Barcelona's Brazilian midfield player Rivaldo has been voted European Footballer of the Year and wins this year's golden ball award organized by French magazine France-Football, the magazine's official announced in Paris on Monday.

"This trophy is very important to me. It is a goal which every professional player strives for," Rivaldo was quoted as saying in L'Equipe magazine.

Beckham, who helped United to the treble last season, finished runner-up in the vote carried out by journalists from 51 UEFA-affiliated countries with 154 points to Rivaldo's 219. Andrii Shevchenko of AC Milan polled third with 64.

Rivaldo was Barcelona's top scorer last season with 24 as the side romped to the Primera Liga title.

Rivaldo is the 44th player to win the "golden ball", which France-Football created in 1956. The award was only opened to non-European players six years ago and now is open to any player playing for a European club.

Following are the top 10 standings in the European player of the year poll released by soccer weekly France Football on Monday:

1. Rivaldo, Brazil/Barcelona, 219 points

2. David Beckham, England/Manchester United, 154

3. Andriy Shevchenko, Ukraine/Dynamo Kiev and AC Milan, 64

4. Gabriel Batistuta, Argentina/Fiorentina, 48

5. Luis Figo, Portugal/Barcelona, 38

6. Roy Keane, Ireland/Manchester United, 36

7. Christian Vieri, Italy/Lazio and Inter Milan, 33

8. Sebastian Veron, Argentina/Parma and Lazio, 30

9. Raul Gonzalez, Spain/Real Madrid, 27

10. Lothar Matthaeus, Germany/Bayern Munich, 16

(Xinhua)