ZURICH, 21 December 2004 — Barcelona and Brazil star Ronaldinho was crowned World Footballer of the Year last night at a function held in Zurich.
“I’m delighted — I want to go into Barca history as a winner, and that’s a great beginning,” the 24-year-old beamed at the presentation ceremony in Zurich’s Opera House.
Ronaldinho beat off opposition from newly voted European Footballer of the Year Andriy Shevchenko of AC Milan and Arsenal striker Thierry Henry, who came second behind three-time winner Zinedine Zidane in last year’s poll.The winner is decided by votes cast by 114 national team coaches and also - this year for the first time - the captains of 109 selected teams throughout the world. Ronaldinho finished with 620 points, while Henry had 552 and Shevchenko 253. Germany’s Birgit Prinz won the women’s title for the second year running with 376 points, ahead of American veteran Mia Hamm (286)— winner in 2001 and 2002 — and Brazil’s Marta (281)
Top ten placings:
1. Ronaldinho (Brazil) 620 points; 2. Thierry Henry (France) 552; 3. Andriy Shevchenko (Ukraine) 253; 4. Pavel Nedved (Czech Republic) 178; 5. Zinedine Zidane (France) 150; 6. Adriano (Brazil) 98; 7. Deco (Portugal) 96, Ronaldo (Brazil) 96; 9. Ruud van Nistelroy (Netherlands) 67; 10. Kaka (Brazil) 64
Women:
1. Birgit Prinz (Germany) 376 points; 2. Mia Hamm (USA) 286; 3. Marta (Brazil) 281; 4. Abby Wambach (USA) 126; 5. Kristine Lilly (USA) 109, Hanna Ljungberg (Sweden) 109; 7. Shannon Boxx (USA) 102; 8. Victoria Svensson (Sweden) 89, Renate Lingor (Germany) 89; 10. Christiane (Brazil) 80.
