World Top 3 Soccer Players: Kaka, Messi, Cristiano

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PARIS (AFP) – AC Milan playmaker Kaka hopes to crown a magnificent 2007 by being named the FIFA Player of the Year on Monday.The Brazilian has already taken the Ballon d’Or for the best European player and was also named the world’s best by World Soccer magazine beating his two Monday rivals, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.

Kaka also helped AC Milan to the Champions League title in 2007 as well as the World Club Cup and European Super Cup.

“We have achieved everything we should as a team,” said Kaka after Milan romped to a 4-2 win over Boca Juniors in the World Club Cup in Yokohama on Sunday.

Last week, the 25-year-old was named as World Player of the Year by World Soccer.

Barcelona’s Messi, who also won the young player of the year award for the second successive year, was second and Ronaldo of Manchester United was third.

In the Ballon d’Or award, organised by France Football, Ronaldo, was second and Messi third.

World Soccer readers in 48 countries contributed to their magazine’s poll and Kaka gained 52.8 per cent of the votes, making him only the second player in the 26-year history of the award to receive more than half those cast.

The only other player to do so was France’s Michel Platini in 1984

Kaka has won rich praise from fellow players ahead of the awards ceremony to be held in Zurich.

“He is the complete modern player,” said former Brazil left-back Roberto Carlos of his compatriot.

Meanwhile, Barcelona’s Edmilson praises Kaka’s “humility and straightforwardness”.

He added that Kaka “has the aura of a leader that should make him the player to captain the Brazil national team at the 2010 and 2014 World Cups.”

Argentinian ace Messi saw his year of action come to an end on Saturday when a thigh injury picked up in Barcelona’s 3-0 win over Valencia ruled him out for five weeks.

Messi will miss up to seven matches, including next Sunday’s crucial title duel with Real Madrid, a huge blow for Barcelona with Messi having scored eight goals already this season.

Messi also scored a sensational hat-trick in the corresponding fixture, which finished 3-3 last season.

Portuguese international Ronaldo emerged as Manchester United’s star player after inspiring the club to the Premiership title last season.

His 23-goal haul saw him voted as the league’s player of the year.

His club boss Sir Alex Ferguson insisted that Ronaldo is already one of the world’s elite players.

“I don’t think Cristiano needs any endorsement from me. He gets all the endorsements he needs with his performances on the pitch, but I have said time and time again that I think the boy is a marvellous player,” said Ferguson.

“He is definitely one of the best players in the world. There is no question of that and his scoring record for Portugal is phenomenal. It is almost one in two games for them which is an amazing record for a young player.”


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