FIFPro World XI Awards 2005 - London

Ronaldinho, the World Player of The Year was on hand to add his famous smile to the celebration of the 'The Beautiful Game'.

The awards were held at a glittering gala ceremony in London. Football's top stars were at the 2005 Inaugural Awards, held at the BBC Television Centre, as well as a host of celebrities, including actress Minnie Driver, singer Kanye West and model Jerry Hall. The evening celebration was hosted by television personality and stage star Denise Van Outen.

Premiership champions Chelsea were well-represented once again when the silverware was handed out. Their England stars John Terry, 24, Frank Lampard, 27, and French club mate Claude Makalele, 32, were all named in the team of the year, voted for by the players. Frank Lampard said: ‘It is a real accolade to be voted into a team of such great players. Awards where you’re recognised by your fellow pros are the ones you really grave.’

England ace Wayne Rooney, 19, was nearly lost for words for once as he picked up the title of Young Player Of The Year at the awards, held at the BBC’s studios in London. His Manchester United team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo, 20, collected an award for the Special Young Player Of The Year, which was decided by Fans worldwide.

AC Milan, last season’s Champions League runners-up, provided five players in the Best XI.

FIFPro World Player of The Year 2005
Ronaldinho

Young Player of The Year

Wayne Rooney

Special Young Player of The Year Award (as voted by fans)

Cristiano Ronaldo

FIFPro World XI - 2005
Dida (Milan); Cafu (Milan), Alessandro Nesta (Milan), John Terry (Chelsea), Paolo Maldini (Milan); Ronaldinho (Barcelona), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), Claude Makalele (Chelsea), Zinedine Zidane (Real Madrid), Samuel Eto’o (Barcelona), Andrei Shevchenko (Milan)

Elias Figueroa, Chairman of the GOL ILUMINADO FOUNDATION and Players For Peace Campaign and initiatives with FIFPro, that supports the United Nations Sport for Development and Peace is interviewed by Andres Cantor of Telemundo.

'Don' Elias was recently named by FIFA (The World Governing Body of Football –Soccer) as one of the Best 100 Players of the Century. He is the only three (3) times South American Player of The Year (1974, 1975 and 1976) and was the FIFA World Player of The Year in 1976. He represented his Country, Chile, as the Captain of his National Team in four (4) FIFA World Cup Championships and is one of the great historical figures of global football. Elias Figueroa acts as an Ambassador to the United Nations Sport for Development and Peace LAC through his Foundation's Players For Peace initiatives. He has spoken to the General Assembly of the United Nations and last year, presented Brasilian International and two (2) times FIFPro World Player of The Year, Ronaldinho, at UN Headquarters in NYC, for appointment as a Goodwill Ambassador, to work with him in this program.

Elias Figueroa accepted the FIFPro Legend Award for his friend, Edson Arantes do Nascimento - O Rei - Pelé and announced his Players For Peace initiative with FIFPro.
Photo Credits: Steve Leighton

TO SUPPORT Players For Peace and VIEW the Inaugural
2005 FIFPro World XI Awards Show from London in its entirety,
which includes Special LIVE Performances by
Kanye West, Zucchero, Liberty X and Sean Paul
click here