Post by Salem6 on Dec 15, 2003 14:04:56 GMT
Zinedine Zidane is FIFA's World Player of the Year for 2003.
It is the third time the Real Madrid midfielder has received the award, having also emerged victorious in 1998 and 2000. The 31-year old Frenchman received 264 votes, comfortably ahead of compatriot Thierry Henry with 186, and Real team mate Ronaldo (176).The top ten vote-winners include five Real Madrid players:
1. Zinedine Zidane (France/Real Madrid) 264 votes
2. Thierry Henry (France/Arsenal) 186
3. Ronaldo (Brazil/Real Madrid) 176
4. Pavel Nedved (Czech Republic/Juventus) 158
5. Roberto Carlos (Brazil/Real Madrid) 105
6. Ruud van Nistelrooy (Netherlands/Manchester United) 86
7. David Beckham (England/Real Madrid) 74
8. Raul (Spain/Real Madrid) 39
9. Paolo Maldini (Italy/AC Milan) 37
10. Andriy Shevchenko (Ukraine/AC Milan) 26
Zidane becomes only the second player to win the award three times, alongside Ronaldo. This latest award is likely to propel the mercurial playmaker further into the pantheon of all-time greats.
A recent Spanish poll placed him fifth in a list of the greatest players ever, and the FIFA prize is sure to cement his place as one of the finest players to have graced a football pitch.
Zinedine Zidane was born in Marseille in southern France and started his career at Cannes before graduating to Bordeaux. Despite reaching a UEFA Cup final and representing France for the Girondins, the 31-year old's rise to prominence coincided with his move to Italian giants Juventus in 1996.
As a star in the French team, Zidane became a national hero when he guided the team to 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000 wins, before moving to Real Madrid for a world record fee of 73 million euros in summer 2001.
As part of the Spanish dream team, Zidane's trophy cabinet has continued to fill at an alarming pace. He scored a fantastic winner in the 2002 Champions Legaue final and won the 2002/3 Primera Liga title with Real.
It is the third time the Real Madrid midfielder has received the award, having also emerged victorious in 1998 and 2000. The 31-year old Frenchman received 264 votes, comfortably ahead of compatriot Thierry Henry with 186, and Real team mate Ronaldo (176).The top ten vote-winners include five Real Madrid players:
1. Zinedine Zidane (France/Real Madrid) 264 votes
2. Thierry Henry (France/Arsenal) 186
3. Ronaldo (Brazil/Real Madrid) 176
4. Pavel Nedved (Czech Republic/Juventus) 158
5. Roberto Carlos (Brazil/Real Madrid) 105
6. Ruud van Nistelrooy (Netherlands/Manchester United) 86
7. David Beckham (England/Real Madrid) 74
8. Raul (Spain/Real Madrid) 39
9. Paolo Maldini (Italy/AC Milan) 37
10. Andriy Shevchenko (Ukraine/AC Milan) 26
Zidane becomes only the second player to win the award three times, alongside Ronaldo. This latest award is likely to propel the mercurial playmaker further into the pantheon of all-time greats.
A recent Spanish poll placed him fifth in a list of the greatest players ever, and the FIFA prize is sure to cement his place as one of the finest players to have graced a football pitch.
Zinedine Zidane was born in Marseille in southern France and started his career at Cannes before graduating to Bordeaux. Despite reaching a UEFA Cup final and representing France for the Girondins, the 31-year old's rise to prominence coincided with his move to Italian giants Juventus in 1996.
As a star in the French team, Zidane became a national hero when he guided the team to 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000 wins, before moving to Real Madrid for a world record fee of 73 million euros in summer 2001.
As part of the Spanish dream team, Zidane's trophy cabinet has continued to fill at an alarming pace. He scored a fantastic winner in the 2002 Champions Legaue final and won the 2002/3 Primera Liga title with Real.