Thanks for the pics

Benfica 1:1 AC Milan

Benfica 1:1 AC Milan

Benfica 1:1 AC Milan

Benfica 1:1 AC Milan

Kaka closes in on FIFA award

Milan ace Kaka is on a three-man shortlist for FIFA’s World Player of the Year award.

The Brazilian star is set to receive the Ballon d’Or award on Sunday in Paris and now stands a strong chance of doubling his celebrations.

The other two men on the three-man list are Manchester United’s Cristiano Ronaldo and Barcelona’s Argentine marksman Lionel Messi.

While the Ballon d’Or winner is elected by journalists, Coaches and captains of the national teams of FIFA member countries vote for the World Player of the Year award.

Kaka is reportedly the favourite to clinch the prize at FIFA’s World Player Gala in Zurich on December 17.

The Brasilia native could cap a stellar year that has already seen him receive the FIFPro World Player of the Year honour in October after winning the highest percentage of the 45,000 votes from fellow players.

MILAN - JUVENTUS

GOALKEEPERS: Dida, Kalac

DEFENDERS: Bonera, Cafu, Kaladze, Maldini, Nesta, Oddo, Serginho

MIDFIELDERS: Ambrosini, Brocchi, Gattuso, Gourcuff, Kakà, Pirlo, Seedorf

STRIKERS: Gilardino, Inzaghi

AC Milan 0:0 Juventus

Milan: Dida; Oddo (Bonera 78), Nesta, Kaladze, Serginho (Maldini 63); Gattuso, Pirlo, Ambrosini; Seedorf, Kaka; Gilardino (Inzaghi 63)

Juventus: Buffon; Zebina, Legrottaglie, Chiellini, Molinaro; Salihamidzic (Marchionni 71), Nocerino, Zanetti; Nedved (Palladino 81); Trezeguet, Iaquinta (Del Piero 71)

Ref: Morganti

AC Milan 0:0 Juventus - match report

Only the frame of the goal and some fantastic goalkeeping ensured the big game Milan-Juventus ended in a stalemate.

These two sides dominated Serie A in the 1990s, but this was a head-to-head battle to stay in the Scudetto race, especially for a Milan outfit that had not won a single domestic game at San Siro this season. Ronaldo, Marek Jankulovski, Mauro Camoranesi and Zdenek Grygera were sidelined and Claudio Ranieri surprisingly chose to drop Alessandro Del Piero.

It was immediately a very aggressive and fast-paced game. Vincenzo Iaquinta chested down the ball for David Trezeguet to drill wide, but the move was stopped for an incorrect offside flag.

Trezeguet went even closer on 11 minutes, as Cristiano Zanetti won back the ball in midfield and placed the searching pass over the defence for the Frenchman's volley to smack against the base of the near post.

Gigi Buffon slapped a corner kick off Kakha Kaladze's head at the back post, then Clarence Seedorf toe-poked the ball inches past the upright. Nelson Dida smothered a Zanetti volley and Kaladze required a perfectly-timed intervention to prevent Iaquinta going clear on goal.

Alberto Gilardino was halted for a very tight offside flag and Nicola Legrottaglie was booked for stopping a Kaka counter. Buffon got down well to block an Andrea Pirlo snapshot that bounced just in front of the goalkeeper.

Cristian Molinaro did extremely well to take Pirlo's long pass off Kaka's feet in the D, then Pavel Nedved cut back past Kaladze with a dummy and slipped as he pulled the trigger from 10 yards. Alessandro Nesta had penalty appeals for a Jonathan Zebina embrace, but Trezeguet's first-time pass set Nedved free and Serginho nodded out for a corner before Iaquinta could pounce.

Straight after the restart Juventus had perhaps their best chance so far. Hasan Salihamidzic skipped past Serginho with some wonderful footwork, his fierce rising strike bringing a brilliant one-handed save out of Dida. The move continued and Nedved's follow-up was charged down.

Moments later Buffon was also called into a fantastic reaction save with his shin from Kaka's volley. Gilardino put the loose ball into the net, but he was flagged offside.

Gilardino was furious when he just failed to get on the end of Kaka's cross, as he felt he was held back by Legrottaglie as the two came sliding in to the six-yard box.

Dida got down well to capture a touched-on Iaquinta free kick, while Buffon had difficulty spilling a Pirlo set-piece and grabbing it at the second attempt after it had looped into the air. Molinaro exchanged passes with Nedved, but the taut cross flashed across the face of goal with Iaquinta and Trezeguet unable to get the final touch.

Carlo Ancelotti went for experience, introducing Pippo Inzaghi and Paolo Maldini for Gilardino and the disappointing Serginho. Zebina slipped and almost left Kaka clear on goal before Legrottaglie cleaned up.

Kaka turned between three defenders and had his shot charged down by Legrottaglie. Inzaghi showed he can still ride the offside flag as his powerful effort was parried by Buffon at point-blank range.

Ranieri also made a double substitution with Del Piero and Marco Marchionni on for Salihamidzic and Iaquinta. Nesta intercepted a pass just before Del Piero could bury it, then veteran Maldini skipped between two defenders for Seedorf's cross-shot.

Maldini was almost the unlikely match-winner in the final minute, his strike whistling over the bar from the edge of the box.

In stoppages Massimo Ambrosini rolled a ball across the box for Inzaghi, but Buffon stood his ground and managed to use his legs to shield the goal.

A minute later it was Legrottaglie's turn to charge down a Kaka curler from the edge of the penalty area.

Kaka wins Ballon d'Or award

PARIS (AFP) - AC Milan's Brazilian midfielder Kaka was named on Sunday as France Football's Player of the Year winning the prestigious Ballon d'Or award.

Born under the name of Ricardo Izecson dos Santos Leite, he succeeds Italy's World Cup winning captain and defender Fabio Cannavaro and comes two years after the last Brazilian winner of the trophy, Barcelona's Ronaldinho.

The 25-year-old Kaka notably played a starring role in AC Milan's triumphant Champions League campaign scoring 10 goals and setting up the winner for Filippo Inzaghi in the final against Liverpool.

He received 444 points in the France Football vote, easily ahead of Manchester United's Portuguese winger Cristiano Ronaldo who had 277 with Barcelona's Argentinian midfielder Lionel Messi placing third with 255 points.

"This is very special for me - it culminates an astonishing year for me," Kaka said.

"It's the top prize around and the only way to win something like this is to play for a team like AC Milan. It's great to be part of a team that wins."

Kaka's brother Digao was in Paris for the award ceremony and paid tribute to his brother.

"It's very emotional for me to be here, to see my brother receive this trophy, and to know that he is the best makes me proud," he said.

Kaka's wife Caroline and mother Cristina were also amongst the guests.

"It's a great honour as the wife of Kaka to be at this ceremony. I know how important it was for my husband to win this tophy," said Caroline.

"This is a great achievement. Ever since he was young I saw our son dedicate himself," added Cristina.

Born in the capital Brasilia, Kaka started off with Sao Paulo before moving to Europe with AC Milan in 2003. He has been capped 54 times for his country and scored 19 goals. He was in the Brazilian World Cup squads in 2002 and 2006.

AC Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani said Kaka's name would be added to the list of stars playing for the great Italian team that have won the title.

"It's a fantastic story. We have had (Gianni) Rivera, (Marco) Van Basten won it three times, (Andrei) Shevchenko and now there is Kaka," said Galliani who then dismissed any notion that the Brazilian might be tempted away from the San Siro.

"Congratulations to him and his family. He will stay at Milan, I can guarantee it."

Kaka wins Ballon D'Or, Ronaldo comes second

AC Milan playmaker Kaka has been named European player of the year for 2007, with Cristiano Ronaldo of Manchester United in second place.

The Brazilian, 25, 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 Golden Ball after amassing 444 points in the France Football survey of 96 journalists from around the world.

Each was asked to vote on a shortlist of 50 players and Ronaldo came a distant second with 277 points.