© EuroFootball.com
The first "Player of the Year" title established by the professional footballers association FIFPro was awarded to Brazilian Ronaldinho on Monday evening. A total of 38 thousand professionals from 40 countries participated in the voting.
FIFPro members also secretly selected the "Team of the Year" from 55 candidates.
"It is a great honor for me to receive this award, which is special - it was given to me by fellow professionals," Ronaldinho said during the ceremony held in London on Monday evening.
Professionals chose "Man Utd" forward Wayne Rooney as the best young player, while fans also awarded the same title to "Man Utd" player Cristiano Ronaldo from Portugal.
The "Team of the Year" is clearly dominated by "AC Milan," having a total of five representatives.
"Team of the Year": Dida (Brazil/AC Milan); Cafu (Brazil/AC Milan), Alessandro Nesta (Italy/AC Milan), John Terry (England/Chelsea), Paolo Maldini (Italy/AC Milan); Frank Lampard (England/Chelsea), Claude Makelele (France/Chelsea), Ronaldinho (Brazil/Barcelona), Zinedine Zidane (France/Real Madrid); Samuel Eto'o (Cameroon/Barcelona), Andriy Shevchenko (Ukraine/AC Milan)."
