Nov 29, 2006, 9:42 GMT
Zurich - Italy?s World Cup-winning captain Fabio Cannavaro, Brazil star Ronaldinho and retired Frenchman Zidane Zidane are the three finalists for the World Footballer of the Year award, the ruling body FIFA said on Wednesday.
The winner of the poll among national team coaches and captains from around the world will be announced on December 18 at the World Player gala in FIFA's hometown of Zurich.
Cannavaro captained Italy to its fourth World Cup title on July 9 in Berlin, on penalties over France. Earlier this week the Real Madrid defender won the European Footballer of the Year award.
Ronaldinho is the two-time reigning World Footballer and played a major role in his club Barcelona winning the 2006 European Champions League title.
Zidane, who won the prestigious award three times in his career (1998, 2000 and 2003, was instrumental in leading France to the World Cup final. But he was famously sent of in his final career game when he head-butted Italian Marco Materazzi.
The women's finalists are Kristine Lilly of the United States, Germany?s Renate Lingor and Brazil star Marta.
The 16th edition of the FIFA gala will also see several other awards, including the Fair Play Prize.
FIFA will also honour the outstanding performers at the June 9- July 9 World Cup in Germany (Zidane, Cannavaro and Italy's Andrea Pirlo), the three tournament top scorers (German Miroslav Klose, Hernan Crespo of Argentina and Brazil's Ronaldo), the best goalkeeper (Gianluigi Buffon of Italy) and the two fairest teams (Brazil and Spain).
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