Kaka Wins European Player of the Year Award

AC Milan playmaker Kaka has been awarded France Football's 2007 European Player of the Year award, beating off strong challenges from Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, who finished second and third respectively.

Kaka has already scooped up the FIFPro World Player of the Year award, as voted for by his fellow professionals and is the favourite to take FIFA's World of Player of the Year award later this month.

Speaking after receiving his prize, Kaka said:

"It's the top prize around and the only way to win something like this is to play for a team like AC Milan.

"It's great to be part of a team that wins.

"I won the Champions League and was the competition's top scorer. That's what made the difference with the others.

"That is the key. You have to play in a winning team."

Kaka: "...acts of violence risk distancing the top players from our Serie A."

Kaka has spoken out about his concerns for the Italian game, following the death of a Lazio supporter at the weekend and the riots that followed.

The AC Milan playmaker believes that the continued spate of violent incidents surrounding Italian football could be putting players off joining teams in Serie A:

"All these acts of violence risk distancing the top players from our Serie A.

"The world-class players want to play in great teams and in Italy there are some of the most prestigious clubs in the world.

"But they are also looking for joy and enthusiasm.

"First Calciopoli [the Italian match fixing scandal], then the police officer killed in Catania. Now this tragedy. A fan killed while he was going to see a game.

"Italy is losing credibility. The list is becoming too long."

His comments may add further credence to reports that Real Madrid are still interested in taking the Brazilian to the Bernabeu, as it appears that Kaka is far from happy with the current state of Italian football.

Ballon D'Or Shortlist Announced by France Football

France Football have released a list of the fifty players in contention for the Ballon D'Or, otherwise known as the European Footballer of the year.

They seem to have relaxed the entry rules over previous years, as now players who do not ply their trade in Europe are also included in the list.

There are ten Latin American players included:

Daniel Alves (Sevilla, Brazil), Rogerio Ceni (Sao Paulo, Brazil), Diego (Werder Breman, Brazil), Kaka (Milan, Brazil), Lionel Messi (Barcelona, Argentina), Guillermo Ochoa (America, Mexico), Juan Riquelme (Villarreal, Argentina), Robinho (Real Madrid, Brazil), Ronaldinho (Barcelona, Brazil), Carlos Tevez (Manchester United, Argentina).

Dunga and McClaren Face Similar Selection Worries Ahead of Crucial Games

England manager Steve McClaren goes into tonight's qualifier against Russia considering whether to shuffle his team around to accommodate both Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard in his starting lineup, despite the excellent results achieved without Lampard in the side.

Brazil coach Dunga faces a similar problem, having already switched around the Copa America winning side, bringing Ronaldinho and Kaka into the starting eleven to less than great effect in the draw against Colombia.

Despite failing to produce the scintillating football for which the Brazilians are renowned, Dunga's side won the Copa America without either of their two star attacking midfielders in the squad, both of them deciding to rest rather than play in the tournament. The lack of these two seemed to liberate Robinho, who took on the extra responsibility and performed excellently throughout the competition. The rest of the side galvanised around the young Real Madrid player and their victory was very much a team effort.

Fast forward to Sunday's game against Colombia and Brazil looked anything but a cohesive team unit. Ronaldinho and Kaka drifted around the pitch, rarely getting involved in the final third and Robinho seemed to revert back into his shell, hardly looking likely to trouble the Colombian defence at any point during the match. Despite the inept performance, Dunga looks likely to stick with the same eleven at home to Ecuador tonight.

It would be a very brave decision to drop one of them and if so, which one would go?

In the England team, Steve McClaren had the fortune of Frank Lampard being unavailable for a couple of games, making the decision for him. In those games, Gareth Barry has proved to be a perfect foil for Gerrard in central midfield and the results achieved with that partnership at the heart of the England team have negated any need to bring Lampard back into the team.

As strange as it sounds, Dunga may be hoping for a similar slice of misfortune for one of his two attacking midfielders, just so he can try something different with the team. With his side returning to the Maracana for the first time in seven years tonight, expectation is high, with the fans likely to get on the players' backs if they do not make a good start to the match.

If Brazil fail to win, the writing could be on the wall for Dunga. One cannot help but feel that his reluctance to breakup the Ronaldinho and Kaka partnership may have contributed heavily to his downfall.

On the other hand, Steve McClaren will be grateful for the opportunity he received to change his team, as the results gained without Gerrard and Lampard together in midfield have probably saved him his job.

Shortlist Announced for FIFA World Player of the Year

After Kaka scooped up the FIFPro award last week, he is now among the favourites to capture the FIFA World Player of the Year.

There were seven Latin American players nominated, listed below:

Juninho (Lyon, Brazil), Kaka (AC Milan, Brazil), Rafael Marquez (Barcelona, Mexico), Lionel Messi (Barcelona, Argentina), Juan Riquelme (Villarreal, Argentina), Ronaldinho (Barcelona, Brazil), Carlos Tevez (Manchester United, Argentina).

Voting now begins, with the winner to be announced on the 17th December this year.

Kaka wins FIFPro World Player of The Year Award

AC Milan's attacking midfielder Kaka has won this year's FIFPro World Player of The Year award, succeeding fellow Brazilian Ronaldinho.

He had these words to say upon receiving the accolade:

"I am humbled to receive such an honour. To follow my good friend and such a great player as Ronaldinho makes this a very special award."

The FIFPro World Eleven for the year was also announced at the ceremony, with Barcelona's Ronaldinho and Lionel Messi the other Latin American players included in the side.

Monday Transfer Gossip

First off, Barcelona and AC Milan could be involved in the biggest swap deal the sport has ever seen. Marca (Spanish link) report that Club President's Joan Laporta (Barca) and Silvio Berlusconi (AC) have been in talks regarding a possible trade of Ronaldinho for Kaka. It is thought that Berlusconi is the aggressor, but that Laporta is loathe to part with Ronaldinho, due to his cult status with the Barcelona fans.

The News of the World is linking Tottenham Hotspur with a £10.5million move for Juan Riquelme. Considering his previous rejections of other European sides it seems unlikely he would move to Spurs, but they now seem to be battling it out with Atletico Madrid for his signature.

Sunderland want to bring back Julio Arca to the Stadium of Light. The Daily Mail reports that they have made a £5million offer for the Middlesbrough full back.

Finally, The Mail also reports that Derby are set to complete a £2million move for Southampton's Colombian midfielder Jhon Viafara.

Sunday Transfer Gossip

Only a few stories around on quite a slow Sunday for transfer news.

First off, Marca (Spanish link) report that Real Madrid have offered 90million Euros for AC Milan's Brazilian playmaker Kaka.

Young Chilean striker Nicolas Medina is expected to complete his transfer from Universidad de Chile to Osasuna this afternoon. Marca (Spanish link) report that Medina will sign a four year deal with the Spanish side.

Finally, in the same article, it is also reported that Medina's move has cleared the way for Bernando Romeo to return to his homeland. The Argentine forward will sign for his former club San Lorenzo on Tuesday.

Pele Speaks

Pele has spoken in Marca (Spanish link) about various Brazilian footballers.

He has advised Kaka that if he is happy at AC Milan, he should stay, no matter what Real Madrid may offer him financially. He has cited his own choice of staying at Santos for his entire career as an example, even when he received offers from teams like Real or Juventus.

He believes that Ronaldo can return to be "number one" at AC Milan and that across the city at Inter, Adriano "will return to be great".

When asked about young starlet Alexandre Pato, he thinks he is a great prospect with great opportunites for the future.

Finally, when asked to pick one player to watch out for, Pele picked Santos striker Marcos Aurelio who has scored 40 goals in the last 18 months. He likened the player to Romario and described him as a player with great promise.

Below is a video of one of his goals whilst at Atletico Paranaense; for his Santos goals click here.

Sunday Transfer Gossip

Only a few rumours today regarding Latin American players.

First off, the News of the World is reporting that Chelsea are close to agreeing an £18million fee with Internacional for Brazilian wonderkid Alexandre Pato, nicknamed 'Alex The Duck'. This rumour was also reported a couple of days ago by Brazilian news network clicRBS (Portugese link), although Internacional's Vice-President Giovanni Luigi denied that Chelsea had made contact with them at that time. Chelsea have been linked with Pato for some time, but I wouldn't expect any deal to be concluded until after the upcoming Under-20 World Cup in Canada, at which Pato is predicted to be the break-out star of the tournament.

Spanish daily Marca (spanish link) is reporting that Villarreal have turned down an offer of £11.5million + Spanish forward Mista from Atletico Madrid for their Uruguayan striker Diego Forlan. Villarreal spokesman Jose Manual Llanez confirmed that Villarreal are holding out for their valuation of the player:

"Villarreal are not in favour of the negotiations. He is €23million."

Valencia, Arsenal and Liverpool have all been linked with the player, and Llanez believes that if Atletico don't improve their offer soon, one of those teams will step in and meet Villarreal's valuation.

Marca (spanish link) also report that a group of Argentine industrialists are starting a collection to raise the necessary money to pay for the transfer of Juan Riquelme back to Boca Juniors from Villarreal on a permanant basis.

Fabio Capello has expressed his doubt that Real Madrid will be able to tempt AC Milan to part company with Brazilian playmaker Kaka, according to Sky Sports. Real president Roman Calderon has recently reiterated his dream to bring Kaka to the Bernabeu, but it seems unlikely that Milan will be open to offers for their Brazilian talisman.

Finally, The People are exclusively reporting that Middlesborough are close to completing the signing of Argentine forward Javier Saviola from Barcelona. Many English clubs including Bolton and West Ham have been linked with the player over the last couple of months, but it seems like Middlesborough may have done the necessary to attract him to the Riverside.