Ghetto Kid Roni Adds European Crown to World Player Title

The 25-year-old, who finished third in voting last year when Ukrainian Andriy Shevchenko was nominated, was awarded the prize after garnering a total of 225 points. The man who began life in a shanty town in Porto Alegre finished some distance ahead of his nearest rivals Frank Lampard of Chelsea and Liverpool’s Steven Gerrard.

He becomes the third Brazilian to win the award after his compatriots Ronaldo, who won it twice, in 1997 and 2002, and Rivaldo, who won it in 1999. It also means that Ronaldinho holds both the World Player and European Player accolades at the same time after picking up the global award last December, a feat he is expected to repeat this year.

He was also honoured by his fellow professionals when he won the inaugural FIFPro World Player of the Year trophy in September.

"It's a dream come true for me to win such a prestigious award," said the long-haired Brazilian who arrived in Europe, at French club Paris St Germain, in 2001. "Just looking at the list of players to have won it, including Ronaldo and Rivaldo, makes me feel quite special and makes me want to continue working hard and being successful with Barcelona and Brazil.”

"This award is as much for my teammates at Barcelona and Brazil," Ronaldinho added.

Player at the heart of Brazil and Barcelona's revival

Ronaldinho's prize, largely representing the player's performances last season, was hotly anticipated. The former Gremio and Paris Saint Germain forward helped Brazil win the Confederations Cup earlier this year.

He was also played a pivotal role in Barcelona's resurgence in the Spanish football league last season when the Catalan giants won the league trophy after a six-year hiatus. Barcelona also won the Spanish Super Cup.

Despite being a huge talent both at club and international level, Barcelona seems to have brought the best out of the flamboyant long-haired forward whose mazy tuns, deft feints and superb goalscoring ability has left many a defender kicking out at thin air.

Roni is Pele's most likely successor

His ball skills, some of which have spawned their own names, have long been compared to those of his esteemed compatriot Pele, to whom he was compared six years ago at the Copa America in Paraguay when he scored a similar goal to the one scored by the Brazil legend against Wales at the 1958 World Cup.

Two weeks ago Ronaldinho was given an altogether different honour after scoring his second of two goals in a 3-0 Spanish league victory over Real Madrid. Fans at Real's Santiago Bernabeu stadium, despite their frustration at having seen their side go down 3-0, stood up and began applauding the Brazilian en masse.

The last time that had happened was when another south American, Argentine legend Diego Maradona, won the hearts of the Bernabeu fans with a similar feat back in 1983.

For France and Juventus legend Michel Platini, there's simply no doubting Ronaldinho's contribution to the game. "Ronaldinho just makes the game so beautiful. And he makes everyone happy, and his smile when he's playing says it all," Platini, one of three three-time winners, said.

Artist who works hard to perfect his masterpieces

Ronaldinho said however that his superb ball skills hadn't just emerged by chance. "I work hard at everything I do. I train a lot with the ball, at free kicks and dribbling especially," said the Brazilian, who in 62 appearances for his country has scored 27 times.

The Ballon d'Or has been open to players of any nationality playing in a UEFA affiliated team since the mid 1990's. Previously, only players of European origin were eligible.