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This is an archive article published on December 19, 2002
Ronaldo146;s hat-trick
Ronaldo claimed another first in his remarkable career on Tuesday when he was named World Player of the Year for the third time, just 24 hou...
Written by Kevin Fylan
Madrid | December 19, 2002 12:00 AM IST
2 min read
2 min read
Ronaldo claimed another first in his remarkable career on Tuesday when he was named World Player of the Year for the third time, just 24 hours after claiming the European player8217;s award. The 26-year-old striker, who also won the FIFA award in 1996 and 1997, was top scorer at the 2002 World Cup, hitting eight goals including two in the final as Brazil beat Germany 2-0.
Ronaldo finished ahead of Germany goalkeeper Oliver Kahn and France midfielder Zinedine Zidane in the voting by national team coaches. Zidane had also been hoping to become the first player to win the award three times after his 1998 and 2000 successes.
The delighted Brazilian said: 8216;8216;It8217;s highly satisfying after the years of doubt and injuries. I was worried if I8217;d even be able to play again but now it8217;s as good as I8217;d hoped or dreamed it could be.8217;8217;
Each coach voted for their three players with five points awarded for first place, three for second and one for third.
Ronaldo won with a total of 387 points as 59 of 148 voting national coaches awarded him first place. Oliver Kahn gained 171 points from 16 first-place votes, while Zidane got 148 points with 18 coaches voting him first. There were four Real Madrid players in the top 10 with Roberto Carlos fourth, 114 points and Raul sixth, 90 points joining Ronaldo and Zidane. Reuters
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