Ronaldinho named World Player of the Year
Prinz best female player for third year running
Brazil and Barcelona playmaker Ronaldinho was named World Player of the Year by soccer's governing body FIFA yesterday.
He is the third Brazilian to win the world and European player awards in the same year after Ronaldo in 1997 and 2002, and Rivaldo in 1999.
Ronaldinho picked up 956 points to comfortably beat Chelsea's England midfielder Frank Lampard (306) in the FIFA vote by national coaches and captains around the world.
The Brazilian's Barcelona team-mate Samuel Eto'o of Cameroon finished in third place with 190 points.
The 25-year-old Ronaldinho also won the inaugural FIFPro World Player of the Year award, selected by his fellow players, in September.
Ronaldinho enjoyed a hugely successful year, helping Barcelona win the Primera Liga title and featuring in Brazil's Confederations Cup triumph in Germany.
"He will undoubtedly be one of the star turns at next year's World Cup in Germany," FIFA said in a statement.
Germany's Birgit Prinz beat off competition from Brazilian player Marta and US challenger Shannon Boxx to win the women's crown for the third successive year.
Although Brazil's Ronaldo and Zinedine Zidane of France have each won the men's award three times, FIFA said Prinz's triumph was historic as it was the first time a player had achieved a consecutive hat-trick.
FIFA also handed the Peruvian city of Iquitos its Fair Play award.
The community, located in the middle of the Amazon region, was one of the venues for the under-17 world championship held between September and October.
World Player of the Year award winners
1991 Matthaeus Inter
1992 van Basten Milan
1993 Baggio Juventus
1994 Romario Barcelona
1995 Weah Milan
1996 Ronaldo Barcelona
1997 Ronaldo Inter
1998 Zidane Juventus
1999 Rivaldo Barcelona
2000 Zidane Juventus
2001 Figo Real Madrid
2002 Ronaldo Real Madrid
2003 Zidane Real Madrid
2004 Ronaldinho Barcelona
2005 Ronaldinho Barcelona