Zidane Wins World Player Award
Monday 11th December 2000
Zinedine Zidane was named as Fifa World Player of the Year in a ceremony in
Rome on Monday night. Pele and Diego Maradona both won Player of the Century
awards.
Zidane became only the second player - after Ronaldo - to win the award
twice, having taken the accolade in 1998 as well.
After helping France to victory in Euro 2000, Zidane polled 370 points to
pip Real Madrid's Portuguese midfielder Figo who won 329 votes. Bareclona
and Brazil midfielder Rivaldo finished third.
Meanwhile, Fifa sought to defuse the escalating row between Brazil and
Argentina over who would be named Player of the Century by giving awards to
both Pele and Maradona.
Pele won the so-called Fifa Grand Jury version of the prize, while Maradona
won the internet vote. Brazil had argued that an internet vote favoured
Maradona as it encouraged younger voters. The same logic was also applied to
the women's version of the prize, with the USA's Michelle Akers taking the
Grand Jury award, and China's Sun Wen the internet vote.
Seven-time European champions Real Madrid were named team of the century,
and Holland team of the year.
Leeds United captain Lucas Radebe won the Fair Play Award for his work with
impoverished children in Soweto in his native South Africa.
World footballer of the year: Zinedine Zidane (France)
Footballer of the century (FIFA grand jury): Pele
Footballer of the century: Diego Maradona
Woman footballer of the century (FIFA grand jury): Michelle Akers (USA)
Woman footballer of the century: Sun Wen (China)
Team of the century: Real Madrid (Spain)
Team of the year: Holland
Fair play award: Lucas Radebe (Leeds United and South Africa)
