Ronaldinho and Wayne Rooney were the big winners at the inaugural FIFpro awards.
Ronaldinho and Wayne Rooney were the big winners at the inaugural FIFpro awards.Barcelona star Ronaldinho scooped FIFpro World Player of the Year award, while Manchester United ace Rooney was named FIFpro Academy's Young Player of the Year.
More than 38,000 players represented by FIFpro from around the world voted in the poll.
Rooney beat 11 other candidates including Manchester United team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo to take the Young Player prize.
The Portuguese international did, however, pick up an award when he was named FIFpro Special Young Player of the Year in a poll of fans across the world.
Ronaldinho was the clear winner of the World Player of the Year award from the 55-strong shortlist that was announced for the award.
The brilliant playmaker enjoyed a fine season with club and country last term, guiding Barcelona to the Liga title and also helping Brazil qualify for next summer's World Cup finals.
The award is more recognition for Ronaldinho as he is already the Fifa 2004 world player of the year and he was delighted to receive the prize.
"It's a great honour to receive another one of these big prizes and this one is extra special because it's voted for by my fellow players," said Ronaldinho
Brazilian legend and football icon Pele picked up the FIFpro Legend award for his services to the game.
A world select team of the year was also named and the only Premiership representatives in the XI were Chelsea trio John Terry, Frank Lampard and Claude Makelele.
Italian giants Milan had the biggest representation of players in the team with five of their stars making the starting line-up.
Fifpro World XI:
Nelson Dida (Brazil/Milan)
Cafu (Brazil/Milan)
Alessandro Nesta (Italy/Milan)
John Terry (England/Chelsea)
Paolo Maldini (Italy/ Milan)
Ronaldinho (Brazil/Barcelona)
Frank Lampard (England/Chelsea)
Claude Makelele (France/Chelsea)
Zinedine Zidane (France/Real Madrid)
Samuel Eto'o (Cameroon/Barcelona)
Andrei Shevchenko (Ukraine/Milan)
