UN Ambassador against Hunger Ronaldinho is footballer of the year

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has congratulated its newest Ambassador against Hunger, Brazilian and Barcelona soccer star Ronaldinho, on winning one of soccer's most prestigious prizes – the 50th European Player of the Year award.

"We are tremendously proud that a member of the WFP team has won the highest accolade available to a professional soccer player," WFP Executive Director James Morris said.

The 25-year-old striker, who scooped the "Ballon D'Or" in Paris on Monday night, now holds all three of the most important individual awards in soccer.

Off the field, Ronaldinho is playing a key role in WFP's efforts to fight hunger, most recently in Guatemala, where last month, Hurricane Stan blew away the homes and livelihoods of hundreds of Guatemala's poorest communities. With only $6 million of the $14 million requested by WFP to feed nearly 300,000 people, many Guatemalans are facing a hungry Christmas, the agency said.

"Ronaldinho is helping WFP on the frontline of the crisis by helping us raise awareness around the world. With everyone's support, we can win this match against hunger. It isn't only champions who can help rebuild the future for those who have lost everything," Mr. Morris said.