Ronaldo named world player of year

Ronaldo: Sky high after World Cup win

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RELATED • World Cup 2002  WORLD FOOTBALLER OF THE YEAR 2001 Luis Figo 2000 Zinedine Zidane 1999 Rivaldo 1998 Zinedine Zidane 1997 Ronaldo 1996 Ronaldo 1995 George Weah

MADRID, Spain (CNN) -- Brazil's World Cup hero Ronaldo sealed a fantastic year by being named World Footballer of the Year for the third time.

The 26-year-old striker, who scored eight goals during Brazil's victorious World Cup in Japan and South Korea, was named the winner by FIFA, world football's governing body, in Madrid on Tuesday.

Ronaldo won ahead of Oliver Kahn, the German goalkeeper he beat twice in June's final, and Real Madrid teammate Zinedine Zidane, the French midfielder who guided Real to another European Champions League triumph in May.

On Monday Ronaldo, who moved to Real from Inter Milan for 47 million euros after the World Cup and scored on his debut, was voted European Player of the Year by France's Football magazine for the second time.

After missing much of last season with knee injuries, the Rio-born striker was a revelation at the World Cup, winning the Golden Boot award for the tournament's leading scorer.

Ronaldo was first named World Player of the year in 1996 aged 20. He won the honour again in 1997.

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