FIGO WINS WORLD SOCCER AWARD

WORLD SOCCER magazine have named Luis Figo as their player of the year, after an eventful year saw a starring performance at Euro 2000 and a world record transfer from Barcelona to Real Madrid.

It cost Real £40 million pounds to sign Figo from Barca after the Portuguese star emerged as one of the most influential players in the world - and the winger won 26% of the votes in the magazine's poll to take first place.

Dino Zoff's heroics for the Italian national side in Euro 2000 - where he took The Azzurri to the final - won him manager of the year, whilst World and European champions France won team of the year.