Zinedine Zidane, captain of the French national team and star of Real Madrid, has been selected as the World Footballer of the Year for the third time. 142 coaches from national teams around the world attended the World Footballer of the Year ceremony in 2003. The 31-year-old Zidane won the title of the best footballer in the world in 2003, having previously won this title in 1998 and 2000. Zidane secured the first place with 264 points, followed by Thierry Henry, Zidane's compatriot and Arsenal striker, with 186 points, and Ronaldo, the famous Brazilian striker of Real Madrid, with 142 points in second and third places, respectively. Pavel Nedved from the Czech Republic and midfielder of Juventus and Roberto Carlos, the Brazilian midfielder of Real Madrid, ranked fourth and fifth, respectively. The Brazilian national team once again earned the title of the best team in the world, the president of the Iraqi Football Federation was named the best federation president, Celtic fans were recognized as the best supporters, and the Bahrain team received the title of the team with the most progress in the past year. In this month's FIFA ranking, Brazil, France, and Spain secured the first three positions with 848, 827, and 798 points, respectively. Additionally, the Iranian national football team climbed seven places to rank 28th in the world with 649 points, standing third in Asia after South Korea and Saudi Arabia.
Zinedine Zidane Selected as World Footballer of the Year for the Third Time - 2003-12-16
Zinedine Zidane has been awarded the World Footballer of the Year for the third time, highlighting his exceptional career. This recognition comes amidst a ceremony attended by numerous national team coaches, with Brazil also being recognized as the best team. The Iranian national team has made notable progress in FIFA rankings.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
Zinedine Zidane was awarded the World Footballer of the Year for the third time, highlighting his outstanding performance in football. The ceremony also recognized various other achievements in the football world, including the Iranian national team's rise in FIFA rankings.
- Zidane received 264 points, leading the voting ahead of Thierry Henry and Ronaldo.
- The Iranian national football team improved its FIFA ranking, moving up to 28th in the world.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
Football is a global sport with significant cultural and economic implications, and awards like the World Footballer of the Year highlight individual excellence. Iran's football history includes both challenges and achievements on the international stage.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
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