"WORLD SOCCER" WORLD PLAYER OF THE YEAR
This award begun in 1982 and is voted on by the readers of World Soccer magazine. The results in 2001 are:
| RANK | NAME | NATIONALITY |
% |
| 1 | Michael Owen | England | 30.72 |
| 2 | David Beckham | England | 16.46 |
| 3 | Raul | Spain | 11.89 |
| 4 | Francesco Totti | Italy | 7.53 |
| 5 | Rivaldo | Brazil | 6.23 |
| 6 | Oliver Kahn | Germany | 3.52 |
| 7 | Luis Figo | Portugal | 3.24 |
| 8 | Andrii Shevchenko | Ukraine | 2.74 |
| 9 | Henrik Larsson | Sweden | 2.12 |
| 10 | Hernan Crespo | Argentina | 1.84 |
Michael Owen won the award after helping Liverpool to a cup treble of League Cup, FA Cup and UEFA Cup in 2001. He also scored key goals to help England qualify for the World Cup including a hat-trick against Germany. Beckham was also important in England's qualification campaign. Raul starred for both Spain and Real Madrid in 2001.Previous winners of the award are:
| YEAR | NAME | NATIONALITY |
| 1982 | Paolo Rossi | Italy |
| 1983 | Zico | Brazil |
| 1984 | Michel Platini | France |
| 1985 | Michel Platini | France |
| 1986 | Diego Maradona | Argentina |
| 1987 | Ruud Gullit | Holland |
| 1988 | Marco Van Basten | Holland |
| 1989 | Ruud Gullit | Holland |
| 1990 | Lothar Matthaus | Germany |
| 1991 | Jean-Pierre Papin | France |
| 1992 | Marco Van Basten | Holland |
| 1993 | Roberto Baggio | Italy |
| 1994 | Paolo Maldini | Italy |
| 1995 | Gianluca Vialli | Italy |
| 1996 | Ronaldo | Brazil |
| 1997 | Ronaldo | Brazil |
| 1998 | Zinedine Zidane | France |
| 1999 | Rivaldo | Brazil |
| 2000 | Luis Figo | Portugal |
Click here to go to the 1999 World Soccer World Player of the Year page
Click here to go to the 2000 World Soccer World Player of the Year page
Click here to go back to the awards page