BERNE – AC Milan and Brazil playmaker Kaka is widely expected to add to his haul of trophies and titles this season when FIFA announce their World Player of the Year at tonight’s annual gala in Zurich.
Kaka, who is due to fly to Switzerland following AC Milan’s appearance in Sunday’s Club World Cup final, faces competition from Manchester United’s Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo and Barcelona’s Argentine striker Lionel Messi. The trio were selected as this year’s top three players in a poll of national team coaches and captains but the order in which they were chosen will only be revealed today.Kaka, who helped steer his club to the 2007 Champions League title, is seen as a strong favourite after already picking up a clutch of individual honours this year.Earlier this month he received the prestigious Ballon d’Or award handed out by France Football magazine following a survey of sports journalists around the world.The Ballon d’Or winner has gone on to pick up FIFA’s World Player award in six of the past 10 years.Kaka was also named World Player of the Year this month by British magazine World Soccer, following a poll of fans in 48 countries.Additional honours have included Uefa’s Club Footballer of the Year, Champions League Best Forward and Champions League Top Scorer awards and the FIFPro World Player of the Year title, voted on by Kaka’s fellow professionals.Kaka has modestly suggested that his haul of titles this year is mainly due to his club’s Champions League success, telling France Football after picking up the Ballon d’Or, “that is key.You have to play in a winning side.”Nampa-ReutersThe trio were selected as this year’s top three players in a poll of national team coaches and captains but the order in which they were chosen will only be revealed today.Kaka, who helped steer his club to the 2007 Champions League title, is seen as a strong favourite after already picking up a clutch of individual honours this year.Earlier this month he received the prestigious Ballon d’Or award handed out by France Football magazine following a survey of sports journalists around the world.The Ballon d’Or winner has gone on to pick up FIFA’s World Player award in six of the past 10 years.Kaka was also named World Player of the Year this month by British magazine World Soccer, following a poll of fans in 48 countries.Additional honours have included Uefa’s Club Footballer of the Year, Champions League Best Forward and Champions League Top Scorer awards and the FIFPro World Player of the Year title, voted on by Kaka’s fellow professionals.Kaka has modestly suggested that his haul of titles this year is mainly due to his club’s Champions League success, telling France Football after picking up the Ballon d’Or, “that is key.You have to play in a winning side.”Nampa-Reuters
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