Cannavaro, who played for Juventus but moved to Real Madrid after
helping Italy win the World Cup, got 173 points in France Football
magazine's annual poll of 52 journalists from around the world. Juventus
goalie Gianluigi Buffon was second with 124 points, followed by Arsenal
striker Thierry Henry with 121.
FC Barcelona playmaker Ronaldinho, who won the award last year, was
fourth with 73 points. France's Zinedine Zidane was fifth with 71.
Cannavaro is the third defender in 30 years to win - Matthias Sammer won
the award in 1996 and Franz Beckenbauer in 1976.
He was also the fifth Italian to win, following Roberto Baggio (1993),
Paolo Rossi (1982), Gianni Rivera (1969) and Argentine-born Omar Sivori
(1961).
"This is a double honor," Cannavaro said. "It is given to the best
player, and the fact I am a defender makes it even more special."
"It is a fantastic award, the crowning achievement of an
exceptional year," said Italy's coach Marcelo Lippi,.
The 33-year-old Cannavaro also has also played for Napoli, Parma and
Inter Milan. At Parma, he played 212 league games and formed one of Serie
A's best defensive partnerships with Lilian Thuram.
"I think he deserves the award if we take into account the World Cup as
a whole," Thuram told French television.
