ZIDANE ON SHORTLIST for FIFA World Player of the Year
-
Zinedine Zidane has been named on the short-list for the FIFA World Player of the Year award.
The news may come as a surprise to many, after the former Real Madrid man struggled to live up to his own high standards in the last days of his career.
Zidane, whose last act in football was to butt Italy defender Marco Materazzi in the World Cup final, was named on the shortlist along with Ballon D'Or winner Fabio Cannavaro, and Barcelona forward Ronaldinho.
Thierry Henry did not even make it into the final three - a decision that is sure to infuriate his Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger.
Henry was the only player who made it to the finals of both the Champions League and the World Cup last season, and Wenger said earlier this week the striker deserved to have been given the Ballon D'Or.
FIFA's award is voted for by the coach and captain of all 207 national teams, who each pick their top three players of the year.
Brazilian Ronaldinho has won it for the last two years and despite having a poor World Cup he is the front-runner again, though Zidane, winner in 2003, 2000 and 1998, may have a chance as a sympathy vote after retiring from football following his red card in the World Cup final.
Wenger yesterday said it had been "a mistake" to give the European award to World Cup-winning skipper Cannavaro purely on the basis of that tournament.
"It shows that the people who vote look only at the World Cup, which when you speak about elite football, in my opinion, is the lowest level in football that you can see at the moment," said Wenger.
The identity of the winner of the FIFA award will be revealed on Monday, December 18 at a gala in Zurich.
USA's Kristine Lilly, Germany's Renate Lingor and Brazil international Marta are the remaining contenders in the frame for this year's FIFA Women's World Player award.
1) Zinedine Zidane
2) Fabio Cannavaro
3) Ronaldinho
Which of these 3 players deserve being the FIFA World Player of the Year Title?
If Zidane wins, he will probably be the first retired player to win the title...
-
Henry snubbed for top FIFA award
Thierry Henry has not even made it into the final three short-list for the FIFA World Player of the Year award - a decision that is sure to infuriate his Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger.
Fabio Cannavaro, Ronaldinho and Zinedine Zidane were revealed as the three remaining candidates today.
Henry was the only player who made it to the finals of both the Champions League and the World Cup last season, and Wenger said earlier this week the striker deserved to have been given the Ballon D'Or, the European Footballer of the Year award won by Italy and Real Madrid defender Cannavaro.
FIFA's award is voted for by the coach and captain of all 207 national teams, who each pick their top three players of the year.
Barcelona's Brazilian Ronaldinho has won it for the last two years and despite having a poor World Cup he is the front-runner again, though Zidane, winner in 2003, 2000 and 1998, may have a chance as a sympathy vote after retiring from football following his red card in the World Cup final.
Wenger yesterday said it had been 'a mistake' to give the European award to World Cup-winning skipper Cannavaro purely on the basis of that tournament.
'It shows that the people who vote look only at the World Cup, which when you speak about elite football, in my opinion, is the lowest level in football that you can see at the moment,' said Wenger.
The identity of the winner of the FIFA award will be revealed on Monday, December 18 at a gala in Zurich. -
cannavaro!!!
but i doubt they will let him win again. -
Why not? they are different awards... and different people are voting...Originally posted by dragg:cannavaro!!!
but i doubt they will let him win again.
Anyway, my pick is Ronaldinho.
-
did anyone ever win both awards in a year?Originally posted by zocoss:Why not? they are different awards... and different people are voting...
Anyway, my pick is Ronaldinho. -
Ronaldinho,if i am not wrong.Originally posted by dragg:did anyone ever win both awards in a year?
2005 i think.
Correct? -
Yeah actually quite many did over the years... Rivaldo in 1999, Zinedine Zidane in 1998, Ronaldo in 1997, George Weah in 1995, Roberto Baggio in 1993 and Marco van Basten in 1992.
Voting for the award is undertaken by a group of European football journalists.
Only three players have managed to win the award three times, namely Johan Cruijff and Marco van Basten of the Netherlands, and Michel Platini of France.
List of winners of the Ballon d'Or Winners (European Footballer of the Year)
2006 Fabio Cannavaro Juventus
2005 Ronaldinho FC Barcelona
2004 Andriy Shevchenko A.C. Milan
2003 Pavel Nedvìd Juventus F.C.
2002 Ronaldo Real Madrid
2001 Michael Owen Liverpool F.C.
2000 LuÃs Figo Real Madrid
1999 Rivaldo FC Barcelona
1998 Zinedine Zidane Juventus F.C.
1997 Ronaldo Internazionale Milano FC
1996 Matthias Sammer Borussia Dortmund
1995 George Weah A.C. Milan
1994 Hristo Stoichkov FC Barcelona
1993 Roberto Baggio Juventus F.C.
1992 Marco van Basten A.C. Milan
1991 Jean-Pierre Papin Olympique Marseille
1990 Lothar Matthäus Internazionale Milano FC
List of winners of the FIFA World Player of the Year.
2005
1st Ronaldinho Brazil FC Barcelona
2nd Frank Lampard England Chelsea
3rd Samuel Eto'o Cameroon FC Barcelona
2004
1st Ronaldinho Brazil FC Barcelona
2nd Thierry Henry France Arsenal
3rd Andriy Shevchenko Ukraine A.C. Milan
2003
1st Zinedine Zidane France Real Madrid
2nd Thierry Henry France Arsenal
3rd Ronaldo Brazil Real Madrid
2002
1st Ronaldo Brazil Real Madrid
2nd Oliver Kahn Germany Bayern Munich
3rd Zinedine Zidane France Real Madrid
2001
1st LuÃs Figo Portugal Real Madrid Midfield
2nd David Beckham England Manchester United
3rd Raúl Spain Real Madrid
2000
1st Zinedine Zidane France Juventus F.C.
2nd LuÃs Figo Portugal FC Barcelona
3rd Rivaldo Brazil FC Barcelona
1999
1st Rivaldo Brazil FC Barcelona
2nd David Beckham England Manchester United
3rd Gabriel Batistuta Argentina AC Fiorentina
1998
1st Zinedine Zidane France Juventus F.C.
2nd Ronaldo Brazil F.C. Internazionale
3rd Davor Šuker Croatia Real Madrid
1997
1st Ronaldo Brazil FC Barcelona
2nd Roberto Carlos Brazil Real Madrid
3rd (tie) Dennis Bergkamp Netherlands Arsenal
Zinedine Zidane France Juventus F.C.
1996
1st Ronaldo Brazil FC Barcelona
2nd George Weah Liberia A.C. Milan
3rd Alan Shearer England Blackburn
Newcastle United
1995
1st George Weah Liberia A.C. Milan
2nd Paolo Maldini Italy A.C. Milan
3rd Jürgen Klinsmann Germany Tottenham Hotspur
Bayern Munich
1994
1st Romário Brazil FC Barcelona
2nd Hristo Stoichkov Bulgaria FC Barcelona
3rd Roberto Baggio Italy Juventus F.C.
1993
1st Roberto Baggio Italy Juventus F.C.
2nd Romário Brazil FC Barcelona
3rd Dennis Bergkamp Netherlands Ajax Amsterdam
F.C. Internazionale
1992
1st Marco van Basten Netherlands A.C. Milan
2nd Hristo Stoichkov Bulgaria FC Barcelona
3rd Thomas Häßler Germany AS Roma
1991
1st Lothar Matthäus Germany F.C. Internazionale
2nd Jean-Pierre Papin France Olympique Marseille
3rd Gary Lineker England Tottenham Hotspur -
Idiots..