[jbryant1]

Kaká the cream of Europe's finest
Thursday 30 August 2007

by Kevin Ashbyfrom Monaco


Having inspired AC Milan to UEFA Champions League glory last season, Kaká had further reason to celebrate today after collecting the UEFA Club Footballer of the Year prize. As part of the draw for the UEFA Champions League group stage, the Brazilian was joined on the podium in Monaco by club-mates Paolo Maldini and Clarence Seedorf while only the presence of Petr Čech prevented a Rossoneri clean sweep.

'Special place'
Kaká may not have struck in the final in Athens, Filippo Inzaghi scoring both in the 2-1 defeat of Liverpool FC, but his ten goals in 13 games enabled the 25-year-old to finish comfortably ahead of Ruud van Nistelrooy, Peter Crouch, Fernando Morientes and Didier Drogba, all of whom scored six. Speaking to uefa.com after the final, he said: "Winning trophies is what motivates me and I am looking forward to the next challenge. This UEFA Champions League, however, will always have a special place in my heart for the extra honour of ending up as the tournament's top scorer."

Brazil hat-trick
Kaká, who also won the Best Forward award, becomes the first Milan player to be named UEFA Club Footballer of the Year - an honour previously known as the Most Valuable Player award until the success of his countryman Ronaldinho last year. The triumph completes a hat-trick for Brazil, Ronaldo having earlier claimed the award in FC Internazionale Milano colours in 1998. While Kaká was Best Forward, the accolade of Best Midfielder went to Seedorf following the Dutchman's renaissance last term.

'Learning and improving'
After Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti elected to push Seedorf into a more advanced role alongside Kaká in January, the 31-year-old responded with a series of electric displays and goals in the defeats of FC Bayern München and Manchester United FC en route to a fourth personal UEFA Champions League success with three different clubs. Seedorf, who also earned a recall to the Netherlands squad after a two-year hiatus, said of his changing fortunes: "It's important to keep learning and improving, however long you've been around, and I'm enjoying my role a lot more now."

Maldini honour
Maldini was crowned Best Defender after his 22nd campaign as a Milan player ended with him lifting club football's most prestigious trophy for a fifth time. He may now be 39 and the oldest winner of such an award, but he promised more to come, saying: "We've been the best team in Italy, Europe and the world over the past 20 years. And the cycle hasn't ended yet." Čech, meanwhile, came top in the goalkeeping category for the second time in three years despite missing three months of the 2006/07 campaign after suffering a fractured skull. The Chelsea FC No1 recently kept his 100th league clean sheet and was named the the best player in the Czech Republic for the third successive year.

[mallamkay]

Forza Milan. Proud of Maldini. hope we do well this season especially in the serie A

[kdman]

Now Kaka for the World Best Player.