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Ronaldinho setting for another top gong?
(Independent Online)
Updated: 2005-12-02 09:36 Barcelona forward Ronaldinho is in line for
another top accolade after soccer's world ruling body nominated the Brazilian
among the contenders for the world player of the year.
Voted the Ballon d'Or (Golden Ball) - Europe's player of the year - in
midweek, the 25-year-old silky smooth Ronaldinho is already Fifa's player of the
year (2004).
From left:
Barcelona's Samuel Eto'o of Cameroon, Barcelona's Brazilian player
Ronaldinho and Chelsea's English midfielder Frank Lampard are seen in this
combo of file photos. Eto'o, Ronaldinho and Lampard have been shortlisted
for FIFA's world player of the year it was announced Wednesday Nov. 30,
2005. [AP] |
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However whether he can again hold of the likes of Chelsea's Frank Lampard and
Barcelona team-mate Samuel Eto'o of Cameroon remains to be seen.
According to a Fifa statement on Wednesday, the votes have already been
counted, and all three above players are in contention for Fifa's prize, the
15th edition of which will be announced on at the Zurich Opera house on December
19th.
Unlike the Ballon d'Or winner, who is nominated by 52 journalists - one each
from Uefa's association countries - the Fifa award is chosen by the coaches and
captains of national teams worldwide from a list made up by Fifa.
Women's soccer will also be honoured. Birgit Prinz, the winner in 2004, is
again in contention.
Fifa's player of the year award has only been held for the past 14 years
while the Ballon d'Or - considered by many on the continent as the bona fide
footballer's prize - has run since 1956.
Ronaldinho joined the greats of world football on Monday when he won the
prize with 225 points, 77 ahead of Lampard.
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