Cannavaro crowned World Player of Year

FABIO CANNAVARO was proud to become the first defender to be named FIFA World Player of the Year after collecting the award at the annual gala ceremony in Zurich.

The accolade caps off an outstanding year for the Italy and Real Madrid centre-half, who captained his country to World Cup glory this summer and was presented with the Ballon D’Or in November.

He would have been able to add a Serie A winner’s medal to his haul but for the Italian match-fixing scandal, which saw his former club Juventus stripped of their title and relegated to Serie B.