AC Milan's inspirational Brazil midfielder Kaka has been voted the world's best player by a global jury of his peers.
Kaka succeeded international team-mate Ronaldinho of Barcelona in the third annual poll of the International Federation of Professional Footballers (FIFPro).
The Milan star collected a massive 60,000 votes, beating off opposition from the likes of Barcelona's Lionel Messi, Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo, Roma's Francesco Totti and Inter's Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
The FIFPro accolade was seen as confirming Kaka's status as red-hot favourite for this year's Ballon d'Or (Golden Ball) as European Footballer of the Year.
Kaka, whose 10 goals helped Milan to its seventh Champions League title in May, is the bookies' tip ahead of Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Totti, the Golden Boot holder as Europe's top scorer, and Liga top scorer Ruud Van Nistelrooy, are also seen as in with a chance.
The Ballon d'Or, seen as more prestigious than FIFA's World Footballer of the Year prize, is awarded each year by the France Football magazine.
Nominees are unveiled in mid-October and the winner announced at the end of November after voting by European soccer journalists.
Last year Italy's World Cup winning skipper Fabio Cannavaro became the first full-blooded defender to take the laurel (German attacking liberos Franz Beckenbauer and Matthias Sammer were among previous winners).
He went on to claim the FIFA gong too.
