Brazil forward Ronaldinho was named as World Player of the Decade by prestigious British magazine World Soccer on Thursday, while Argentine forward Lionel Messi was named the magazine’s World Player of the Year.
Ronaldinho won the accolade after votes cast by readers in the 10 annual votes between 2000 and this year were converted into points.
The Brazilian, who was the magazine’s World Player of the Year in 2004 and 2005, finished ahead of Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal and Real Madrid.
Barcelona, the European club champions, won the Team of the Year award.
Messi, winner of this year’s Ballon d’Or award, is the first Argentine to win World Soccer’s World Player award since Diego Maradona in 1986 and he led a clean sweep of Barcelona players in the player awards, ahead of teammates Andres Iniesta and Xavi.
After just one season in charge of Barcelona, Pep Guardiola was voted Manager of the Year, a clear winner ahead of former VfL Wolfsburg coach Felix Magath and Manchester United’s Alex Ferguson.
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