Toronto Star

Ronaldinho voted player of the year

- ASSOCIATED PRESS

LONDON— FC Barcelona’s Ronaldinho was voted world player of the year by his fellow pros yesterday, while five AC Milan stars made it to their world team. FIFPro, the internatio­nal players organizati­on, announced the awards at a banquet at the BBC, and Brazilian star Ronaldinho received his from England coach Sven- Goran Eriksson.

Ronaldinho was also named FIFA player of 2004. The FIFPro members announced their World XI lineup: GOALKEEPER: Dida ( AC Milan and Brazil). DEFENDERS: John Terry ( Chelsea and England), Alessandro Nesta ( AC Milan and Italy), Paolo Maldini ( AC Milan and Italy), Cafu ( AC Milan and Brazil). MIDFIELDER­S: Frank Lampard (Chelsea and England), Zinedine Zidane ( Real Madrid and France), Ronaldinho, Claude Makelele ( Chelsea and France). STRIKERS: Andriy Shevchenko ( AC Milan and Ukraine), Samuel Eto’o ( FC Barcelona and Cameroon).

“ It’s an incredible team,” Eriksson said. “ Anyone in my position would like to manage this 11.’’ Lampard said: “ It’s a great recognitio­n when you get voted by players on a scale who have voted across the world, and I’m very proud to be in a team with so many great players.’’ FIFPro also invited fans around the world to vote for a best young player of the year, and they came up with Manchester United’s Portuguese winger Cristiano Ronaldo while his teammate Wayne Rooney collected FIFPro’s own young player award.

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