Brazil, Juventus players top list for 2005 Euro title

PARIS – Players from Brazil and Italian champions Juventus top the list of 50 players in the race for the European footballer of the year award for 2005.

Ten Brazilian players make the list, while Juventus has nine players named, two ahead of Chelsea, while Real Madrid has six. The Brazilians include Adriano (Inter Milan), Cris (Lyon), Dida (AC Milan), Emerson (Juventus), Juninho (Lyon), Kaka (AC Milan), Roberto Carlos (Real Madrid), Robinho (Real Madrid), Ronaldinho (Barcelona) and Ronaldo (Real Madrid).The countries next best represented are England and France, with seven players apiece.The award for European footballer of the year – won last year by AC Milan’s Ukrainian striker Andriy Shevchenko and again nominated this year – will be made on November 28.Known as the Ballon D’Or (Golden Ball), the prestigious prize was created by the French football magazine France Football in 1956.Voting is undertaken by a group of European football journalists.- Nampa-AFPThe Brazilians include Adriano (Inter Milan), Cris (Lyon), Dida (AC Milan), Emerson (Juventus), Juninho (Lyon), Kaka (AC Milan), Roberto Carlos (Real Madrid), Robinho (Real Madrid), Ronaldinho (Barcelona) and Ronaldo (Real Madrid).The countries next best represented are England and France, with seven players apiece.The award for European footballer of the year – won last year by AC Milan’s Ukrainian striker Andriy Shevchenko and again nominated this year – will be made on November 28.Known as the Ballon D’Or (Golden Ball), the prestigious prize was created by the French football magazine France Football in 1956.Voting is undertaken by a group of European football journalists.- Nampa-AFP