Barcelona's Ronaldinho, Andriy Shevchenko
of AC Milan and Thierry Henry of Arsenal make up the three-man shortlist
for the 2004 World Player of the Year award.
The winner will be announced on December 20, FIFA said on Monday. None
of the three have won the award before.
Brazil's Ronaldinho, a World Cup winner in 2002, has transformed
Barcelona since arriving at the Nou Camp at the beginning of last season
from Paris St Germain.
Seven points clear at the top of the Primera Liga, Barcelona are playing
the most exciting club soccer in Europe and Ronaldinho's skill and
vision is at the heart of it.
Ronaldinho did not play in this year's Copa America, which Brazil won.
The consistent goal-scoring of Ukraine's Shevchenko helped Milan to last
season's Italian title and his goal ratio during five seasons in Italy
has been outstanding. Ukraine missed out on Euro 2004.
Henry finished second behind fellow Frenchman Zinedine Zidane in voting
for the 2003 award. He finished top scorer in the English Premier League
with 30 goals, helping Arsenal to the title last season.
However, Henry failed to spark at Euro 2004 as France went out in the
quarter-finals.
The three candidates for Women's Player of the Year are Mia Hamm of the
United States, Birgit Prinz of Germany and Marta of Brazil. |
