Brazil midfielder Kaka completed a sweep of annual awards yesterday by winning FIFA's world player-of-the-year honour.

The 25-year-old Milan playmaker received 1,047 points in a vote by national team captains and managers, more than twice as many as Argentine midfielder Lionel Messi of FC Barcelona with 504. Manchester United's Portuguese winger Cristiano Ronaldo was third with 426.

For Kaka, it is the third accolade this year. He also won European soccer's Golden Ball and World Soccer magazine's player-of-the-year award.

"Tonight is a really special night for me," Kaka said after being handed the trophy at a ceremony in Zurich, Switzerland.

He is the fifth Brazilian to win the title joining Ronaldo who has won the trophy three times, Ronaldinho (2), Romario (1), and Rivaldo (1).

In the women's competition, Marta of Brazil won her second straight award, earning 988 points to beat Birgit Prinz of Germany with 507 and fellow Brazilian Cristiane with 150.

The award was presented to Marta by former Canadian star Charmaine Hooper and German legend Franz Beckenbauer.

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