RIO DE JANEIRO - Brazil's Marta, the world's top woman soccer player, told Brazilian television on Wednesday she draws her inspiration from Ronaldinho, her compatriot who plays for Spain's Barcelona.

Brazil's Marta, right, and USA's Linsdsay Tarpley go for the ball during a gold medal women soccer game between USA and Brazil for the Athens 2004 Olympics at the Karaiskaki stadium in Athens, on Thursday Aug. 26, 2004. Fabio Cannavaro of Italy and Brazilian Marta have been crowned the F.I.F.A. World Player and the F.I.F.A. Women's World Player respectively for the year 2006 in a gala awards ceremony held in Zurich, Switzerland Monday Dec. 18 2006. [AP]

Soccer's governing body, the International Federation of Football Associations, nominated Marta, 20, best in the world, but gave Ronaldinho only a number three position.

"I am very inspired by Ronalinho Gaucho," said Marta, who plays for Swiss team Umea, speaking to media at Rio de Janeiro airport, where she had arrived to spend Christmas with her family.

Marta told press she had spoken with Ronaldinho ahead of the prize-giving ceremony and he had said he thought it was unlikely he would be the world's top player for a third consecutive year.

"He knew more or less what was about to happen. He was already waiting," she said. "But he is going to keep his head up and keep going. He knows his potential and knows he can climb the mountain again," said Marta, a forward.

Italy's Fabio Cannavaro won the top place and France's Zinedine Zidane was second.

Marta said that the Brazilian World Cup squad's failed campaign at the 2006 edition of the cup, in Germany, was the main reason why Ronaldinho did not win the prize a third time.

"Although I did not play that much with the national team this year, I was sure that I would win because I feel I am playing very well," said Marta, who arrived in the airport with trophy in hand to a wild welcome from her family.

Marta came third in 2004 and second in 2005. This year American Christine Lilly and Germany's Renate Lingor were second and third respectively.