Ronaldinho at a press conference before the Fifa Centennial World Player Gala 2004 in Zurich on Monday. (AFP)

Zurich: Barcelona?s Brazilian playmaker Ronaldinho was named Fifa World Player of the Year on Monday.

Ronaldinho, 24, totalled 620 points followed by Thierry Henry of Arsenal and France on 552. Newly-crowned European Footballer of the Year Andriy Shevchenko of AC Milan and Ukraine was third on 253 (as briefly reported in Tuesday?s Late City edition).

?For me just to be selected and to be here was already an honour,? Ronaldinho told the Fifa gala awards ceremony. ?Of course I have to thank my Barcelona colleagues because I could not have won it without them.

?I am very happy at Barcelona, I want to be part of a new winning era at the club and I have no plans to go anywhere else,? he added, dismissing suggestions he might be interested in a move to Chelsea.

It was the second successive year that Henry has finished as runner-up in the poll based on the verdict of 157 international coaches and, for the first time this year, 145 national team captains.

Five points were awarded for a first place nomination, three for second and one for third. Ronaldinho gained 89 first place votes, Henry 79 and Shevchenko 34.

Last year?s winner Zinedine Zidane, who announced his international retirement from the France team after Euro 2004, came fourth. Last year?s European Footballer of the Year Pavel Nedved of the Czech Republic was fifth.

Ronaldinho has transformed Barcelona since arriving from Paris St Germain in 2003 and they lead the Primera Liga by nine points. Unlike his rivals for the award, organised by world soccer?s governing body Fifa, Ronaldinho did not win a major club trophy this year.

He is the fourth Brazilian to capture the award since its introduction in 1991 after Romario (1994), three-time winner Ronaldo (1996, 1997 and 2002) and Rivaldo (1999).

Remarkably, they all won the award when playing for Barcelona, though after his first success Ronaldo was with Inter Milan in 1997 and Real Madrid in 2002.

Germany?s Birgit Prinz won women?s player of the year, the Presidents? Award went to Haiti for promoting the match for peace against Brazil and Brazil took the Fair Play award.

Henry stand against racism

Henry sent a clear message of support in the fight against racism in soccer when he wore a black-and-white bracelet at a news conference before Fifa?s centennial World Player of the Year gala.

As Fifa?s disciplinary committee deliberated over the outbursts of racist chanting during last month?s friendly between Spain and England, the Arsenal and France striker spoke out of the need to eliminate racism from the sport.

Henry said he was wearing the bracelet as a symbol of his support for any moves that prevent continued racist behaviour by soccer fans.

?It is just about racism,? he told reporters. ?The players cannot do very much when they are on the pitch, but this is a symbol of how we feel. Perhaps we can help to make the public do something.

?Maybe we cannot change the mentality of these people, but we can have a victory for an hour and a half each week at least.?

Ronaldinho said he supported the wearing of the bracelet but admitted he had never been the victim of racist chanting.

Henry said he also chose to wear a red Che Guevara T-shirt because he was an admirer of the famed revolutionary and political leader. ?I admire what he did and because I am reading his books I just felt like wearing it,? he said.