Winners of World Player of the Year award since 1991

Factfile on World Player of the year Ronaldinho

Barcelona star player Ronaldinho of Brazil kisses the cup. (Photo: Xinhua/Reuters)

    BRUSSELS, Dec. 19 (Xinhuanet) -- Barcelona star player Ronaldinho of Brazil won his second successive World Player of the Year award from soccer's governing body FIFA in Zurich on Monday.

    Thus, he becomes the third Brazilian to win the world and European player awards in the same year after Ronaldo in 1997 and 2002, and Rivaldo in 1999.

    Ronaldinho picked up 956 points to comfortably beat Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard (306) of England in the FIFA vote by national coaches and captains around the world.

    His Barcelona team mate Samuel Eto'o of Cameroon finished third with 190 points.

    "I would like to say thank you to all my team mates and national team because without them all I would not be here," Ronaldinho told the FIFA Gala.

    "I hope I can make people happy with what I do and I hope to behere again in a year's time," he said.

    The 25-year-old Ronaldinho also won the inaugural FIFPro World Player of the Year award, selected by soccer players in September.

    For a successful year, Ronaldinho helped Barcelona win the Primera Liga title and anchored Brazil win the Confederations Cup in Germany.

    Runner-up Lampard considered his Brazilian opponent a deserved winner, saying that "For me he is the most exciting player and the player I enjoy watching the most in the world."

    The poll was casted by 159 international coaches and captains. Five points were awarded for a first place nomination, three for second and one for third. Enditem

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