Kaka bags FIFA World Player award, Ronaldo 3rd

AC Milan’s Brazilian playmaker Kaka added to his remarkable haul of trophies and titles on Monday when he was named FIFA World Player 2007. Kaka, 25, beat fellow nominees Lionel Messi of Barcelona and Manchester United’s Cristiano Ronaldo in the annual poll of national team coaches and captains.

Kaka polled 1,047 votes, Messi 504 and Ronaldo 426.

“Tonight is really special for me,” said Kaka who helped Milan to their seventh European Cup title in May and was inspirational in Sunday’s Club World Cup victory over Argentina’s Boca Juniors.

“When I was young, I dreamed of playing for Sao Paulo and playing just one game for the national team. That was it, but the Bible says God gives us more than we ask more and that is what has happened in my life.”

Factbox on Kaka:
(Reuters)

Born: April 22, 1982 in Brasilia, Brazil

* Makes an immediate impact for Sao Paulo, scoring 12 goals in 27 appearances in the 2001 season.

* Plays only 18 minutes in the 2002 World Cup won by Brazil.

* Moves to AC Milan in 2003 and makes his debut on September 1 in a 2-0 win over Ancona. He goes on to score 10 league goals and four Champions League goals in his first season and then spurs Milan to the Serie A title in 2004.

* Helps Brazil to the quarter-finals of the World Cup in 2006 during which he signs a contract extension with Milan which is due to keep him at the San Siro until 2011.

* Real Madrid make their interest well-known following the World Cup and Kaka firmly establishes himself as one of the best players in the world as he inspires Milan to their seventh European Cup title in 2007.

* Wins 2007 FIFPro World Player of the Year honour and 2007 Ballon d’Or award.

* Beats Barcelona’s Argentine forward Lionel Messi and Manchester United’s Portuguese winger Cristiano Ronaldo to FIFA’s World Player of the Year award.

Related posts in News and Features

• Fergie's best and worst FA Cup memories - February 15th, 2008
• 18 Countries including India To Compete In ‘Budweiser Cup 6v6’ Football At ManUtd's Old Trafford - February 15th, 2008
• United are 2nd richest club in the world - February 14th, 2008
• United unveil special kit for derby! - February 8th, 2008
• United remembers... - February 6th, 2008
• Factbox: Facts about the Munich Air Tragedy - February 6th, 2008
• United Beaten 3-2 In Sami Al-Jaber Testimonial - January 23rd, 2008
• Kaka wins Ballon d'Or award ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo - December 2nd, 2007
• O'Shea signs new deal, Evra looking forward as well - November 23rd, 2007
• Euro 2008: England fail to qualify as United players watched from the sidelines - November 21st, 2007