Shevchenko wins European player of the year award

MILAN striker Andrei Shevchenko is the new European Footballer of the Year.

Shevchenko succeeds Pavel Nedved as the Ballon D’Or winner, after beating Deco into second and Ronaldinho into third respectively.

Arsenal’s Thierry Henry was down in fourth place nearly 100 points behind Shevchenko.

“When I started playing football I dreamt to become a big player and to win a prestigious award like this,” said the Ukraine star. “I feel myself a more complete and experienced player. But the most important thing is that I have learnt about winning.”

Greece’s Theo Zagorakis took fifth, with Adriano in sixth and former holder Nedved in seventh. Wayne Rooney came in eighth, ahead of Manchester United team-mate Ruud van Nistelrooy and Chelsea’s Ricardo Carvalho in joint ninth.