Zidane wins FIFA world player of year award

French playmaker Zinedine Zidane has been named as FIFA's world player of the year for 2000.

Real Madrid's Portuguese midfielder Luis Figo was second and Barcelona's Brazilian striker Rivaldo third.

Zidane, who plays for Juventus, won the annual event organised by world soccer's governing body with 370 points to Figo's 329 and Rivaldo's 263.

The votes were cast by 150 national team coaches who awarded five points to their first-choice player, three to their second and one to their third.

Zidane, 28, who inspired France to the European Championship title in July, becomes only the second player to win the award twice following his success in 1998.

Brazil's Ronaldo won in 1996 and 1997.

Previous winners of FIFA's world player of the year award

1991 - Lothar Matthaeus (Germany, Inter Milan)
1992 - Marco van Basten (Netherlands, AC Milan)
1993 - Roberto Baggio (Italy, Juventus)
1994 - Romario (Brazil, Barcelona)
1995 - George Weah (Liberia, AC Milan)
1996 - Ronaldo (Brazil, Barcelona)
1997 - Ronaldo (Brazil, Inter Milan)
1998 - Zinedine Zidane (France, Juventus)
1999 - Rivaldo (Brazil, Barcelona)
2000 - Zinedine Zidane (France, Juventus)