Mohamed Abu Treika has been voted the world's most popular footballer. Ahmed Morsy sees how genuine the poll is The International Federation of Football History and Statistics (IFFHS) has voted Egyptian playmaker Mohamed Abu Treika the most popular footballer in the world. Abu Treika collected over one million votes -- 1,017,786 -- to take the honour, awarded by an IFFHS public vote. The winning player is not necessarily deemed the world's best player. Nor is it clear what exactly --popular� means. Every year, the best footballer in the world is elected by national trainers and national team captains in a FIFA-sponsored vote. The IFFHS drew up a list of 55 currently active players from 31 countries in all six football continents from which voters cast their vote for the best- known footballer in the world. Before the final votes were announced, Ahli maestro midfielder Abu Treika said he was delighted about being in the lead in the poll. "I am grateful for all the fans and supporters who voted for me," said the 29-year old midfielder. --Being in the lead in Egypt, Africa and the Middle East is something but being the world's number one is something else. I can't express my feelings.� The list included Saudi Yasser Al-Qahtani (Hilal), Tunisian Amin Chermiti (Etoile du Sahel), Iraqi Younes Mahmoud (Al-Gharafa), and Emirate Ismail Mater (Al-Wehda). It also included African players Didier Drogba (Chelsea) of the Ivory Coast, Cameroon Samuel Eto'o (Barcelona) and Malian Frederic Kanoute (Sevilla). The candidates received 2,946,740 on-line votes altogether. Al-Qahtani received 613,116 votes to finish in second place while third place went to Mahmoud with 583,769 votes. The newly-crowned world footballer of the year Kaka finished in seventh place in the IFFHS poll with 20,313 votes. Cristiano Ronaldo, the Manchester United star, came in 15th with 10,438 votes. Two-time world footballer Brazilian Ronaldinho was 18th, receiving only 6,881 votes. Last year's most popular award went to Steven Gerrard, the Liverpool skipper, who tallied 47,464 votes. Japan's Shunsuke Nakamura collected 27,633 votes for second place while Michael Ballack, the German midfielder, was in the third place after netting 15,935 votes. The IFFHS is an organisation that chronicles the history of football. It was founded in 1984 and is based in Bonn, Germany. Since 1991, the entity has produced a monthly club world ranking.
