Awards to be handed out
Sunday, December 16, 2001
Article summary
FIFA's World Player of the Year and France Football's European Footballer of the Year will be decided later today.
Article body
Two players, or perhaps just one, will be celebrating later when FIFA's World Player of the Year and France Football's European Footballer of the Year awards are handed out.
Most votes
In line to win the FIFA award are England's David Beckham, Spain's Raúl González and Portugal's Luis Figo . The trio won the most votes from FIFA's 132-strong voting panel, made up of national team coaches who were not allowed to vote for players from their own national team.
Beckham instrumental
Manchester United FC midfield player Beckham, the England captain, was instrumental in helping his country qualify for the 2002 FIFA World Cup finals. He has scored five times in Sven-Göran Eriksson's reign as England coach and fired home the last-gasp free-kick against Greece which ensured England's passage to Korea/Japan. He also helped his club lift the FA Premiership title for the third season in a row.
Stern opposition
Beckham will face stern opposition from Real Madrid CF's Raúl after the striker fired his club to the Spanish title and helped Spain qualify for the World Cup finals, in addition to topping the scoring charts in the 2000/01 UEFA Champions League. Fellow Madrid player Figo was a key figure in Portugal's successful World Cup qualification campaign. He finished second to Zinedine Zidane, then of Juventus FC but now with Madrid, in last year's voting.
Owen the favourite
Monday's other prestigious award, presented by France Football magazine, is expected to be won by Michael Owen, the England striker whose club, Liverpool FC, won the UEFA Cup in May with a thrilling extra-time victory over Deportivo Alavés. Owen's hat-trick at Munich's Olympiastadion helped England to a stunning 5-1 win against Germany in a World Cup qualifier in September and he has also been in electric form in the Premiership.
Liverpool in line?
There are 50 contenders for the European award, including Beckham, Figo and Raúl. France Football will also give awards to the top player and team, with Liverpool the overwhelming favourites to claim the latter.
