Stars pay tribute to Ronaldinho

PARIS – As far as awards go, Ronaldinho didn’t know which was better – winning the 50th European Player of the Year award or hearing some of football’s greatest ever players gushing over his talents.

On Monday at a lavish ceremony near the Champs Elysees football royalty including Alfredo Di Stefano, Michel Platini and Johann Cruyff paid tribute to the silky-smooth Brazilian who won the award with a whopping 225 points. A third place finisher in the voting last year behind winner Andriy Shevchenko, the 25-year-old Barcelona forward won France Football magazine’s prestigious prize with a 77-point lead over Chelsea forward Frank Lampard.First won by Blackpool’s Stanley Matthews nearly half a century ago, most of Europe’s big names have won a Ballon D’Or, although it was only open to non-Europeans playing in Uefa affiliated leagues in 1995 when Liberian George Weah, of AC Milan, was the first African winner.Ronaldinho is the third Brazilian to have win it in less than a decade, after Ronaldo’s two victories in 1997 and 2002, and that of Rivaldo in 1999.But only days after another former winner, Manchester United star George Best, died after a long illness it was perhaps fitting that another player with dazzling individual skills walked off with the prize.Best, the 1968 winner in the year United won the European Cup, was remembered with particular emotion by the organisers who handed over a replacement trophy to former United greats Denis Law and Sir Bobby Charlton.It came as no surprise to know that Best, long remembered for his exploits and adventures off the field of play, had lost his somewhere, some time ago.”It was very touching,” Law told AFP.”You just had a feeling that something would be done on this particular night, what with it being the 50th anniversary.It was a very nice gesture from the people at France Football.”Best and Ronaldinho may be worlds apart on human terms, but when it comes to the game the Brazilian is looked upon with as much awe as the Northern Irishman.”Ronaldinho just makes the game so beautiful.He makes everyone happy, and his smile when he’s playing says it all,” said France and Juventus legend Platini, one of three three-time winners of the Ballon d’Or.Cruyff, one of the pioneers of the attacking, flowing game in the 1970’s which came to be known as ‘total’ football said the Brazilian had the power to strike fear into any opponent.”He deserves this Ballon d’or.He animates the game and people love watching him when he’s playing,” said the former Ajax and Holland great, another three-time winner along with countryman Marco Van Basten.Despite his own admission he is not exactly handsome, Ronaldinho is now in the process of becoming the marketing nemesis to Real Madrid beau David Beckham.-Nampa-AFPA third place finisher in the voting last year behind winner Andriy Shevchenko, the 25-year-old Barcelona forward won France Football magazine’s prestigious prize with a 77-point lead over Chelsea forward Frank Lampard.First won by Blackpool’s Stanley Matthews nearly half a century ago, most of Europe’s big names have won a Ballon D’Or, although it was only open to non-Europeans playing in Uefa affiliated leagues in 1995 when Liberian George Weah, of AC Milan, was the first African winner.Ronaldinho is the third Brazilian to have win it in less than a decade, after Ronaldo’s two victories in 1997 and 2002, and that of Rivaldo in 1999.But only days after another former winner, Manchester United star George Best, died after a long illness it was perhaps fitting that another player with dazzling individual skills walked off with the prize.Best, the 1968 winner in the year United won the European Cup, was remembered with particular emotion by the organisers who handed over a replacement trophy to former United greats Denis Law and Sir Bobby Charlton.It came as no surprise to know that Best, long remembered for his exploits and adventures off the field of play, had lost his somewhere, some time ago.”It was very touching,” Law told AFP.”You just had a feeling that something would be done on this particular night, what with it being the 50th anniversary.It was a very nice gesture from the people at France Football.”Best and Ronaldinho may be worlds apart on human terms, but when it comes to the game the Brazilian is looked upon with as much awe as the Northern Irishman.”Ronaldinho just makes the game so beautiful.He makes everyone happy, and his smile when he’s playing says it all,” said France and Juventus legend Platini, one of three three-time winners of the Ballon d’Or.Cruyff, one of the pioneers of the attacking, flowing game in the 1970’s which came to be known as ‘total’ football said the Brazilian had the power to strike fear into any opponent.”He deserves this Ballon d’or.He animates the game and people love watching him when he’s playing,” said the former Ajax and Holland great, another three-time winner along with countryman Marco Van Basten.Despite his own admission he is not exactly handsome, Ronaldinho is now in the process of becoming the marketing nemesis to Real Madrid beau David Beckham.-Nampa-AFP