PARIS (AP) - AC Milan midfielder Kaka won the Golden Ball award Sunday after helping the Italian club win the Champions League title this year with some standout performances.

The 25-year-old Brazil international scored 10 goals in the competition with his two-goal performance at Manchester United in the semifinals being hailed as one of the best of the tournament.

"It has been a special year for me, this award underlines that," Kaka said. "The only way to win an award like this is to belong to a team which fights."

Kaka received 444 points from France Football magazine, which organized the vote. Portugal and Manchester United winger Cristiano Ronaldo was second with 277, while Argentina and FC Barcelona forward Lionel Messi finished third with 255.

"I have to thank my coach (Carlo Ancelotti), who has always given me confidence, always played me, even in difficult times over these four years," Kaka said on Italy's Sky TV. "I want to become the captain of this team and I think the best person to learn from is Paolo Maldini."

Kaka has been repeatedly linked with a move to Real Madrid in recent months, but Milan vice president Adriano Galliani is determined Kaka will stay.

"It's a fantastic story," Galliani said. "With this prize, he's No. 1 in the world and I assure you he will remain with Milan."

Italy captain Fabio Cannavaro won the award last year after leading his team to the World Cup title in Germany, but the 52 journalists were only allowed to vote for a player from a European club.

This year's format was different, involving 96 journalists and a shortlist of 50 players worldwide.

Ivory Coast and Chelsea striker Didier Drogba was fourth with 108 points, and Italy and Milan midfielder Andrea Pirlo finished fifth with 41.

After helping Real Madrid win the Spanish league title, striker Ruud van Nistelrooy was sixth. Brazil forward Ronaldinho, the 2005 winner, dropped to 12th, and France striker Thierry Henry was 19th.

Maradona disputes Kaka throne

“In my opinion Lionel Messi is without a doubt the best, followed by Sergio Aguero and Juan Roman Riquelme, but also Wayne Rooney and Ronaldinho.”

Channel4

And if he wouldn't be that "modest" he would countinue with the 4rth being again from Argentina (Tevez).... than 5th someone like Cambiaso  and so on...

well yeah he surely would've said that, but then he woulda known that the journalists wouldn't even publish it.

the man needs to stop sniffing and give himself a reality check

He's Argentinian and for them, one of their own is always better. Besides, all those years of sniffing caused him a brain damage (not that he was that smart in the first place).

Believe it or not, a player of his quality had to be smarter than all that opposed him Logically speaking Misha.
I think Messi is the next winner of this trophy ... As he has been put in some spectacular displays in La Liga. Still I rate Kaka' higher, of course, he has tougher defenses to break through and is more technical than that Maradona wanna be

C.Ronaldo has done more than Messi and that is why he was second. IMO CR wil be the next winner.

C.Ronaldo has done more than Messi and that is why he was second. IMO CR wil be the next winner.

Don't forget there's the EURO this summer. We might very well know who the next winner is going to be as soon as July!

Zlatan has been amazing! I couldn't pick between him, Messi and CR... but if CR wins the EURO this summer I think he will deservedly get it! It all depends on who's going to win the most cause all three of them (and Kaka) are equally good!

Believe it or not, a player of his quality had to be smarter than all that opposed him Logically speaking Misha.

Don't confuse rare football talent with other thing. Other player with that talent could have done more. Look how much time of his career he spent on BS.

That is ur opinion misha .. He has earned global recognition theoughtout his playing career .. I am not here to judge how he ended his career or based on his private life .. But on the pitch, hands down he is one of the best three to ever play the game!

I can understand some people that admire Messi more than KAKA (eventhough they're not RIGHT  too ), but saying that Aguero is 2nd best player in the world, Riquleme 3rd..... makes me laugh.

Retired footballers usually talk and behave like @ssholes. Maradona is no exception. [could it be that he was high when he said these words!?  ]

Could it be that the sky is blue??

But I guess... he's now clean!  ...     

That's what I'm saying. He had a rare talent (a player like that is born once every 50 years). You can't took that away no matter what. But other person, with his head in the right place, with better personality, probably would have done more. One look at his bio is enough.

Attitude? Personality? ... Yeah, I know his career went crashing down after he fell into drugs, but what has that got to do with his footballing career?

I'm not questioning his talent or ability. All I'm saying that if not drugs, partying and other ****, he could have achieved more in his career. The small example is  the WC94, when Argentina played great in the group stage and failed in the 1/8 without him after he was caught again. His career is basically ended at age 31 after the 15 months suspension.

And I did agree with that 

on a side note, does he have an autobiography ?!

Could it be that the sky is blue??

But I guess... he's now clean!  ...