Forlan wins Golden Ball
Reuters - Sunday 11 July 2010, 21:43
JOHANNESBURG
- Uruguay's Diego Forlan won
the best player of the tournament award on Sunday after lighting
up the World Cup with some wonderful goals that helped his team
become South America's only semi-finalist.
The blond-locked striker won
legions of admirers - not
least among South African women - for his fantastic play on the
pitch and courteous attitude off it where he always made time to
sign autographs and chat with fans or journalists.
GEAR: Get a Uruguay shirt
Forlan took 23.4 percent in the
"Golden Ball" poll organised
by world football body FIFA and voted for by journalists. Dutch
playmaker Wesley Sneijder was second with 21.8 percent and
Spain's David Villa third on 16.9 percent.
All three got five goals, making
them joint top scorers
along with Germany's Thomas Muller.
Muller took the "Golden Boot"
award given to the top
scorer, using assists and number of minutes played as a
tie-breaker, FIFA said in a statement.
The German was also named Best
Young Player.
As well as
winning the World Cup, Spain also took the FIFA
Fair Play Award. Their captain Iker Casillas won the "Golden
Glove" prize for best goalkeeper.
Forlan's award will cheer
Uruguayans after their side lost
agonisingly to Germany 3-2 in the third place play-off.
Forlan struck the bar with a
typically spectacular free-kick
in the last touch of the match.
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