FIFA World Player of the Year
Trio in line for top award
The final trio who will battle it out to be named the FIFA World Player of the Year next month has been revealed.
Thierry Henry, Ronaldinho and Andrei Shevchenko have been selected from an original shortlist of 35 players and the award will be announced at FIFA’s World Player Gala on 20 December 20 in Zurich.
Arsenal striker Henry is considered the favourite as he was also in the last three a year ago.
The inclusion of Barcelona’s Brazilian forward Ronaldinho and AC Milan’s Ukrainian striker Shevchenko among the final trio means that it is the first time since 1999 that a Real Madrid player has not been in the last three.
None of the players who excelled in Euro 2004 have made the top three.
In the women’s section, Mia Hamm (USA), Birgit Prinz (Germany) and Brazil’s Marta - one of the stars of the recent women’s Under-19 World Championship in Thailand - are vying for the prestigious award.
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