFA World Player of the Year on Monday.

Ronaldinho, 24, totalled 620 points followed by Thierry Henry of Arsenal and France on 552. Newly-crowned European Footballer of the Year Andriy Shevchenko of AC Milan and Ukraine was third on 253.

'For me just to be selected and to be here was already an honour,' Ronaldinho told the FIFA gala awards ceremony.

'Of course I have to thank my Barcelona colleagues because I could not have won it without them.

'I am very happy at Barcelona, I want to be part of a new winning era at the club and I have no plans to go anywhere else,' he added, dismissing suggestions he might be interested in a move to Chelsea.

It was the second successive year that Henry has finished as runner-up in the poll based on the verdict of 157 international coaches and, for the first time this year, 145 national team captains.

Five points were awarded for a first place nomination, three for second and one for third. Ronaldinho gained 89 first place votes, Henry 79 and Shevchenko 34.

Last year's winner Zinedine Zidane, who announced his international retirement from the France team after Euro 2004, came fourth. Last year's European Footballer of the Year Pavel Nedved of the Czech Republic was fifth.

Ronaldinho has transformed Barcelona since arriving from Paris St Germain in 2003 and they lead the Primera Liga by nine points. Unlike his rivals for the award, organised by world soccer's governing body FIFA, Ronaldinho did not win a major club trophy this year.

Ronaldinho did not take part in the Copa America won by Brazil as he was rested along with Ronaldo and Roberto Carlos.

He is the fourth Brazilian to capture the award since its introduction in 1991 after Romario (1994), three times winner Ronaldo (1996, 1997 and 2002) and Rivaldo (1999).

Remarkably, they all won the award when playing for Barcelona, though after his first success Ronaldo was with Inter Milan in 1997 and Real Madrid in 2002.

Germany's Birgit Prinz won women's player of the year, the Presidents' Award went to Haiti for promoting the match for peace against Brazil and Brazil took the Fair Play award.

[sirdavinator]

I already expected that he'll win it. His legs are like magic. I would say henry should have won, but I know that it's impossible, despite all his flair. The people are all biased against him...

Edited December 21, 2004 by ladydavinator

[Guest The Real Deal]

Shut up lady.

Henry hasn't been playing as well as last year. Ronaldinho really deserved it for his performances. He's been the driving force of Barcelona.

[Summers]

Although, statisticly, Henry has been better. (Y)

I love Ronaldinho, pure magic.

And doesn't Shevi look sexy in the picture.

[Guest BacknBlackHoez]

goooooooooooooo soccer!

[Asuka's Gonna Kill You]

Deserved it, no doubt about it.

Henry is class, but for me Shev should have come second because I still believe he's the best striker in the world today.

[sirdavinator]

goooooooooooooo soccer!

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[Guest BacknBlackHoez]

[/sarcasm] that sould help ya.

When i played those soccer games, i always ended up with that Renaldo guy, so i guess its good for him.

[kaya]

Which was the club that reportedly didnt want to sign Ronaldinho because he was 'ugly'?

[Guest UmpireAJS]

Dammit! I thought Henry would win.

But,Ronaldinho has really been a revelation in the resurgence of Barcelona this year,so obvious reasons. But Henry's Goal-scoring abilities were like,poor awesome

[pigeon]

Totally deserved.

He is a God with the ball at his feet.

[Summers]

Which was the club that reportedly didnt want to sign Ronaldinho  because he was 'ugly'?

←

:blink: Is that true? A club said that?

[kaya]

Which was the club that reportedly didnt want to sign Ronaldinho  because he was 'ugly'?

←

:blink: Is that true? A club said that?

←

[stokeriño]

Pah, he was playing up the suggestions of wanting to move to Chelsea before this.

Of course, in my FM game the World Player of the Year was already at Chelsea (Robben).

I like my reality better.

[botchedpiledriver]

I don't beleive that "Too ugly" story. Sounds like a load of bullshit to me, Just because you read it, doesn't mean you have to beleive it.

[G-O-D]

I don't beleive that "Too ugly" story.  Sounds like a load of bullshit to me, Just because you read it, doesn't mean you have to beleive it.

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[Asuka's Gonna Kill You]

I don't believe that story to be honest. I mean Ronaldo isn't exactly good looking is he? Yet they signed him. If it was true then it would be one of the dumbest things I've ever heard. I still love how papers are saying Chelsea will get him when we all know it wont happen

[Summers]

I don't beleive that "Too ugly" story.  Sounds like a load of bullshit to me, Just because you read it, doesn't mean you have to beleive it.

←

Haven't seen you around much lately.

Where ya been?

[Guest Pirate Chasin' Booty]

As I said over at bullshit, this doesn't really make sense when compared to the european footballer of the year.

In my eyes it was Henry's year last year, but he was screwed out of it due to votes for a player thats been the worlds best for the last decade but in that time hasn't done anything particularly influencial.

I think the Ugly story is exaggerated, we all know Real sign players for their image rights and merchandise revenue rather than their football ability, they probably thought Ronaldinho wouldn't sell, but its kicked their corporate commercialised asses into touch.

[Different Cloud]

Ronaldinho deserved it, Henry should have won it last year.

Zidane is the probably the best footballer I've seen though.