[Xen]

Ronaldinho has beaten Thierry Henry and Andrei Shevchenko to win the Fifa World Player of the Year award. The Barcelona forward came out on top of a poll of national team coaches, with a total of 620 votes followed by Henry, who won 552 votes and Shevchenko third with 253. Ronaldinho was overjoyed in becoming the fourth Brazilian to capture the award and he pledged his long-term future to Barcelona by dismissing rumours of a move away. "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." Ronaldinho has been rewarded for producing some memorable displays for club and country in the last 12 months and is rated by many as the best player on the planet. The Brazilian has helped transform the fortunes of Barca since arriving from Paris Saint Germain in the summer of 2003. The skilful playmaker inspired the Catalan giants to a second place finish in La Liga last season and has continued his form into the current campaign. Ronaldinho has been the driving force behind Barca's progress in the UEFA Champions League and their massive lead at the top of the table in Spain. The news is more disappointment for Arsenal ace Henry, who finished second last year to Zinedine Zidane Henry has enjoyed a fine year in helping Arsenal win last season's Premiership title, having played an instrumental role in his side's record-breaking run of 49 games without defeat. Despite his achievements, the France international has again been forced to make do with second prize while newly-crowned European Player of the Year Shevchenko was unable to make it a memorable month by taking the world crown after finishing third in voting.

http://skysports.planetfootball.com/...sp?hlid=245445

[ 12-20-2004, 03:38 PM: Message edited by: Xen ]