Rooney and Ronaldino scoop for awards

Wayne Rooney and Ronaldino both picked up the big awards at at the inaugural FIFpro awards. Barcelona star Ronaldinho scooped FIFpro World Player of the Year award, while Manchester United ace Rooney was named FIFpro Academy's Young Player of the Year. More than 38,000 players represented by FIFpro from around the world voted in the poll. Rooney fought off competition from eleven other candidates including his Man United team mate Cristiano Ronaldo. Ronaldinho was the clear winner of the World Player of the Year award from the 55-strong shortlist that was announced for the award.


The award is more recognition for Ronaldinho as he is already the Fifa 2004 world player of the year and he was delighted to receive the prize. "It's a great honour to receive another one of these big prizes and this one is extra special because it's voted for by my fellow players," said Ronaldinho Brazilian legend and football icon Pele picked up the FIFpro Legend award for his services to the game. A world select team of the year was also named and the only Premiership representatives in the XI were Chelsea trio John Terry, Frank Lampard and Claude Makelele. Italian giants Milan had the biggest representation of players in the team with five of their stars making the starting line-up.

Fifpro World XI: Dida (Brazil/Milan)Cafu (Brazil/Milan) Alessandro Nesta (Italy/Milan)John Terry (England/Chelsea)Paolo Maldini (Italy/ Milan)Ronaldinho (Brazil/Barcelona)Frank Lampard (England/Chelsea)Claude Makelele (France/Chelsea)Zinedine Zidane (France/Real Madrid)Samuel Eto'o (Cameroon/Barcelona)Andrei Shevchenko (Ukraine/Milan)

I believe these two awards are very fair because both Rooeny and Ronaldino have been great role models and great players in the last year. It is very hard to believe that Rooney is still only nineteen and I think in years to come he will win the award Ronaldino just won.