Italy captain Fabio Cannavaro has been named European Footballer
of the Year by France Football magazine, says Real Madrid president
Ramon Calderon.
"The joy at Cannavaro winning the Ballon d'Or has been overshadowed
by the sad news of the death of Ferenc Puskas," said
Calderon.
The 33-year-old centre-back, who captained Italy to victory at the
World Cup in Germany, joined Real in July.
France Football is due to officially name the award winner on 27
November.
The European Footballer of the Year award is based on a vote by
European football journalists.
Cannavaro, who will replace Barcelona's Brazil playmaker Ronaldinho
as last year's winner, will become one of the few defenders to win
the award.
Earlier on Friday Spanish daily Marca had claimed France Football's
editor had visited Real Madrid's 33-year-old defender to confirm he
had won the award.
Cannavaro said: "Of course I would like to win it. It would be
wonderful and very gratifying on a personal level."
