Zizou backs Cannavaro award

France legend Zinedine Zidane believes Fabio Cannavaro is a deserved winner of the FIFA World Player of the Year award.

Zidane, who retired from football after last summer’s World Cup finals, finished runner-up to Cannavaro in the poll for the 2006 accolade, just 44 votes behind the Italy captain.

Cannavaro got the better of Zidane in the World Cup final, which Italy won on penalties following a 1-1 draw after 120 minutes, and did so again on Monday night.

However, Zidane, a World Cup winner himself back in 1998, was not surprised.

“The decision was difficult, but with his potential and his success this season, Cannavaro deserves the title,” he said.

“But all the players who were present (at the ceremony) deserve to be there.”

Of his own second-place finish, Zidane continued: “I am just happy being here, surrounded by all these great players, and seeing my friends’ faces again. That’s the important thing.

“I quit playing six months ago and I am happy to see some players that I knew and who I haven’t seen for a while.”

Brazil maestro Ronaldinho finished third in the voting, meaning Zidane’s France colleague Thierry Henry missed out on a place on the podium.

Zidane said: “There are always players who deserve the award. It is difficult to pick just three of them.

“Everyone has their own opinion. If you just look at potential, which he has, Henry deserves to be there but it is the same thing for everyone.”