Zinedine Zidane was voted FIFA Player of the Year for a third time Monday, beating French countryman Thierry Henry and Real Madrid teammate Ronaldo.
Zidane, who also received the award in 1998 and 2000, topped a poll of 142 international coaches with 264 points. Henry had 186, and Ronaldo, last year's winner, earned 176.
"The more often you get it the better. I don't think you ever get tired of winning it," Zidane said before the announcement. "To be nominated along with Thierry and Ronaldo is a great satisfaction in itself."
PHOTO: AP
Birgit Prinz was named female player of the year after helping Germany win this year's Women's World Cup in the US.
World champion Brazil was renamed team of the year.
Zidane received 35 first-choice men's votes, 27 second-place and eight third-place. His previous awards followed victories in the 1998 World Cup and the 2000 European championship.
PHOTO: AP
This year, 31-year-old Zidane helped Real Madrid win the Spanish league and reach the semifinals of the Champions League.
Although he won less important trophies in 2003, Zidane said his overall game had improved considerably.
"I've learned a lot how to play more with my left foot and I've become a more complete two-footed player because of that," he said.
Juventus midfielder Pavel Nedved was fourth, Real Madrid's Roberto Carlos fifth, Ruud van Nistelrooy of Manchester United sixth, and England captain David Beckham seventh.
"It's a pleasure to be recognized as one of the best three in the world," Ronaldo told reporters.
Henry said that "to be here for the first time is great, but to be here with Zinedine and Ronaldo is extraordinary."
In women's voting, Prinz received 268 points. Last year's winner, Mia Hamm of the US, came second with 133. Sweden's Hannah Ljungberg was third with 84.
The women's vote involved 100 national coaches.
The FIFA fair play award was given to the fans of Scotland's Celtic for their behavior at last season's UEFA Cup final in Seville, Spain. Celtic lost the match but there was no trouble.
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