Zidane wins World Cup best player award

Updated at 3.45 pm

BERLIN: - France captain Zinedine Zidane was named the best player at the World Cup despite being sent off in the final against Italy for headbutting Italian defender Marco Materazzi, FIFA announced on Monday.   

Zidane received 2,012 points with Italy captain Fabio Cannavaro second on 1,977 points and Italy's Andrea Pirlo third on 715 points.   
Journalists covering the World Cup voted for the Golden Ball award.   

Zidane, playing in the final match of his career, received a direct red card for headbutting Materazzi in the chest in the second period of extra-time in the match at Berlin's Olympic Stadium.   

The match ended 1-1 -- Zidane had scored France's goal with a penalty in the first half -- and Italy won the World Cup for the fourth time after triumphing 5-3 in the penalty shootout.   

Zidane, 34, who helped France win the 1998 World Cup on home soil, announced last month that he was retiring from football after the tournament.   

Germany striker Miroslav Klose was the Golden Shoe winner for finishing as the tournament's leading scorer with five goals.   

His teammate Lukas Podolski was named best young player.