Ronaldinho, who beat out Thierry Henry of France and Ukrainian 2004 European Foot-baller of the Year Andriy Shevchenko for the prize, said the scourge of racism had to be stamped out.

"Personally, I have never been the victim of racism but I got to know about several incidents. That's why I decided to take part in a campaign against racism with Thierry Henry," Ronaldinho said at Monday's gala evening at the Zurich opera house.

"We are trying to get through to football supporters that they must not think of this sort of ideology during the 90 minutes of a football match. I am very committed in the fight against racism."

FIFA president Sepp Blatter said once again he was determined to eradicate racism from football.

"During the last few weeks and months, football has once more emerged to become the victim of racism," Blatter said. "But we need society as a whole to help us."

Meanwhile FIFA's disciplinary commission has decided what action to take following the racist chanting aimed at England players during Spain's 1-0 victory in Madrid on November 17.

However FIFA said they would not reveal their decision until Tuesday or even Wednesday. Rumours suggest the Spanish football federation will suffer a severe punishment but FIFA declined to comment.

Meanwhile the top player of 2004, Ronaldinho, has simply had a great year.

His club Barcelona are racing away at the top of the Spanish league and Brazil are well on course to qualify for the 2006 World Cup from South American qualifiers.

Ronaldinho was acclaimed by Pele himself as the best player at the 2002 World Cup and it is not surprising his talent has been finally recognised with this award.

Ronaldinho's blinding pace unhinged England's defence in the quarter-finals to set up a goal for Rivaldo, and his audacious free-kick caught out David Seaman to seal a 2-1 victory for Brazil.

Arguably he was the most important component of Brazil's vaunted 'Triple R' strike-force at those 2002 finals, surging forward from just behind Ronaldo and Rivaldo and pulling opposing defenders out of position.

Undoubtedly he was one of the key components of Brazil winning their unprecedented fifth World Cup title.

The award comes after a great year at Barcelona, for whom he signed from PSG for 30 million euros in July 2003 under the noses of Manchester United who were also courting him.

After a lacklustre first six months in the Catalonian capital, he started to show top form and helped them to an incredible late season surge which saw them just fail to take the title from eventual champions Valencia.

This season, his confidence has grown under coach Frank Rijkaard and he has blossomed into a truly magnificent player, aided by the excellent Portuguese midfielder Deco.

Ronaldinho said: "Barcelona have treated me exceptionally well and I didn't think I would be so well received. I am very happy there. Barcelona is the perfect club for me and I want to go down in history there as a winner."

His prowess was encapsulated when he scored a superb winner in the dying seconds of Barcelona's 2-1 Champions League victory over AC Milan at the beginning of November.

The Brazilian went past two Milan defenders and then unleashed a left-foot shot from the edge of the area, which his compatriot Dida had little chance of stopping.

And Brazil are sitting in second spot in the 10-country group of South American qualifying for the 2006 World Cup in which Ronaldinho has contributed well.

RONOALDINHO FACTS
AFP, Zurich
Factfile of 2004 FIFA World Footballer of the Year, Ronaldinho:
Surname: De Assis Moreira
Name: Ronaldo
Nickname: Ronaldinho (Ronal-dinho Gaucho in Brazil)
Date of birth: 21/03/1980
Place of birth: Porto Alegre, Brazil
Nationality: Brazilian
Height: 1.80m (5ft 11in)
Weight: 76kg (168lb)
Position: Midfielder or striker
Clubs: Gremio Porto Alegre (BRA) 1986 to 2001, Paris Saint Germain (FRA) July 2001 to July 2003, Barcelona (SPA) since July 2003
BRAZIL NATIONAL TEAM
Appearances: 50
Goals: 24
Debut: 26/06/1999 in 3-0 victory at home to Latvia

First goal: 30/06/1999 in 7-0 victory over Venezuela at home
RECORD
2002 World Cup winner
1999 Copa America winner
1997 FIFA Under-17 World Championship winner

PAST WINNERS
AFP, Zurich
Past winners of the FIFA Player of the Year award:
2004: Ronaldinho (BRA/Barcelona)
2003: Zinedine Zidane (FRA/Real Madrid)
2002: Ronaldo (BRA/Real Madrid)
2001: Luis Figo (POR/Real Madrid)
2000: Zinedine Zidane (FRA/-Juventus)
1999: Rivaldo (BRA/Barcelona)
1998: Zinedine Zidane (FRA-/Juventus)
1997: Ronaldo (BRA/Inter Milan)
1996: Ronaldo (BRA/Barcelona)
1995: George Weah (LBR/AC Milan)
1994: Romario (BRA/Barcelona)
1993: Roberto Baggio (ITA/-Juventus)
1992: Marco van Basten (NED/AC Milan)
1991: Lothar Matthaus (GER/Bayern Munich)