Brazilian soccer midfielder Kaka playing for Milan soccer club of Italy was elected as Europe's best soccer player, according to a poll among American continent journalists published on Sunday by Uruguayan El Pais daily.

Kaka, 25, won the award by just one vote over Argentine soccer player Lionel Messi of Barcelona soccer club in Spain.

Third place was taken by Portuguese soccer player Crsitiano Ronaldo a Manchester United soccer club player in England, who at some time in the poll shared the temporary leadership together with the two South Americans.

In December the Federation of International Football Associations (FIFA) named Kaka Ricardo Izecson as Best Player of 2007, in a poll in which coaches and national soccer team captains participated.

The other soccer players that followed in the poll carried out by Uruguayan daily El Pais were Italian native Andrea Pirlo (Milan soccer club, Italy), Spanish native Cesc Fabregas (Arsenal soccer club, England), among many others.

(Xinhua News Agency December 31, 2007)