Prinz seals world hat-trick
Tuesday, December 20, 2005
Article summary
Six Europeans made the top ten at the FIFA Women's World Player of the Year gala, with Germany striker Birgit Prinz again landing the prestigious prize.
Article body
European triumph
The 28-year-old 1. FFC Frankfurt forward captained her nation to a fourth consecutive UEFA European Women's Championship earlier this year in England. She also helped Frankfurt regain the Bundesliga title from 1. FFC Turbine Potsdam and reach the final of the 2006 UEFA Women's Cup where they will tackle their chief domestic rivals in an all-German affair.
Vote details
In the poll of national-team coaches and captains, Prinz received 513 points, 84 more than Umeå IK's Brazilian playmaker Marta. American Shannon Boxx was third, Sweden's Hanna Ljungberg fourth, and Renate Lingor of Frankfurt and Germany fifth. Also in the top ten were Solveig Gulbrandsen of Norway, Germany's Sandra Minnert and England attacker Kelly Smith.
Team-mates thanked
On receiving her award at Monday's FIFA World Player Gala in Zurich, where Ronaldinho took the men's prize, Prinz said: "I'd like to thank all who voted for me. More importantly, I would like to thank Frankfurt and the German national team because without my team-mates this success would not be possible. Without a team nothing works in football."
