Soccer: Fifa world award to Figo puts Portugal on the map

ZURICH - Luis Figo, of Real Madrid, was crowned Fifa's world player of the year yesterday when he narrowly outscored Manchester United's David Beckham in a poll of national team coaches.

"It is a privilege for me to stand here and accept this trophy," the 29-year-old Portuguese international forward said.

"But this is an award not just to me, but to my team, my team-mates and my country."

Figo, runner-up last year behind Frenchman Zinedine Zidane, scored a total of 250 points to beat Beckham, on 238, into second place.

But the England captain, who was runner-up in 1999, gathered more votes for first place than any of his rivals - 30 against Figo's 27.

Figo won, however, because he had 35 coaches' votes for second place compared to 23 for Beckham.

Another Real Madrid player, Raul, the Spanish international striker, was third.

Figo is the first Portuguese player to lift the award since it was created in 1991.

"Portuguese football has made fantastic progress in the last few years and I am happy to say that there are a lot of very good young players still coming through," he said.

"I am very proud of that for my country."

Beckham, resplendent in a pin-striped black suit with a satin collar, a striped black shirt and dark tie, accepted his award for second place with dignity.

"It is just an honour to be standing here with these people," he said.

Raul gathered a total of 96 points to squeeze out his Madrid team-mate Zidane - the winner in 1998 and last year - who was fourth on 94, and Barcelona's Brazilian striker, Rivaldo, on 92.

Manchester United's Juan Sebastian Veron, of Argentina, was sixth on 71, ahead of Oliver Kahn, of Bayern Munich and Germany, on 65 and Liverpool and England striker Michael Owen on 61.

Owen was later named European footballer of the year by France Football magazine.

He was the first English player to pick up that award since Kevin Keegan in 1979.

Italian Paolo di Canio, of West Ham United, collected the fair play award.

He won for catching the ball instead of trying to score to allow the injured Everton goalkeeper to be treated during a premier league match at Goodison Park a year ago.

"Football is about more than just two or three points," the Italian said.

"It is something to play with great loyalty and honesty."

For the first time, Fifa also made an award for the best female player of the year. The honour went to American star Mia Hamm.

Hamm, 29, has made 219 appearances for her country and scored 129 international goals.

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