Brazilian soccer star Ronaldo de Assis, better known as
Ronaldinho, was named king of European soccer in the year-end
survey conducted by Uruguayan newspaper El Pais, published
Friday.
Winning with 54 votes, the Barcelona forward became the first
South American player to win the award three years in a row. The
paper surveyed journalists from 26 European countries, El Pais
said.
Ronaldinho beat his nearest rival, Italy's Fabio Cannavaro, by
11 votes. France's Thierry Henry came third. Brazil's Kaka was
fourth in the survey and Cote d'Ivoire's Didier Drogba came
fifth.
(Xinhua News Agency?December 30, 2006)