Italy captain Fabio Cannavaro has been named European Footballer of the Year by France Football magazine, the Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon said on Friday.

"The joy at Cannavaro winning the Ballon d'Or has been, however, overshadowed by the sad news of the death of Ferenc Puskas," Calderon told reporters.

The 33-year-old centre-back, who captained Italy to victory at the World Cup in Germany, joined Real from Juventus along with Brazilian midfielder Emerson in July.

France Football will not officially announce who has won the award, which is based on a vote by European soccer journalists, until November 27.

Cannavaro, who will replace Barcelona's Brazil playmaker Ronaldinho as last year's winner, will become one of the few defenders to win the award.

Hungarian great Puskas died in hosptial on Friday aged 79 after a long illness.

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