Fifa's player of the year

2003-11-26 19:03

Zurich, Switzerland - Ronaldo, Zinedine Zidane and Thierry Henry are the three finalists for Fifa's World Player of the Year award.

Soccer's world governing body on Wednesday also announced the three finalist for the women's award - Mia Hamm, Hanna Ljungberg and Birgit Prinz.

The winners will be announced on Dec. 15 in Basel, Switzerland, at Fifa's World Player Gala.

Ronaldo, the Brazilian and Real Madrid striker, is the only player to have won the award three times - 1996, 1997 and 2002.

Zidane, the Real Madrid star and French international, won in 1998 and 2000.

Henry, the French and Arsenal striker, has never won the award and is making his first appearance in the final three. His nomination came a day after he scored twice in Arsenal's 5-1 win at Inter Milan in the Champions League.

Ronaldo topped the voting last year with 387 points, followed by German goalkeeper Oliver Kahn (171) and Zidane (148).

American midfielder Hamm won the women's award the last two years.

Prinz, who led Germany to the women's World Cup title this year, finished second last year to Hamm. Ljungberg, of Sweden, is making her first appearance in the final three.

Fifa said 142 coaches of men's national teams and 100 women's national team coaches participated in the voting.

- AP