The 2004 and 2005 World Player of the Year won 10.67 per cent of 29,832 votes cast in the poll organised by the sports newspaper Titan Sports.

Next came his Brazilian teammate Kaka of AC Milan, who finished with 7.69 per cent of the vote ahead of Real Madrid's former England captain David Beckham, third with 7.64 per cent.

Frenchman Thierry Henry who plays for Arsenal was fourth with Portuguese international Cristiano Ronaldo of Manchester United fifth.

Despite his decision to retire after the World Cup in Germany last year, former French captain Zinedine Zidane still made it into the top 10, finishing eighth with 6.34 per cent.