Cannavaro Voted As Europe's Best

Real Madrid defender Fabio Cannavaro won recognition for his stunning World Cup performance by winning the prestigious European Footballer of the Year Award (Ballon d'Or) yesterday. “Of course I will bring this trophy back to Madrid but I would also love to bring it to Turin,” Cannavaro, who joined Real Madrid from Juventus in July, told a news conference. “My season at Juventus was just outstanding. I played 37 matches and scored four goals, all decisive.” The imperious Italy captain was a rock at the heart of a defence which leaked just two goals in seven matches – an own goal and a penalty – on their way to lifting the trophy for a fourth time in Germany. Hard but fair, he was not cautioned in the entire World Cup. The 33-year-old Neapolitan succeeds Barcelona star Ronaldinho, winner of last year's award who was placed fourth this time largely as a result of his World Cup performance as Brazil crashed in the quarter-finals to France.

Cannavaro with 173 points won ahead of Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon (124) of Italy and Arsenal's French striker Thierry Henry (121). France's Zinedine Zidane, who retired after reaching the World Cup final, placed fifth with 71 points. The last defender to win the award was Germany's Mathias Sammer (1996). The award, organised by French football magazine France Football, was decided after votes from European football's leading journalists.