Barcelona's Brazilian star Ronaldinho has been voted player of the year by FIFPro, the international professional football players' union. (Photo: Sina)

LONDON, Sept. 19 (Xinhuanet) -- Barcelona forward Ronaldinho was voted FIFPro's World Player of the Year in a glittering gala held at the BBC Television center on Monday.

    Five AC Milan players and three Chelsea stars were named in the best eleven while Manchester United wonder boy Wayne Rooney won the young player award.

    Rooney's Mancheser United teammate Cristiano Ronaldo was given a special young player award and Pele was honored the legend award by the FIFPro, a worldwide representative organisation for professional players.

    Ronaldinho was the 2004 Fifa World Player of the Year and was instrumental in Barcelona's La Liga triumph last season.

    And the Brazil international said of his FIFPro triumph: "I'm delighted to win this award."

    The 25-year-old added that he was not surprised three Chelsea players had made the World XI.

    "The Premiership is one of the best and strongest leagues in the world. Chelsea, together with Real Madrid, AC Milan, Barcelona and Liverpool, are the best teams in the world."

    Rooney has endured a difficult week after his red card playing for Manchester United in their Champions League draw at Villarreal last Wednesday.

    But he was a star performer for England at Euro 2004 and last season for Manchester United after his transfer from Everton.

    And after receiving the award the 19-year-old said: "It is a great honour and I would like to thank all the players who voted for me.

    "My team-mates have been fantastic since I've moved to Manchester United and I'm always trying to get better as a player."

    England international Rooney was one of 12 names on their young player award shortlist, along with Premiership trio Cristiano Ronaldo, Cesc Fabregas and Arjen Robben.

    Chelsea pair Petr Cech and Terry were on the 55-strong shortlist for the world player of the year award, as was Arsenal's Thierry Henry and England skipper David Beckham.

    With the exception of Ronaldo's award, which was decided by the public, the winners were voted for by their fellow professionals through the global umbrella organisation of players unions.

    Between April and July 38,000 professional footballers, who belong to the 40-strong player organizations across the world which go to form FIFPro, voted in a secret ballot to select the world XI which are as following:

    Goalkeeper: Nelson Dida (Brazil/AC Milan)

    Defenders: Cafu (Brazil/AC Milan) Alessandro Nesta (Italy/ AC Milan) John Terry (England/Chelsea) Paolo Maldini (Italy/AC Milan)

    Midfielders: Ronaldinho (Brazil/Barcelona) Frank Lampard (England/Chelsea) Claude Makelele (France/Chelsea)

    Zinedine Zidane (France/Real Madrid)

    Forwards: Samuel Eto'o (Cameroon/Barcelona) Andriy Shevchenko (Ukraine/AC Milan)

Rooney wins Young Player of the year

England's Wayne Rooney (L) and his girlfriend Colleen McCloughlin arrive at the FIFPRO World Player Awards at BBC Television Centre in London September 19, 2005. Rooney was awarded the FIFPRO Academy's Young Player of the Year award at the ceremony by the awards committee and Portugal winger Cristiano Ronaldo was voted by fans worldwide. (Photo: Xinhua)

(Photo: Xinhua)

Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo arrives at the FIFPRO World Player Awards at BBC Television Centre in London September 19, 2005. Ronaldo was awarded the FIFPRO Young Player of the Year award at the ceremony. (Photo: Xinhua)