FIFA ready to crown King Diego

World governing body FIFA will hail Diego Maradona next week as the best player of the last one hundred years after an internet pool vote.

Argentinian legend Maradona took his country to a 1986 World Cup win and also to a 1990 appearance at the final which was less successful before his career at SS Napoli collapsed under the weight of cocaine addiction.

Maradona still fights against cocaine problems and has spent the last year in Cuba in rehabilitation which has shown signs of working. He published his autobiography last month which is being translated into 140 languages and fans placed the former FC Barcelona and Boca Juniors star ahead of Brazilian Pele in second place and Real Madrid great Alfredo Di Stefano in the poll result from FIFA's web site which will be announced next week at an awards dinner.

Maradona's place in history is often debated but for natural talent he was regarded as the best despite Pele's great public image. Maradona also played in the modern era of defensive coaching athletic defenders which helps his claim to the number one position.

The gala event is expected to see Zinedine Zidane win a second World Player of the Year title. He won the award - voted for by the coaches of the world's international teams - in 1998 and helped France to win Euro 2000 this summer. Reigning holder Rivaldo and Luis Figo are the other two contenders.