對球迷而言，2006年屬于意大利球星法比奧·卡納瓦羅。繼連奪歐洲足球先生，世界足球評選的年度最佳之后，他再次被國際足聯授予了“世界足球先生”的稱號。這也是繼巴喬之后，第二個意大利人被評為世界足球先生，卡納瓦羅終于得到世界的認可。此外，國際足聯還評選出了“世界足球小姐”，巴西中場瑪塔榮摘桂冠。

Soccer World Player of the Year 2006 nominee Fabio Cannavaro of Italy smiles during a press conference before the FIFA World Player Gala in Zurich December 18, 2006. [Reuters]	Women's soccer World Player of the Year 2006 nominee Marta of Brazil smiles during a press conference before the FIFA World Player gala in Zurich December 18, 2006. [Reuters]

Fabio Cannavaro was votedFIFA Player of the Yearon Monday, becoming the first defender to earn the honor and only the second Italian.

BrazilianmidfielderMarta was voted FIFA Women's Player of the Year, with U.S.forwardKristine Lilly finishing second.

The 33-year-old Cannavaro, who captained Italy to its fourth World Cup title, finished with 498 points in voting by national team coaches and captains.

"It is indeed more difficult for a defender to come this far," Cannavaro said.

Zinedine Zidane was second with 454 points. He was voted top player at the World Cup despite his ejection in the final forhead-buttingMarco Materazzi in overtime.

Ronaldinho, who won the award in 2004 and 2005, was third with 380 points.

The only other Italian voted world player of the year by FIFA was Roberto Baggio in 1993, two years after the award began. This was a tumultuous year for Italian soccer, which was upended by a scandal in which team officials were found to havefixed referee assignmentsfor Serie A games.

"I would like to dedicate this award to Italian football," Cannavaro said. "Everyone knows that we have had problems, and this should be a moment of rebirth for Italian football."

Former U.S. coach Bruce Arena voted Ronaldinho first, followed by Cannavaro and Thierry Henry. Former U.S. captain Claudio Reyna had Ronaldinho first, followed by Andrea Pirlo and Deco.

Marta topped the voting for the women's award with 475 points. Lilly had 388 and German midfielder Renate Lingor was third with 305.

"I don't feel much pressure. I just want to keep playing at my level," said the 20-year-old Marta, who was prevented from competing in the FIFA Under-20 Women's World Championship this year by her Swedish club, Umea IK.

Marta finished second behind Germany's Birgit Prinz last year.

（Agencies）

Vocabulary:

midfielder：中場

forward：前鋒

head-butting：頭擊

fix referee assignments：指定裁判

（英語點津陳蓓編輯）