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Rivaldo honored Barca'a Brazilian wins Euro Player of Year over Beckham
Posted: Monday December 20, 1999 12:03 PM
PARIS (Reuters) -- Barcelona's Brazilian forward Rivaldo has been chosen as the European Player of the Year, organizers France Football said on Monday. Rivaldo, who guided Brazil to the Copa America and Barcelona to the Spanish league title, was the second Brazilian after Ronaldo in 1997 to receive the award. Manchester United's David Beckham was second. The England midfielder was among the leading favorites after his team won the Champions League, the Premier League, the FA Cup and Toyota Cup titles. Rivaldo earned 219 points to Beckham's 154. The Brazilian, who was fifth last year in the same poll, takes over from France's Zinedine Zidane, who had his 1999 season marred by a knee injury. None of the three best-placed players of 1998, Zidane, Ronaldo or Croatian Davor Suker, are featured among the top 10 this year. Until 1994, the award was open only to European players, but since 1995 it has been given to the best player of any nationality playing in a European league. Rivaldo had already been voted world player of the year by readers of World Soccer magazine. AC Milan's Andriy Shevchenko of Ukraine was third with 64 points.
Copyright 2003 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
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