Hamm finalist for player of year; Kahn, Ronaldo, Zidane head men
U.S. forward Mia Hamm was among three female finalists for the FIFA World Player of the Year, and Oliver Kahn, Ronaldo and Zinedine Zidane were selected Monday as finalists for the men's honor.
U.S. forward Mia Hamm was among three female finalists for the FIFA World Player of the Year, and Oliver Kahn, Ronaldo and Zinedine Zidane were selected Monday as finalists for the men's honor.
Hamm, winner of the first award for women last year, returned this summer following knee surgery. She has 136 goals in 228 international appearances, including seven goals in nine games this year. The other finalists are Sun Wen of China and Birgit Prinz of Germany.
Nominations were made by 140 men's and women's national team coaches, and they will vote for the winners, to be announced Dec. 17.
Kahn, the first goalkeeper to make the final three since the men's award began in 1991, won the Golden Ball as the top player at this year's World Cup, where he led Germany to the final.
Ronaldo, the winner of the award in 1996 and 1997, scored eight goals at the World Cup, including two in the final, to lead Brazil to its fifth title. Zidane, the winner in 1998 and 2000, led Real Madrid to the European Champions Cup title.
Portugal's Luis Figo won last year's men's award.