Sports - FIFA NEWS - TOP 10 - November 2004

Ronaldinho wins FIFA Player of The Year

Wednesday December 22, 2004

RONALDINHO FIFA PLAYER OF THE YEAR - BRAZIL TOP TEAM 2004 - CHINA TOP MOVER - FIFA MEN'S TOP 10 - FIFA WOMEN'S TOP 10

RONALDINHO FIFA'S TOP PLAYER

Brazil's Ronaldinho was selected the FIFA Player of The Year. He is the third Brazil player to win the award in the past six years. Previous winners were Rivaldo (1999) and Ronaldo 2002.

BRAZIL - Top Team 2004

It would not have been impossible to topple long-time leaders Brazil from their throne in 2004. Yet the hopeful successors, most prominently France and Spain, but also Argentina, would have had to offer up a more convincing challenge.

Despite two slip-ups in FIFA World Cup qualifiers, the Seleçao remained untouchable in the FIFA World Ranking. They did not fail to shine through in the big games – against Argentina first in FIFA World Cup qualifying and later in the final of the Copa America, during which Mexico also succumbed to the Brazilians – nor did they concede defeat in friendlies against highly ranked France and Germany.

FIFA's Top Teams

2002-04: Brazil

2001: Honduras

2000: Netherlands

1994-99: Brazil

1993: Germany

FIFA MEN'S TOP 10

On the up-and-up BRAZIL AND CHINA PR AWARD WINNERS

Small ripples can be felt in this month’s FIFA World Ranking. The top three teams remain unchanged, so the Seleçao claim the Top Team title ahead of second place France for an incredible third year running.

Czech Republic (4th, up 1) turn the tables on Spain (5th, down 1), as do Mexico (7th, up 1) on England (8th, down 1). The biggest mover to break into the Top 10 this year has been Portugal (9th, up 8) who have reaped the benefits of their European Championship performances.

Looking back over the year, however, we can see evidence of far-reaching changes. Not only have China PR made laudable progress in the Ranking (54th, up 32), but they also claim this year’s Best Mover award, after adding 101 points to their 2003 total.

Three other teams have also climbed 30 or more places since December 2003 – Côte d’Ivoire (40th, up 30), Uzbekistan (47th, up 34), and St. Vincent and the Grenadines (137th, up 32).

In addition to these four climbers, another nine teams have gained more than 20 ranks on last year, including Australia (58th, up 24), Libya (61st, up 22), Panama (100th, up 25) and Oceania Nations Cup surprise packages Solomon Islands (130th, up 26).

The most richly rewarded matches in 2004 were shock wins by Ukraine (in Turkey), Venezuela (in Uruguay) and the Greek EURO coup against Portugal.

With 1019 games having already been played this year and close to 30 matches still outstanding (Tiger Cup, Gulf Cup, CECAFA Cup), 2004 may well set a new all-time record (currently 1044 matches in 2000).

The next FIFA World Ranking will be published on 19 January 19, 2005.

FIFA TOP TEN

Rank/Team/Points

1. Brazil - 843

2. France - 792

3. Argentina - 785

4. Czech Republic 777

5. Spain - 765

6. Netherlands - 758

7. Mexico - 753

8. England - 752

9. Portugal - 747

10. Italy - 738

Best Mover 2004 – China PR

There is no doubt that 2004 has been a rollercoaster year for China PR. The Chinese team certainly had hopes above and beyond the FIFA Best Mover award.

A narrow 1-0 loss to Kuwait proved to be the telling blow that saw China PR eliminated in the first round of the Asian preliminary competition for the 2006 FIFA World Cup.

There was another bitter pill to swallow, as China PR went down to a 3-1 defeat in front of a home crowd at the hands of Japan in the race for the Asian Cup crown.

As a result, despite only losing twice in 22 matches during 2004, China PR end the year on a low note. On the other hand, the Chinese can point to an excellent record overall this year, with 16 wins, 4 draws, a 101-point improvement compared to the same time last year, and ranked 54th (up 32), thus making them worthy winners of the Best Mover award!

FIFA Best Mover

2004: China PR

2003: Bahrain

2002: Senegal

2001: Costa Rica

2000: Nigeria

1999: Slovenia

1998: Croatia

1997: Yugoslavia

1996: South Africa

1995: Jamaica

1994: Croatia

1993: Colombia

WOMEN'S TOP 10

WORLD CHAMPIONS SEE OUT 2004 IN FIRST PLACE - Ethiopia Make Biggest Move

The reigning Olympic champions would have needed a few more impressive performances in order to dislodge the German world champions from the top of the Women’s World Ranking.

At one stage, victory in a keenly contested semi-final in Heraklion had brought the USA to within seven points of Germany, but ultimately, it was not quite enough.

The recent FIFA U-19 Women’s World Championship in Thailand, an event that was also won by Germany, merely confirmed the current state of play in women’s football and there are no immediate signs that changes are afoot. Nevertheless, although the USA will need to reorganise after the retirement of Joy Fawcett, Julie Foudy and Mia Hamm, the battle for the top spot will be just as tense in 2005.

Aside from Denmark (7th, up 2) and France (9th, down 2) switching positions, there are no further changes to report in the top ten.

Any search for a “Best Mover” would lead to Africa, which is a positive sign for the future of women’s football. Algeria (up 19 places to 78th with a much-improved rating), Ethiopia and Senegal all make significant strides up the ranking. Conversely, South Africa, Angola and Nicaragua all fall by more than ten places.

There are now 121 teams in the Women’s World Ranking. Of the eight teams that made their debut in the ranking in 2004, two are from Europe (Latvia and Lithuania).

The teams in the Women’s World Ranking are evaluated on a number of factors, including match results, home advantage, the significance of a match and the strength of the opposition.

The ranking is published four times per year. According to the Big Count survey published by FIFA in 2001, 22 million women and girls around the world play football.

The next FIFA Women’s World Ranking will be published on 25 March 2005.

Rank - Team - Rating

1. Germany - 2181

2. USA - 2165

3. Norway - 2146

4. Brazil - 2053

5. Sweden - 2035

6. China PR - 2025

7. Denmark - 2000

8. Korea DPR - 1988

9. France -1986

10. Italy - 1956