(CNN) -- Despite the obvious claims of younger rivals Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, few can really argue with the 96 football journalists who voted Ricardo Izecson dos Santos Leite as the 2007 World Footballer of the Year. Brazilian genius Kaka fully deserves winning the 2007 World Footballer of the Year award. The prestigious Ballon d'Or award is widely regarded as the most prestigious individual prize in football and Kaka's inclusion on its coveted roll of honor is a testament to the 25-year-old Brazilian's current standing in world football. When AC Milan defeated Liverpool in the Champions League final in Athens, avenging their heartbreaking loss to the same team in Istanbul two years previously, it enabled Kaka to fulfill his dream of holding aloft Europe's premier trophy -- a winner's medal he fully deserved after a sublime 90-minute performance.
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Kaka deservedly named World Player of the Year for the first time in his career
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The Brazilian beats Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi in the journalists' vote
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The 25-year-old averages one goal in three games for both AC Milan and Brazil
Tall, elegant and blessed with astonishing skill, Milan and @placeholder utilize Kaka's ability superbly.