Fab Cannavaro wins Ballon D’Or accolade

ITALY’S World Cup-winning captain Fabio Cannavaro has been named European Footballer of the Year.

The Real Madrid defender beat countryman and Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon into second place, with Arsenal and France striker Thierry Henry third, to win France Football magazine’s prestigious Ballon D’Or.

Last year’s winner Ronaldinho, the Barcelona and Brazil playmaker, was fourth.