Ronaldinho named the World Player of the Decade

London, Dec.11 (ANI): Ronaldinho has been named World Player of the Decade.

AC Milan's Brazilian playmaker, 29, beat Lionel Messi in votes cast by readers of World Soccer magazine in the collated 10 annual votes between 2000 and 2009, reports The Sun.

Barcelona ace Messi, 22, was the Player of the Year - following on from his European Player of the Year award - the first winner from Argentina since Diego Maradona in 1986.

Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo, 24, finished third in the Decade award.

European champs Barca won the Team of the Year award.

After just one season in charge at the Nou Camp, Pep Guardiola was voted Manager of the Year - a clear winner ahead of former Wolfsburg coach Felix Magath and Manchester United's Alex Ferguson. (ANI)