Naomi Cole enjoyed that Cafu feeling as she held aloft her own treasured World Cup prize after clinching top spot in our World Cup Fantasy Football competition.

Just like the Brazilian skipper, ten-year-old Naomi, from Patcham, Brighton, had plenty to celebrate after beating off more than 2,000 would-be managers.

Naomi's team Coley's Aces squeezed home in a thrilling finish, thanks to events on the last day of the football extravaganza in the Far East.

Top spot was worth £1,000 in prize money, which she held aloft in true cup final style after being presented with the cheque by Howard Griggs, who devised the competition for The Argus.

This has been one of the most entertaining World Cups ever and, for almost 2,200 readers of The Argus, excitement was heightened by checking the progress of their fantasy teams.

Two goals from Ronaldo in the final ensured Naomi, who had always been in the leading pack, edged past previous leader Rikki Banks.

Rikki claimed second place and his school mate Jack Woolgar-Brown was third. Both are 14 and, like Naomi, come from Patcham.

Naomi declared: "This feels great. I never expected to do this well."

It was a departure from her carefully thought out selection policy which allowed Ronaldo the chance to do his stuff for the Aces.

She said: "I chose my team with the help of my football sticker book. I looked at their performances in qualifying rounds to see who had done best.

"Ronaldo did not do much then but I wanted him in my side because he is one of the best goalscorers."

Naomi knows a bit about hitting the net having scored 20 goals for Albion Ladies under-11s last season.

She has also played for Hove Park Colts and watches her football at Southampton with dad Dave and brothers Jordan and Nathan.

Albion and Manchester United also rank highly among her football favourites.

Mum Mandy said; "It made the final really exiting to watch. We thought she had done it with Ronaldo's goals."

Our runners-up also collect cash prizes.

Rikki will use his £200 to buy boots and goalkeeping gloves as he prepares to do his stuff with Charlton Athletic schoolboys.

He said: "Fernando Hierro and Rivaldo did well for me."

Jack's £50 will go with the cash he earnses delibvering The Argus after school.

He said: "It was a cool competition. I'm really pleased to come third."

Jack admitted he had a ppep inside The Argus on his paper round every Thursday to see how he was faring.

Not all of you were able to start at the top of the league searching for your teams but our thanks go to every fantasy boss who took part.

You can check your final placing in the Sports Argus, on sale from Saturday morning, when we will be printing our final monster league table.

Four pages, 2,200 teams. No wonder FIFA said this was the biggest World Cup ever.