Post by Salem6 on Nov 29, 2005 10:23:10 GMT
Mon Nov 28, 2005 8:39 PM GMT
By Patrick Vignal
today.reuters.co.uk/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=footballNews&storyID=2005-11-28T203941Z_01_L28123478_RTRIDST_0_SPORT-SOCCER-AWARD-UPDATE-3-PICTURE.XML
PARIS, Nov 28 (Reuters) - Ronaldinho completed a
hat-trick of awards when he was named European
Footballer of the Year on Monday.
The 25-year-old Brazilian forward won the vote by
European soccer journalists organised by French soccer
magazine France Football after guiding Barcelona to
last season's Primera Liga title.
Frank Lampard, an inspirational member of Chelsea's
Premier League-winning side, came second in the vote.
Fellow England midfielder Steven Gerrard, who was
instrumental in Liverpool's surprise Champions League
triumph, finished third.
"To be here with all those great players applauding me
is a dream come true," said Ronaldinho after receiving
the golden ball trophy at a ceremony in Paris attended
by several former winners.
"This gives me motivation to keep working and try to
emulate them.
"I have the chance to do for a living what I like the
most in life, and that's playing football. I can make
people happy and enjoy myself at the same time."
Ronaldinho received the plaudits of international
coaches when he was named FIFA World Player of the
Year last December, an award he is tipped to retain
next month.
He was then honoured by his fellow professionals when
he won the inaugural FIFPro World Player of the Year
trophy in September.
BIG FAVOURITE
Ronaldinho's skill and vision are the pulse of
Barcelona's exciting football. He was a prominent
member of Brazil's 2002 World Cup-winning team and is
likely to be one of the main attractions at next
year's World Cup finals in Germany.
The Brazilian was a big favourite for the award before
he scored two wonder goals in Barcelona's 3-0 defeat
of Real Madrid earlier this month.
The list of Ballon d'Or winners, starting with Stanley
Matthews in 1956, features many exceptional players,
among them Johan Cruyff, Franz Beckenbauer and Michel
Platini.
Former Real Madrid favourite Alfredo di Stefano, who
collected the trophy in 1957 and 1959, was among the
former winners who attended the 50th anniversary of
the award.
AC Milan's Ukraine striker Andriy Shevchenko, who won
in 2004 and came fifth in this year's vote, was also
present.
In everyone's thoughts was former Manchester United
and Northern Ireland winger George Best, the 1968
winner who died on Friday.
Best had lost his trophy but organisers asked his
former United team mates Bobby Charlton and Denis Law
to go on stage to receive a replica of the golden ball
for the late winger's family.
"He was a wonderful player who always had the spirit
of the game in mind," 1966 award winner Charlton said
of Best.
"He would have loved to be here with us tonight."