again voted FIFA World Player of the Year
MARNE-LA-VALLEE (France), January 12 -
Brazil striker Ronaldo confirmed he was in a class of his own when named as FIFA's 1997 World Player of the Year on Monday, winning the coveted award for the second consecutive year.
The Inter Milan marksman polled 86 first-place votes out of a possible 121 from a panel of coaches and soccer personalities to beat compatriot Roberto Carlos. Dutchman Dennis Bergkamp finished third, equal with France's Zinedine Zidane, and Spain's Raul was fifth.
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Ronaldo, who last month was named European Footballer of the Year by France Football magazine and World Player of the Year by World Soccer magazine, took FIFA's 1996 award when he was at Barcelona. |
The Brazilian said last year's prize gave him extra motivation. "It helped me to work. And I would have been sad not having it again."
Ronaldo paid tribute to runner-up Carlos, the defender whom he described as "a very mighty player who improved a lot lately. He is a friend of mine and I have a lot of respect for him."
Ronaldo said his dream was to win the World Cup -- the one stage on which he has yet to prove himself -- in this year's finals in France.
He was a member of the Brazil squad that won the tournament in the United States in 1994 but, at age 17, he did not get a game, something he cites as his greatest disappointment to date.
Asked if he could beat the record of 13 goals set by French striker Just Fontaine in the 1958 finals, Ronaldo said: "It's quite a record. I would like to break it but the main thing is to win the World Cup.
"I'm still young," said the 21-year-old, "and I have some time left for more rewards and records. I'll stop playing the day I feel the motivation has faded out."
Another item still missing in the Ronaldo trophy room is a league championship medal.
He has a Cup Winners' Cup medal from his season at Barcelona, a Copa America medal with Brazil and domestic cup winner's medals from three different countries -- Brazil, the Netherlands and Spain.
But even with Ronaldo in their front line, PSV and Barcelona failed to win their respective championships and the Italian title remains his prime aim with Inter this season.
Ronaldo will now join the new soccer Hall of Champions.
The museum should have opened before the World Cup finals starting on June 10 but there will instead be a temporary exhibition on the Champs de Mars just beneath the Eiffel Tower, said FIFA spokesman Keith Cooper.
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