WORLD SOCCER PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Marco VAN BASTEN 1988
Dutch treat…Oranje dominates
Deadly Dutchman takes the crown
M
arco van Basten is World Footballer of the Year for 1988. That was the hardly surprising conclusion from World Soccer’ss annual poll conducted among readers and writers. Van Basten’s decisive contribution to Milan’s thrilling Italian league title takeover was followed by his even more spectacular influence on the Netherlands’ European Championship triumph, where he scored a first-round hat-trick against England, the semi-final winner against West Germany and then one of the all-time great international goals in the final against the Soviet Union. Van Basten succeeds another Dutchman to the world crown, Milan and Netherlands team-mate Ruud Gullit, who was voted into second place, with Frank Rijkaard third to complete a unique hat-trick. This is the first time in our awards history that players from one country and one club have taken each of the top three places. It also confirms the pre-eminence of the Italian league, for the award winners, ever since 1982, have all
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PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Wondergoal… Van Basten’s Euros final epic volley v Soviet Union
