Brazilian striker Ronaldinho won FIFA’s World Player of the Year award Monday, beating out France’s Thierry Henry and Ukrainian Andrei Shevchenko.

Germany’s Birgit Prinz won the women’s award, ahead of Mia Hamm and Brazilian youngster Marta. Prinz was a repeat winner. Brazil was chosen team of the year.

Ronaldinho won the poll of national soccer associations with 620 votes, ahead of Henry at 552 and Shevchenko with 253. "This is a very special moment in my career," Ronaldinho said. "This is a very important prize that will motivate me to try to be here again."

Ronaldinho has been brilliant for FC Barcelona, helping the Spanish team reach the top of its league and the final 16 of the Champions League. It’s the first time he won the global award.

Henry was runner-up for the second year in a row; countryman Zinedine Zidane won in 2003. "You can’t say if you don’t win, you’re happy," said Henry. "There’s two tremendous players by my side there. It’s already amazing to be around this kind of player."

The striker helped Arsenal win the English Premier League, going undefeated last season, and his 30 goals led the league.

Shevchenko, voted European player of the year last week, was the leading scorer in Italy’s Serie A last season when his AC Milan won the title. He has also helped Ukraine to a five-point lead at the top of its World Cup qualifying group.

"It has been a great year for me," said Shevchenko. FIFA chose Brazil as the top team in 2004 for having retained first place in the world rankings.

辅助阅读：2004年国际足联颁奖典礼在苏黎世歌剧院举行。小罗纳尔多在评选中得到620分，当选"世界足球先生"，德国女"轰炸机"普林茨蝉联了"世界足球小姐"，另外巴西还蝉联了"年度最佳球队"。