The popularity of FIFA’s 2004 World Player of the Year, Ronaldinho, has been underlined by the latest figures from soccer-specific search engine Megasoccer.com.

The Barcelona star, who helped Brazil to World Cup glory in 2002 – scoring that infamous free-kick to knock England out in the quarter-finals – has enjoyed tremendous success at the Nou Camp, inspiring the Spanish side to reach the top of the Primera Liga and into the last 16 of the Champions League, where they will face Chelsea.

‘Ronaldinho’ was the most searched-for term on specialist soccer search engine Megasoccer.com in December, with ‘Uefa Champions League’ receiving the second most queries. ‘Jose Mourinho’ and ‘John Terry’ also proved popular for online information hunters, and both will be hoping to keep the talented Brazilian quiet when they meet in that mouth-watering two-legged European tie next month.

With people in over 160 countries – from the UK to Kazakhstan – now using the specialist search engine, Mike Flynn, the C.E.O. of Fast Web Media – the company behind Megasoccer.com – said: ‘Ronaldinho cemented his place as the world’s most gifted footballer in 2004, following in the footsteps of Brazilian legends such as Pelé, Zico and Ronaldo. Fans from all over the globe have clearly been eager to find out more about him on Megasoccer.’

Top Ten Searches on Megasoccer.com in December 2004

Ronaldinho
Uefa Champions League
Jose Mourinho
John Terry
Papa Bouba Diop
Steven Gerrard
Thierry Henry
Mark Viduka
Florent Sinama-Pongolle
Dennis Rommedahl

For more details contact:

Michele Singh
PR Manager
Fast Web Media Ltd
Email: michele.singh@fastwebmedia..com
Tel: +44(0)161 835 3444
Fax: +44(0)161 835 3488
Mobile: +44(0)7984 415 990