By David Hobbs
September 19 2005

Wayne Rooney scooped one of the top prizes at the at the inaugural FIFpro awards, where over 38,000 players players from around the globe vote for the winners of awards.

Rooney's award ends a bad spell of negative media comments after his red card against Villarreal last Wednesday and shrug off competition from team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo for the gong.

Ronaldo did win the FIFpro Special Young Player of the Year though, as voted by fans in a poll.

Meanwhile, Barcelona's Ronaldinho took home FIFpro World Player of the Year award and John Terry, Frank Lampard and Claude Makelele of Chelsea were all selected in the prestigious FIFpro World XI. Also, Pele picked up the FIFpro Legend award for his dedication to football.

FIFpro World XI:

Nelson Dida (Brazil/Milan)
Cafu (Brazil/Milan)
Alessandro Nesta (Italy/Milan)
John Terry (England/Chelsea)
Paolo Maldini (Italy/ Milan)
Ronaldinho (Brazil/Barcelona)
Frank Lampard (England/Chelsea)
Claude Makelele (France/Chelsea)
Zinedine Zidane (France/Real Madrid)
Samuel Eto'o (Cameroon/Barcelona)
Andrei Shevchenko (Ukraine/Milan)

David Hobbs - Webmaster
[david@manutdweb.com]