PARIS - AC Milan playmaker Kaka has been named European player of the year for 2007.
The 25-year-old Brazilian was the Champions League's top scorer last season with 10 goals as he led his team to the title, beating Liverpool in Athens in the final.
He wins the Ballon d'Or after amassing 444 points in France Football's survey of 96 journalists from around the world.
Each was asked to vote on a shortlist of 50 players with Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo came a distant second with 277 points.
Barcelona's Lionel Messi finished third with 255 points.
United winger Ronaldo, 22, was in sensational form last term, scoring 25 goals in all for the English Premier League club and Portugal.
The 20-year-old Argentina forward Messi also emerged as a world-class talent for club and country.
The same trio - Kaka, Ronaldo and Messi - have been shortlisted for FIFA's world player of the year award which will be announced in Zurich on December 17.
Chelsea's Didier Drogba came fourth in France Football's vote with AC Milan midfielder Andrea Pirlo rounding off the top five.
