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ZURICH: Italy's World Cup winning captain Fabio Cannavaro was named the FIFA World Player of the Year on Monday, beating playmakers Zinedine Zidane and Ronaldinho to become the first defender to win the award.
The 33-year-old Real Madrid defender beat off competition from Barcelona's Brazilian playmaker Ronaldinho and retired former France skipper Zinedine Zidane in a vote by national team coaches and captains.
Cannavaro, the first defender to win the trophy in its 16-year history, adds the honour to the prestigious European Footballer of the Year award he received from France Football magazine last month.
"The competition was scary, it was so strong," said Cannavaro at the awards ceremony inside Zurich's opera house. "After winning the World Cup and the European Footballer of the Year award too, I do not think I can ask for anything else.
"It is not usual for a defender to be sitting alongside Ronaldinho and Zinedine Zidane, who get to do marvellous things all season, so I saw it as a victory just to be here."
Cannavaro paid tribute to Zidane, his predecessor in the number five shirt at Real and a controversial choice on the award shortlist following his red card in the World Cup final in Berlin.
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.
Zinedine also said that buying a club might be a nice challenge for him.
He was named last week on a 30 man shortlist for Fifa’s World Player of the Year award.
Fabio Cannavaro has taken 498 Vote and win the Fifa player of the year in 2nd position it comes Zinedie zidane with 454 Votes and in 3rd position Ronaldhino with 380 Votes..
