'A dream come true'

Hamm chosen as FIFA women's player of year

MADRID, Spain (AP) -- United States soccer star Mia Hamm won the FIFA Player of the Year award for the second straight time Tuesday at a gala ceremony in the Spanish capital.

The Washington Freedom midfielder beat German striker Birgit Prinz and Chinese midfielder Sun Wen, who finished second and third, respectively.

Brazilian striker Ronaldo won the men's award, beating Germany's Oliver Kahn and French midfielder Zinedine Zidane.

The women's award, bestowed for only the second year, resulted from a poll of 77 of the world's national team coaches, who were each asked to name their top three players of the year. Five points were awarded for first place, three for second and one for third.

Hamm gained 161 points while Prinz got 96 and Sun Wen earned 58.

"I'm extremely grateful to be here. The other two athletes are extremely talented players," Hamm said.

Hamm, who made her international debut as 15-year-old, has scored 136 goals for the United States and is undoubtedly the best known women's player in the world.

She won an Olympic gold medal in Atlanta in 1996, followed by a silver medal four years later in Sydney. She was also a member of the Unites States' teams which lifted the World Cup in 1991 and '99.

In the 1995 tournament, she played in goal against Denmark after goalkeeper Briana Scurry was sent off, managing to help the United States to victory and the bronze medal.

The 30-year-old missed the start of the season because of a knee injury and had to wait until June before she could make an appearance in the WUSA league.

She bounced back quickly and scored the winning goal in the CONCACAF Gold Cup against Canada to send the United States to next year's Women's World Cup in China.

In a pre-gala press conference Tuesday, she referred to her more famous male counterparts, Ronaldo, Zidane and Kahn, who were sitting directly to her left.

"I've got longer hair than these boys!" she joked.

"I'm in awe watching these players. It's a tremendous honor, a dream come true. In the U.S. we try to sell the game of soccer. To tell people about this will be marvelous."

 

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