Fabio Cannavaro reportedly wins the Golden Ball!

[europop2005]

Italy and Real Madrid stopper Fabio Cannavaro has won the 2006 Golden Ball, reports in Spain are insisting.

The defender was already heavily associated with the honour earlier this week and more stories this evening are suggesting that the World Cup winner has beaten Gigi Buffon to the award.

It’s alleged that Cannavaro returned to Madrid following last night’s match against Turkey to find a telephone message from the France Football organisers informing him of his victory.

It’s understood that a photographer and a journalist from the magazine are already on their way to the Spanish capital to make a start on their annual feature.

Although there will be no official announcement until November 27, it seems that the Napoli-native will become the first Italian since Roberto Baggio in 1993 to net the honour.

The last 12 months have been unforgettable for the former Parma and Inter man-marker given the success he has achieved.

He won the Scudetto with Juventus before it was revoked, he led his country to World Cup glory and then sealed a career changing move to Real Madrid.

“It’s been a marvellous year, one full of success and triumph,” the 33-year-old has stated. “Winning the Golden Ball would be a dream come true.”

Cannavaro would also become only the third defender to be awarded the title after Franz Beckenbauer and Matthias Sammer.

 

[J_NP]

 

[1stepcloser]

If it's true then he deserves it. One of the finest defenders of his generation.

 

[Zoomerang96]

no question about it, he had an unbelievable year and is a big reason why real are doing so well this season.

 

[J_NP]

think the far choice , since Ronaldinho failed on the cup , would be Henry

 

[Zoomerang96]

well henry failed on the cup too.

plus ronaldinho beat henry heads up in paris... if that counts for anything.

was a great game, thinking back on it, but it would have been better had lehman not got tossed with a red card.

didn't sol campbell give arsenal the lead before the half?

...nevermind, that was a great game. you just knew barca was gonna come back.

 

[toscano]

think the far choice , since Ronaldinho failed on the cup , would be Henry

Henry = "Failed on the cup"

The only contender to Fabio would be Buffon.

 

[guill]

Moggi must be very proud.

 

[Blackberry]

 

[J_NP]

well henry failed on the cup too.

plus ronaldinho beat henry heads up in paris... if that counts for anything.

Yeah , if only it counted the 1st semester , Ronaladinho should definitely win it

And about the cup , well Henry didn't exactly shine but didn't fail either , he scored very important goals and made some great plays

And About Cannavaro doing so good in Real , well after the 2 lyon Games .........

The Party Fred and Carew made upon him

 

[guill]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AitVEGXwwdY

 

[1stepcloser]

http://www.football365.com/gazzetta/0,17033,9404_1720054,00.html

Interesting article.

That arm to Henry's face in the world cup final was disgusting.

 

[toscano]

Henry's nose moves to his chest !

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rTGfyV_mgUk


Henry ? Or Greg Louganis ?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jI3uOFu8-WM

 

[1stepcloser]

Henry ? Or Greg Louganis ?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jI3uOFu8-WM

This is not a dive. He went down easily but Carvalho took his leg, it's undeniable from the replay.

I'm no France supporter but that was not a dive.

 

[toscano]

This is not a dive. He went down easily but Carvalho took his leg, it's undeniable from the replay.

I'm no France supporter but that was not a dive.

Sure it was - Arms flailing around like crazy, 3.2 for style

 

[toscano]

http://www.football365.com/gazzetta/0,17033,9404_1720054,00.html

Interesting article.

That arm to Henry's face in the world cup final was disgusting.

Henry's face wasn't touched by Cannavor's arm in the final, it was just another Henry dive/cheat attempt

Look at the replays

Henry ran into Cannavaro, who put his arm up to brace himself, somehow Henry's face (he's only about 6 inches taller than Cannavoro) bent over and hit Cannavaro's fist ? Gimme a break, the replays are crystal clear, another Henry cheat attempt, another case where an impact to his chest results in "pain" to his face.

 

[1stepcloser]

Sure it was - Arms flailing around like crazy, 3.2 for style

I couldn't care less about his arms. Like i said, he did make a meal of it but you can't deny Carvalho took his leg before the ball. In fact carvalho was nowhere near the ball. The ref had no choice but to award the penalty.

 

[BoMac]

Cannavaro wins player of the year award


Associated Press
12/18/2006 4:11:43 PM


ZURICH, Switzerland (AP-CP) - Italian defender Fabio Cannavaro added another accolade to his collection Monday, winning FIFA's world player of the year award.

The 33-year-old defender, who led Italy to the World Cup title and also was voted the best player in Europe, won with 498 points.

French midfielder Zinedine Zidane, who took the World Cup's top player award despite receiving a red card in the final for head-butting Marco Materazzi in extra time, was second with 454 points. Brazilian forward Ronaldinho was third with 380 points.

''I would like to dedicate this award to Italian football,'' Cannavaro said. ''Everyone knows that we have had problems, and this should be a moment of rebirth for Italian football.''

Canadian captain Kevin McKenna voted for Arsenal striker Thierry Henry ahead of Barcelona forward Samuel Eto'o. Interim Canadian coach Stephen Hart cast his ballot for Zidane ahead of Cannavaro and Arsenal goalkeeper Jens Lehmann.

Marta of Brazil captured the FIFA women's award with 475 points, finishing ahead of Kristine Lilly of the United States with 388 and Renate Lingor of Germany with 305.

Cannavaro is regarded as one of the best centre backs in the game. In August, he took over Zidane's No. 5 shirt at Real Madrid after leaving Juventus following their demotion to the second division because of Italy's match-fixing scandal.

Before moving to Juventus, Cannavaro spent seven years with Parma, where he won the UEFA Cup, and two seasons with Inter Milan. He is only the second Italian to win the FIFA award - Roberto Baggio took it in 1993.

Zidane, who has won the FIFA award three times, retired from soccer after playing for France in the World Cup final. The 34-year-old midfielder won the 1998 World Cup and the 2000 European Championship with France, plus several league and European titles with Juventus and Real Madrid.

Asked whether he had finally made peace with Materazzi over the World Cup incident, Zidane said ''I don't know him,'' but that he was on good terms with ''all Italians.''

Ronaldinho missed out on a hat trick of player of the year awards. The Brazil playmaker won the title in 2004 and 2005, and another victory would have put him equal with Zidane and Ronaldo for the most awards since their creation in 1991.

But the 26-year-old's disappointing World Cup performance overshadowed his success with FC Barcelona in the Spanish league and the European Champions League.

''There are good moments in life, and less good moments. And we had less good moments in some competitions (this year),'' Ronaldinho said.

Earlier, FIFA honoured Brazil as the best team for the fifth year in a row. Italy was second, followed by Argentina.

Christine Sinclair of Burnaby, B.C., was one of the 20 women initially nominated. Sinclair, as Canadian captain, voted for Lilly, Sweden's Malin Moestrom and England's Kelly Smith. Canadian coach Even Pellerud opted for Sweden's Lotta Schelin, Lilly and Marta.

A visibly moved Marta, who was twice runner-up in the awards, said she thanked God for ''for everything I have been able to achieve so far.''

''I don't feel much pressure. I just want to keep playing at my level,'' said Marta, who was prevented from competing in the U20 Women's World Championship in Russia ealier this year by her Swedish club Umea IK.

The 20-year old was on the Brazilian side that reached the Olympic final in 2004 before being beaten by the United States.

In 2005 Marta finished second behind Germany's Birgit Prinz, who was not among the three finalists this year.

Other honours awarded Monday included the Fair Play prize, which went to the fans of this year's World Cup in Germany; the Yashin Award for the best goalkeeper to Italy's Gianluigi Buffon; and the FIFA President's Award to former Internazionale legend Giacinto Facchetti, who died in September.