Did Brazilian and FC Barcelona star Ronaldinho already won the 2006 FIFA World Player of the Year Award? If we are going to believe rumors and speculations around Internet, he is the winner.
For those of us, who don’t believe the rumors around Internet, there are only a few days left to the final announcement and for the shorter short list to reduce to only one left.
FIFA World Player Of The Year Shortlist did get shorter. Fabio Cannavaro, Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldinho are the only remaining for the 2006 FIFA World Player of the Year Award.
Who will be the last man standing? Cannavaro, the fresh winner of the 2006 Ballon d’Or? Zizou, one of the best players ever? Ronaldinho the magician also known as the best player on the planet?
Real Madrid defender Fabio Cannavaro, who captained Italy to soccer’s World Cup 2006 title, won the 51st annual Ballon d’Or trophy - 2006 Europe’s top footballer award. Cannavaro, previously voted the second-best player at the World Cup 2006 after Zinedine Zidane, finished in front of his Italy teammate Gianlugi Buffon and Arsenal’s Thierry Henry.
Here is the final lineup and votes:
The 25-year-old, Cameroon’s Samuel Eto’o was named FifPro’s African Footballer of the Year. At an awards ceremony in Algeria the FC Barcelona forward picked up the award in front of a crowd of 800:
“It’s a great honour to be here and to receive this prize,” said Eto’o after receiving the award.
The big surprise at the awards was Morocco’s Mustapha El Haddaou, who won the African Footballer of the Century award. To me unknown midfielder, played 46 internationals for Morocco and was playing in for St Etienne, Nice and Lens during his European carrier.
Hungary and Real Madrid legend Ferenc Puskas died on Friday at the age of 79.
‘The Galloping Major’ scored 512 goals for Real Madrid in 528 matches. Puskas also scored 83 goals in 84 games for Hungary from 1945 to 1956 and later played for Spain in the 1962 World Cup.
According to The Offside, the following players are the ones most likely to win the Europe’s Best Dressed Footballers Award:
The Confederation of African Football is organizing a voting system through its website inviting Internet users to choose African best player in the last 50 years. The longest short list, I have ever seen, includes 200 players who performed significantly on continental level in the last 50 years. The selection was made on the basis of national, regional and continental performance as well as FIFA World Cup and Olympic tournament.
All votes should be sent to CAF by email to caf50@cafonline.com before 15th November 2006. Only one player can be selected and you must explain in few lines the motives backing your choice.
Zinedine Zidane, who has just signed a deal to work as a comentator for French television Canal Plus, said he did not miss competitive football. Zidane, who retired after his country’s defeat by Italy in the World Cup final in July, said he was coping well with life outside soccer.
The former France and Real Madrid play maker told L’Equipe in an interview:
I’m not missing it. When Real Madrid started the season, I didn’t feel anything, but it may come. I will stay close to football because that’s what I know how to do. If you ask me if I will become a coach, for now, it’s no. But in 10 years, I don’t know.
FIFA revealed 30-man shortlist for FIFA World Player of the Year 2006 award. The best player will be awarded on 18 December in Zurich. Ronaldinho, winner of this award on the last two occasions, will have the opportunity to defend his title.
FIFA World Player Of The Year Shortlist:
The Brazilian Football Confederation have offered the position of president of their 2014 World Cup Organising Committee to the one and only Edson Arantes do Nascimento - Pele. He would take on a similar role to that of Franz Beckenbauer at the World Cup 2006 in Germany and Michel Platini in France 1998.
The Brazil legend has indicated he would love to take on the position.
