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Eyes on the prize Batistuta, Beckham, Rivaldo in line for FIFA award
Posted: Wednesday December 22, 1999 11:55 AM
ZURICH, Switzerland (AP) -- Barcelona's Brazilian striker Rivaldo, England's David Beckham and Gabriel Batistuta of Argentina were the three top vote-getters in FIFA's ballotting of 140 national team coaches for its Player of the Year Award. Soccer's world governing body will announce the winner at its World Player Gala in Brussels, Belgium, on Jan. 24. Rivaldo, who was been dropped from Barcelona's roster by manager Louis van Gaal for Wednesday's league match against Rayo Vallcano in a row with the coach, on Monday was announced as the winner of the Golden Ball, an award voted on by journalists and presented annually by France Football magazine. Beckham of Manchester United came in second. Batistuta, the lead striker for Argentina, scored one goal and set up a second in Fiorentina's 2-0 European Champions League victory over Manchester United on Nov. 23. There have been two previous Brazilian winners of the award -- Romario in 1994 and Ronaldo in 1996 and 1997, but Beckham and Batistuta would be the first winners from their respective countries. Last year's winner was French World Cup hero Zinadine Zidane. The gala will also see the Brazilian team presented with the "team of the year" award for finishing the year atop the FIFA World Rankings. Slovenia will be honored for making the biggest climb in the rankings, 48 places to 40th. The entire New Zealand football community will receive the fair play prize. Among those due to be inducted into the International Football Hall of Champions are Scotland's George Best, Brazilians Didi and Zico, and Marco van Basten of the Netherlands.
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