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| July 11, 2006 | Tuesday | Jumadi-ul-Sani 14, 1427 |
Zidane wins Golden Ball
BERLIN, July 10: France captain Zinedine Zidane won the FIFA Golden Ball award as the outstanding player of the World Cup despite being sent off in their final penalties shootout defeat by Italy on Sunday.
The prize was decided by media votes, cast before Zidane was shown the red card. Zidane received 2,012, Italian captain Fabio Cannavaro finished second (1,977) and his team mate Andrea Pirlo was third (715).
Brazil and Spain shared the fair play award.
Zidane's mark on the 18th World Cup finals will never be forgotten.
His successful seventh minute penalty for France against Italy meant he became the fourth player to score three goals in the history of the showpiece final.
Zidane's early spot kick added to the two headed goals the French playmaker scored in the 3-0 win over Brazil in the 1998 final on home soil in Paris.
Germany striker Miroslav Klose won the Golden Shoe award for leading scorer with five goals.
Winners of FIFA awards:
Golden Ball: Zinedine Zidane (France).
Golden Shoe (top scorer): Miroslav Klose (Germany).
Most Entertaining Team: Portugal.
Best Goalkeeper: Gianluigi Buffon (Italy).
Best Young Player: Lukas Podolski (Germany).
Previous winners of Golden Ball award:
2002: Oliver Kahn (Germany).
1998: Ronaldo (Brazil).
1994: Romario (Brazil).
1990: Salvatore Schillaci (Italy).
1986: Diego Maradona (Argentina).—Reuters
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