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Last Updated: Monday, 19 September 2005, 19:00 GMT 20:00 UK
Ronaldinho & Rooney scoop awards
Wayne Rooney arrives at the FIFPro awards at BBC Television Centre in London
It is a great honour and I would like to thank all the players who voted for me
Wayne Rooney
Barcelona forward Ronaldinho has been named FIFPro's World Player of the Year, with Manchester United's Wayne Rooney winning the young player award.

Chelsea trio John Terry, Frank Lampard and Claude Makelele won places in the World XI line-up, which was voted for by their fellow professionals.

Cristiano Ronaldo won a special young player award and Pele was honoured with the FIFPro legend award.

The awards were held at a glittering gala ceremony in London.

Football's top stars were at the awards, held at BBC Television Centre, as well as a host of celebrities, including actress Minnie Driver, singer Rachel Stevens and model Jerry Hall.

Ronaldinho was the 2004 Fifa World Player of the Year and was instrumental in Barcelona's La Liga triumph last season.

And the Brazil international said of his FIFPro triumph: "I'm delighted to win this award."

The 25-year-old added that he was not surprised three Chelsea players had made the World XI.

"The Premiership is one of the best and strongest leagues in the world.

"Chelsea, together with Real Madrid, AC Milan, Barcelona and Liverpool, are the best teams in the world."

Rooney has endured a difficult week after his red card playing for Manchester United in their Champions League draw at Villarreal last Wednesday.

But he was a star performer for England at Euro 2004 and last season for Manchester United after his transfer from Everton.

And after receiving the award the 19-year-old said: "It is a great honour and I would like to thank all the players who voted for me.

"My team-mates have been fantastic since I've moved to Manchester United and I'm always trying to get better as a player."

England colleague Lampard believes Rooney should ignore recent criticism of his aggressive style and continue to play the same way he always does.

He's a great player, a very rare one as he can change a game in an instant
Frank Lampard on Wayne Rooney

"He's got an edge to his game and if you lose it you lose a lot of Wayne," said Lampard.

"Of course we will miss him for the World Cup game against Austria, he has been voted the best young player in the world and there's a reason for that.

"He's a great player, a very rare one as he can change a game in an instant."

England international Rooney was one of 12 names on their young player award shortlist, along with Premiership trio Cristiano Ronaldo, Cesc Fabregas and Arjen Robben.

Chelsea pair Petr Cech and Terry were on the 55-strong shortlist for the world player of the year award, as was Arsenal's Thierry Henry and England skipper David Beckham.

The shortlist for the World XI comprised eight Chelsea players, six from Manchester United, four from Arsenal and one from Liverpool.

FIFpro is the worldwide representative organisation for professional players.

With the exception of Ronaldo's award, which was decided by the public, the winners were voted for by their fellow professionals through the global umbrella organisation of players unions.

Between April and July 38,000 professional footballers, who belong to the 40-strong player organisations across the world which go to form FIFPro, voted in a secret ballot to select the world XI.


FIFPro World XI.

Goalkeeper:
Nelson Dida (Brazil/AC Milan)

Defenders:
Cafu (Brazil/AC Milan)
Alessandro Nesta (Italy/ AC Milan)
John Terry (England/Chelsea)
Paolo Maldini (Italy/AC Milan)

Midfielders:
Ronaldinho (Brazil/Barcelona)
Frank Lampard (England/Chelsea)
Claude Makelele (France/Chelsea)
Zinedine Zidane (France/Real Madrid)

Forwards:
Samuel Eto'o (Cameroon/Barcelona)
Andriy Shevchenko (Ukraine/AC Milan)




WATCH AND LISTEN
Interview: Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard



SEE ALSO
Premiership stars head award list
09 Aug 05 |  Premiership


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