Kaka outstanding footballer of 2007
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Brazil midfielder Kaka completed a virtual sweep
of annual awards Monday by winning FIFA's World Player of the Year.
The Milan playmaker received 1,047 points, ahead of with Messi with 504 and
Cristiano Ronaldo with 426 in a vote by national team captains and managers. The
three were picked as finalists from a list of 30 candidates.
On the women's side, Marta of Brazil captured the award with 988 |
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points, ahead of Birgit Prinz of Germany with 507
and Cristiane of Brazil with 150.
For Kaka, it is the third accolade this year. He also won European soccer's
Golden Ball and World Soccer magazine's player of the year award.
"Tonight is a really special night for me," Kaka said after being handed the
trophy.
He is the fifth Brazilian to win the title joining Ronaldo — who has won the
trophy three times, Ronaldinho (2), Romario (1) and Rivaldo (1).
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"When I was young, I dreamed of becoming a professional player
for Sao Paulo and playing one game for the national team,"
Kaka said.
Before the award ceremony at Zurich's opera house, Kaka owed
his success this year to his club. Kaka led Milan to a 2-1
victory over Liverpool in the Champions League final last
season. On Sunday, he scored one goal and set up two for
Filippo Inzaghi as Milan won its record fourth world club
title by beating Argentina's Boca Juniors 4-2. Marta was the
top scorer of the 2007 Women's World Cup in China, |
with seven goals. The
21-year-old lead Brazil to the finals, where they were beaten 2-0 by
Germany.
"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," said Marta, who won
the award last year after three consecutive wins by Prinz.
Pele won the President's Award. The Fair Play prize went to FC
Barcelona for donating space on its jersey to advertise the U.N.
children's fund UNICEF.
Messi, who tore a thigh muscle over the weekend when Barcelona beat
Valencia 3-0, memorably showed his skills when he scored against
Getafe in April after picking up the ball in his own half and going
past four opposition players before sliding the ball past the
goalkeeper.
The feat drew comparisons with Diego Maradona's second goal in the
1986 World Cup quarterfinal match against England, voted the best
the greatest goal in FIFA World Cup history in 2002.
Asked about being compared with the Argentine legend, Messi said, "I
just want to ... become a better player and hope to win a couple of
titles with a good team, and that's about it."
Cristiano Ronaldo would have been the first winner from an English
club. The Manchester United player is currently tied at the top of
the Premier League's scoring list (9 goals) with Arsenal's Emmanuel
Adebayor and Everton's Ayegbeni Yakubu.
The 22-year-old Portuguese was Manchester United's top scorer last
season, helping the club win its first Premier League title in four
years.
--AP, Zurich
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