Source: Xinhuanet

07-11-2006 16:55

France captain Zinedine Zidane won the Golden Ball award for the World Cup's best player, despite being dismissed for headbutting Marco Materazzi in the final.

France captain Zinedine Zidane won the Golden Ball award for the World Cup's best player, despite being dismissed for headbutting Marco Materazzi in the final.

He polled 2,012 points in the vote by journalists mostly carried out at half-time.

Behind "Zizou" came Italy's defensive rock Fabio Cannavaro (1,977 points), with the Juventus defender's Azzurri team-mate Andrea Pirlo completing the podium (715 points).

In the Final against Italy, the French midfielder, 34, scored a penalty early but was unable to pick up the second FIFA World Cup winners medal of a glittering career and was sent from the field for butting Materazzi in the chest. His team went on to lose on penalties (3-5).

Other players on the Golden Ball shortlist included Maniche (Portugal), Michael Ballack (Germany), Gianluca Zambrotta (Italy), Thierry Henry (France), Gianluigi Buffon (Italy), Patrick Vieira (France) and Miroslav Klose (Germany).

Germany goalkeeper Oliver Kahn won the prestigious award in 2002, while other previous winners include Brazilians Ronaldo (1998) and Romario (1994), Italy's Salvatore Schillaci (1990) and Argentine great Diego Maradona.

 

Editor:Wang Ping