Lionel MESSI
• Date of Birth: 24 June 1987
• Height: 170 cm
• Shirt number: 10
• Position: Forward
• Current club: Barcelona (ESP)
• International Caps: 46
• International Goals: 13
• First international: Hungary - Argentina
(17 August 2005)
There has been no shortage of players billed as Diego Maradona’s successor, yet few, if any, have borne that burden with the aplomb of Lionel Messi. Blessed with a wondrous left foot, outstanding vision, near-unstoppable dribbling skills and sublime technique, Messi is a sight to behold. Add in his explosive changes of pace, timing and nose for goal – a trait particularly in evidence in 2010 – and you have a player able to change any game in the blink of an eye.
The Rosario-born superstar took his first steps in the game at local club Newell's Old Boys, before joining Catalan giants Barcelona at the age of just 13 after a successful trial at the Camp Nou. Indeed, so impressed was Carles Rexach, then head of youth development at Can Barça, that “I made him sign for the club on the back of a napkin, as a symbolic gesture. He’d caught my eye immediately.”
An important factor in the move was the Azulgranas’ offer to pay for treatment to correct Messi’s growth-hormone deficiency, a condition that led to his nickname of La Pulga (The Flea), which had proved prohibitively expensive for his Argentinian suitors in the midst of the country’s economic collapse. Messi’s La Liga debut came in late 2004 and he definitively exploded onto the Spanish football scene the following year. His first goal, fired on 1 May 2005 against Albacete, made him the club’s youngest ever goalscorer, a record he held until beaten by Bojan Krkic in 2008.
The years 2008 through 2010 have cemented Messi’s rise to superstardom at Barcelona, where to date he has won three La Liga titles, the UEFA European Supercup, the Copa del Rey, three Spanish Supercups, two UEFA Champions Leagues and one FIFA Club World Cup crown. What is more, after scoring in the finals of the latter four competitions in 2009, the Argentinian was rewarded with that year’s FIFA World Player award. And after scoring 38 goals in all competitions in 2008/09, La Pulga surpassed that total in 2009/10.
At international level, Messi mirrored Maradona’s achievements at Japan 1979 by inspiring his country to victory at the 2005 edition of the FIFA U-20 World Cup in the Netherlands. A member of the Albiceleste squad for the 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany™, he made three appearances, two as a substitute, but remained on the bench during the quarter-final exit against the host nation.
Part of the Argentina side beaten by arch-rivals Brazil in the final of the 2007 Copa America, the following year Messi was a key figure in the team which stormed to gold at the Olympic Football Tournament in Beijing. And though he is yet to hit the heights of his club form in the blue-and-white of Argentina, Messi is determined to do that come South Africa 2010: “In order to become a legend, I have to win the World Cup,” he says.
CRISTIANO RONALDO
• Date of Birth: 5 February 1985
• Height: 185 cm
• Shirt number: 7
• Position: Forward
• Current club: Real Madrid (ESP)
• International Caps: 72
• International Goals: 22
• First international: Portugal - Kazakhstan (20 August 2003)
Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo turns the beautiful game into child’s play. As Brazil’s legendary FIFA World Cup-winning midfielder Didi once said: “If we don’t treat the ball with love, she won’t do what we want her to do.” Perhaps more than any other player of the modern era, Real Madrid’s flying winger seems to maintain that wide-eyed innocence on the field that makes every dazzling dribble and every penetrating pass feel like the very first. And such is his artistry that, almost magnetically, the ball returns to his feet time and time again, ready for the next touch of genius.
There is something almost balletic about Cristiano Ronaldo’s play that transforms mere possession of the ball into a footballing pas-de-deux. Much as he is restless, almost jealous, whilst others enjoy the limelight, the graceful Ronaldo comes to life with the ball at his feet, pirouetting away from opposing defenders with poise, and gliding across the stage with an uncommon elegance.
From his early days with local club Andorinha, where his father was kit man, it was clear that the young Cristiano was destined for greatness. After a short stint with Nacional, he left Madeira to follow his dream and, as it has turned out, to become one of the greatest players in the world.
But in keeping with the finest artistic traditions, the young star’s rise to footballing pre-eminence came on the back of a series of life-changing choices. The first was to leave his family behind on the tiny Atlantic island in order to join Sporting Lisbon’s famous academy. Naturally, the winger found a home from home on a bigger stage, and success followed quickly. It was at the age of 15 that the talented teenager faced his greatest trial as a routine medical examination revealed an irregular heartbeat. Typically, Cristiano took the setback in his elegant stride, and a successful operation soon saw Madeira’s favourite son resume his career, from where he would go on to conquer the world.
Sporting’s fans were the first to bear witness to the young genius. He made his first team debut at the age of 17, scoring twice in the process. As it turned out, he would only wear the famous green-and-white hoops for one complete season; at the start of 2003/04, English giants Manchester United came to the Portuguese capital to play Sporting in a friendly to mark the opening of the new Jose Alvalade Stadium. It was love at first sight. The teenager bewitched his illustrious opponents, and Sir Alex Ferguson swooped to bring the youngster to Old Trafford, giving him the famous number 7 shirt, as worn by United legends George Best, Bryan Robson and Eric Cantona.
With the world at his feet, Cristiano Ronaldo blazed a trail through English football on his way to becoming a global superstar. Adulation and awards followed in equal measure: he was named FIFA World Player of the Year in 2008, and he managed to fill the Santiago Bernabeu single-handedly as Real Madrid’s fans turned out in force to welcome their latest acquisition in 2009. All that is missing is success on the game’s greatest stage. He suffered the bitter disappointment of just missing out on glory with Portugal in UEFA Euro 2004. When the hosts finished runners-up to Greece that year, the image of the youngster in tears flashed around the world. In South Africa, he will be wiser, stronger and hungrier than ever before to turn his country’s dreams into reality and lead them to FIFA World Cup™ glory.
Robin VAN PERSIE
• Date of Birth: 6 August 1983
• Height: 184 cm
• Shirt number: 9
• Position: Forward
• Current club: Arsenal (ENG)
• International Caps: 45
• International Goals: 18
• First international: Netherlands - Romania (4 June 2005)
After a season blighted by an ankle injury that kept him out of action from November to mid-April, the Arsenal striker goes into the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ hungry to make his mark. The forward likened by club manager Arsene Wenger to Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo contested less than a month at the end of the season, but he travels to South Africa fresh and, above all, more motivated than ever to impress. On target against Côte d’Ivoire during the group stage at Germany 2006, he was bitterly disappointed by the Netherlands’ Round of 16 exit at the hands of Portugal.
The erstwhile Feyenoord prodigy is anxious to bolster his collection of honours too. Since winning the UEFA Cup with the Rotterdam outfit in 2002, the son of artist parents has just a 2005 FA Cup winner’s medal to show for his efforts, having spent the last five years in a vain hunt for the titles to go with his immense talent.
Capped at Under-19 and U-21 level, he was named Young Player of the Year in the Eredivisie for 2001/02, despite ending the campaign without a goal to his name. He struck 14 over the next two seasons but fell out with his coach – namely Bert van Marwijk, now his boss at international level – and that prompted a move to Arsenal in the summer of 2004, with Wenger eyeing the newcomer as the next Dennis Bergkamp. The Rotterdam native was handed extra responsibility in the wake of Thierry Henry’s departure, but a string of injuries held him back and it took him until 2008/09 to truly repay his manager’s faith, weighing in with 11 Premier League strikes and a further five in the UEFA Champions League.
Again sidelined by injury in November 2009, during a superb spell of form, Van Persie intends to make up for lost time on South African soil.
Wesley SNEIJDER
• Date of Birth: 9 June 1984
• Height: 170 cm
• Shirt number: 10
• Position: Midfielder
• Current club: Inter (ITA)
• International Caps: 62
• International Goals: 14
• First international: Netherlands - Portugal (30 April 2003)
"I still don’t know why Real let him go,” said former Inter Milan coach Jose Mourinho recently. “Sometimes at clubs, there’s a logic that’s hard to understand. Today, he’s a key member of our team.” Not one to offer praise unduly, the Portuguese tactician has clearly come to hold the Dutch playmaker in the highest regard, having watched him recapture the form he displayed for Ajax before Real Madrid splashed out €27m for his services in summer 2007.
A stalwart at the heart of the Netherlands side during the 2006 FIFA World Cup™ qualifiers, the elegant schemer from Utrecht contested just five matches on the road to South Africa. Oranje coach Bert van Marwijk sees him as the natural orchestrator of his team’s attacking play, however, and having hit his physical peak with his confidence sky high, Sneijder will now be looking to build on his UEFA EURO 2008 showing, when he earned himself a place in the Team of the Tournament. Previously an international at Under-17, U-19 and U-21 level, the Nerazzurri provocateur twice won Man of the Match plaudits in Austria and Switzerland as the Netherlands swept aside both Italy and France in the group stage. Five years before that, in November 2003, he gave early notice of his prodigious talent by scoring twice and conjuring four assists in a 6-0 win over Scotland.
At ease with both feet, Sneijder has precious few peers in Europe when it comes to his passing ability. He can also speed up the play or slow it down when needed, while his set-piece ability is second to none and his long-range shooting has brought him a hatful of spectacular goals, such as his double against Siena in January. It is no coincidence that Inter hardly ever lose when he is on the pitch.
Brought through the ranks at Ajax originally, he made his maiden Eredivisie appearance at the age of 18 and soon seduced the Amsterdam ArenA faithful with his superior playmaking skills, going on to become a central figure as the capital side clinched league honours in 2003/04. The Dutch Cup followed in 2006 and a year later, having struck 18 goals in his most prolific season, Sneijder left Ajax for life in La Liga. He made the best of starts for Real when he scored the winner in the Madrid derby on his debut, and he was soon handed responsibility for organising the team’s attacks by coach Bernd Schuster.
At the end of a successful first campaign in the Spanish capital, Sneijder could look back on nine goals from 30 games and a league winner’s medal. The following year could hardly have been more different, though, as the Dutchman suffered the effects of an injury picked up pre-season. Sidelined for three months, he lost his place in the starting line-up and never regained it. That opened the door to his Serie A switch in August 2009, with his first game for Inter also a derby. The Nerazzurri triumphed 4-0 against eternal rivals AC Milan and Sneijder stamped his class all over the occasion. Liable to pop up anywhere on the pitch, he built on that performance to mark out his first season in Italy as a stunning success.
Wayne ROONEY
• Date of Birth: 24 October 1985
• Height: 178 cm
• Shirt number: 10
• Position: Forward
• Current club: Manchester Utd. (ENG)
• International Caps: 61
• International Goals: 25
• First international: England - Australia (12 February 2003)
If Italia 90 is remembered in England as Gazza’s tournament, there are high hopes that South Africa 2010 will go down in history as ‘Wazza’s.’
Wayne Rooney, as he is better known, has already surpassed the achievements of the talented maverick Paul Gascoigne in all ways bar one – he has yet to light up a FIFA World Cup™ with his talent. The signs are that this could be the year for the 24-year-old Liverpudlian, who was England’s top scorer with nine goals in qualifying and arrives in South Africa after his best season yet in front of goal.
Handed a central striking role at Manchester United following Cristiano Ronaldo’s departure, Rooney has revelled in the responsibility, passing the 30-goal mark for the first time.
It is now eight years since Rooney burst on to the scene, thrilling the fans of his boyhood favourites Everton with his prodigious gifts. He was 16 but could do just about anything with his strength, pace, vision and dribbling ability. His first Premier League goal summed up his ‘let-me-at-’em’ attitude: a thumping 30-yard last-minute strike that ended champions Arsenal’s 30-game unbeaten run.
Rooney soon became his country’s youngest player when making his senior debut at 17 years and 111 days in a February 2003 friendly against Australia. He made international football look like child’s play, becoming England’s youngest scorer with a goal in a UEFA EURO 2004 qualifier against FYR Macedonia seven months later.
Utterly fearless, the 18-year-old Rooney took Europe by storm when unleashed at the ensuing finals in Portugal. He registered four goals and might have inflicted more damage but for the fractured metatarsal he sustained with England leading Portugal in a quarter-final they eventually lost on penalties.
By the time Rooney had recovered, he was a Manchester United player following his August 2004 switch to Old Trafford for a £27m fee. He rose to the occasion once more on his United debut, hitting a hat-trick against Fenerbahce in the UEFA Champions League. His talent was without question yet there were doubts over his temperament and they resurfaced to unhappy effect at the FIFA World Cup in Germany.
Rooney had rushed back from another metatarsal injury to take his place in England’s squad but he was not at his best and another quarter-final against Portugal ended prematurely for him – albeit this time with a red card for stamping on Ricardo Carvalho. Of course, Rooney is not the first talented tyro to overheat in the pressure cooker of a FIFA World Cup – Diego Maradona did the same first time around and there are England supporters hoping Rooney can make a similar impact as Argentina’s No10 managed on his second try.
Four years on from Gelsenkirchen, Rooney – who has won three Premier League titles and a UEFA Champions League in the intervening period – has certainly matured impressively. He became a father last October and the following month captained England for the first time in a Dubai friendly against Brazil. For all his star quality, he still works tirelessly for his team and no defence will look forward to facing him in South Africa.
David VILLA
• Date of Birth: 3 December 1981
• Height: 175 cm
• Shirt number: 7
• Position: Forward
• Current club: Valencia (ESP)
• International Caps: 58
• International Goals: 38
• First international: Spain - San Marino (9 February 2005)
Top scorer at UEFA EURO 2008 and a fixture at the sharp end of the Spanish attack, David Villa is currently one of the world's hottest striking properties. A born competitor with an unquenchable thirst for finding the net, Villa always has the goal in his sights whether playing as an out-and-out forward, in a withdrawn role or wide-left in a front three.
Known as El Guaje (an affectionate name given to children in his native Asturias), this quick and explosive hitman is certainly not afraid of hard work, and is always willing to drop deep and help out his midfield. It is this level of commitment and the gutsy nature of his performances that make the Valencia man a fan's favourite for club and country, as well as earning him his fair share of run-ins with match officials.
Naturally right-footed, Villa is nearly as proficient with his left, thanks to a childhood accident and his father's foresight. Seeing how his four-year old son would not stop playing even after bearing a plaster cast on his broken right leg, Villa senior felt it best to show the youngster how to strike the ball with his weaker foot.
Now 28, Villa came up through the youth ranks and began learning his trade at Sporting de Gijon, before exploding onto the La Liga scene at Real Zaragoza, where he enjoyed two goal-filled years between 2003 and 2005. Valencia then spent big to bring the front-runner to the Mestalla, though El Guaje quickly repaid the investment by coming within one goal of the division's top scorer's award, El Pichichi, in his debut campaign. He did however finish as the leading Spanish-born scorer, an honour he has since claimed on two further occasions.
After the 2009/2010 season, Villa signed with FC Barcelona and will now wear the vaunted blaugrana colours after helping Spain qualify simply for South Africa 2010. The Asturian made his debut for La Roja in February 2005, during Spain's successful qualifying campaign for the 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany™. And the tournament itself could barely have started better, with Villa notching twice in his country's 4-0 opening win over Ukraine. Despite Luis Aragones's side's exit from the competition in the Round of 16 against France, Villa's four-goal haul certainly did his own standing no harm whatsoever.
Since then, save for absences through injury or suspension, Villa has been an ever-present in La Roja squad and had already racked up 36 goals at the time of publication. Now second in Spain's all-time scorers' list, at his current rate Raul's record tally of 44 appears well within his reach.
Playing a part in his huge popularity is that, whatever plaudits and success come his way, Villa never fails to play down his own role and heap praise on those around him. And next up for Spain and their inspirational goal-getter is the sizable challenge of South Africa 2010, where he and his mates will be keen to make up for the disappointments of 2006.
Fernando TORRES
• Date of Birth: 20 March 1984
• Height: 181 cm
• Shirt number: 9
• Position: Forward
• Current club: Liverpool (ENG)
• International Caps: 73
• International Goals: 24
• First international: Portugal - Spain (6 September 2003)
Though he has come a long way since his early days as a teenage prodigy at his first club Atletico Madrid, for Spanish football fans Fernando Torres will always be El Niño (The Boy). It was his winner against Germany in the final of UEFA EURO 2008 that ensured the 26-year-old forward's name will forever go down in La Roja history while he continues to make strides at club level with Liverpool.
Torres joined the youth ranks at his beloved Atléti at the age of ten, and within seven years had made his first-team bow for Los Rojiblancos - becoming the supporters' great red-and-white hope in the process. Having cut his teeth during the club's two-season sojourn in Spain's second division, once back in the top flight for the 2003/04 campaign Torres's progress was nothing short of meteoric.
After firing 84 goals in 214 league encounters for Los Colchoneros, in 2007 the powerful front-runner opted for a move to English Premier League giants Liverpool in a bid for regular UEFA Champions League football. And despite the pressure of inheriting the No9 shirt from Reds' legend Robbie Fowler, Torres thrived in his first season at Rafael Benitez's "Spanish Liverpool", firing 34 goals in 47 appearances for the Anfield club.
Freed from the burden of expectation that had at times weighed heavy on his shoulders at Atletico, the move to English football has helped this natural-born goalscorer fulfil his enormous potential. Having already gone down in Reds' history when scoring the club's 1,000th Premier League goal, Torres's explosive bursts of pace, technique, aerial ability and lethal finishing continue to earn him admirers in his new home city and beyond.
His time in the red jersey of Spain has been hugely productive from the off, claiming a winners' medal, finishing top scorer and being voted best player at the UEFA European Under-16 Championship in 2001, before repeating the feat at the continental U-19 event two years' later. His debut for the full national team came in a friendly in September 2003, while he was also part of La Roja squad for their heart-breaking early exits at EURO 2004 and the 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany™, though he did hit three goals in four appearances at the latter event.
More than making up for these disappointments was the triumph at EURO 2008, Spain's first major trophy success in 44 years. And with Torres partnered by another world-class Spanish striker, David Villa, La Roja fans will be confident of more silverware in the years to come.
