Winners of World Player of the Year

GENEVA, Dec. 22 (Xinhua/GNA) -- Following are the winners of the FIFA World Player

of the Year award since it was introduced in 1991:

1991 - Lothar Matthaeus (Germany)

1992 - Marco van Basten (Netherlands)

1993 - Roberto Baggio (Italy)

1994 - Romario (Brazil)

1995 - George Weah (Liberia)

1996 - Ronaldo (Brazil)

1997 - Ronaldo

1998 - Zinedine Zidane (France)

1999 - Rivaldo (Brazil)

2000 - Zidane

2001 - Luis Figo (Portugal)

2002 - Ronaldo

2003 - Zidane

2004 - Ronaldinho (Brazil)

2005 - Ronaldinho

2006 - Fabio Cannavaro (Italy)

2007 - Kaka (Brazil)

2008 - Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal)

2009 - Lionel Messi (Argentina)