Brazilian soccer star Ronaldo de Assis, better known as Ronaldinho, was named king of European soccer in the year-end survey conducted by Uruguayan newspaper El Pais, published Friday.

Winning with 54 votes, the Barcelona forward became the first South American player to win the award three years in a row. The paper surveyed journalists from 26 European countries, El Pais said.

Ronaldinho beat his nearest rival, Italy's Fabio Cannavaro, by 11 votes. France's Thierry Henry came third. Brazil's Kaka was fourth in the survey and Cote d'Ivoire's Didier Drogba came fifth.

(Xinhua News Agency?December 30, 2006)