Thierry Henry

Thierry Daniel Henry (born August 17, 1977 in Les Ulis, France) is a French football player. He currently plays as a striker for the French national football team, and for English club Arsenal, where he is the club's all time leading goalscorer in both league matches and all competitions. Henry is considered one of the most dynamic attacking players in the game today. Although he plays as a striker, his versatility at all aspects of the game makes him more influential than many traditional strikers, and he often drops deep to receive the ball from midfield. Combining speed, vision and creativity, he creates nearly as many goals as he scores. Amongst other things, Henry is well known for his blistering pace and lethal finishing which has put him at the helm of the Premiership top scorers list in recent seasons. Henry trained at the French Football Federation's academy at Clairefontaine and played at a youth level for CO Les Ulis (1983-1989), US Palaiseau (1989-1990), Viry-Châtillon (1990-1992) and FC Versailles (1992-1993).He started his professional career at AS Monaco, given his début by then Monaco manager Arsène Wenger at the age of 17. At Monaco, Wenger put Henry on the wing as a temporary measure because the line was already led by Brazilian striker Sonny Anderson. The Frenchman made his international debut in October 1997 against South Africa. He played in Les Bleus' 1998 World Cup success, and was joint-top scorer for France with three goals; he also was part of the Euro 2000 winning squad, scoring a further three goals.

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Robinho

Robson de Souza was born on 25th January, 1984, in Sao Vicente, Brazil.
The Real Madrid and Brazilian footballer is better known by his nickname Robinho.He made his debut for Santos in the Campeonato Brasiliero (Brazilian Championship) in 2002 and along with Diego, his close friend and team mate, starring alongside him, he led Santos to first place in the league and their greatest honour since Pele retired.Robinho struggled in 2003 and therefore Santos had a disappointing season. However, in 2004 he played well and had an excellent goal-scoring record of 21 goals in 36 league games.Robinho's appearances attracted the attention of some of Europe's top clubs including Real Madrid, Chelsea, Bayern Munich, Liverpool and AC Milan, but Santos did not want to release him.In 2004, Robinho's mother was kidnapped and was held captive for two months before being released and he stated publicly that he wanted to leave the country.In the summer of 2005, Robinho moved to Real Madrid for a reported US $30 million.He made his debut for Madrid against Cadiz, coming on as a substitute in the second half. At Madrid he played with other Brazil internationals, like Ronaldo, Roberto Carlos and Julio Baptista.
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Lionel Messi

Lionel Andrés Messi (born June 24, 1987 in Rosario) is an Argentine football (soccer) player.
Lionel Messi started playing football at a very early age in his hometown's Newell's Old Boys. From the age of 11, he suffered from a hormone deficiency and as Lionel's parents were unable to pay for the treatment in Argentina, they decided to move to Barcelona, Spain.
In the 2003-2004 season, when he was still only 16, Messi made his first team debut in a friendly with Porto that marked the opening of the new Dragao stadium. The following championship-winning season, Messi made his first appearance in an official match on October 16, 2004, in Barcelona's derby win against Espanyol at the Olympic Stadium (0-1).
With several first team players seriously injured, the services of several reserve team players were called upon, and Messi became a regular feature of Barça squads. On May 1, 2005, he became the youngest player ever to score a league goal for FC Barcelona - against Albacete when Messi was only 17 years, 10 months and 7 days old.
He was offered the chance to play for the Spain national football team, but declined, prefering to wait for the opportunity to play for the country of his birth. In June 2004 he got his chance, playing in a U-20 friendly match against Paraguay.
Lionel Messi wearing FC Barcelona's colorsIn June 2005 he starred for the Argentina U-20 team that won the Football World Youth Championship played in The Netherlands. Messi picked up the Golden Boot as top scorer with 6 goals, and the Golden Ball for the best player of the tournament. Despite his youth, Lionel has already drawn comparisons with Diego Maradona, arguably the best football player of all time.
On September 25, 2005 Messi obtained a Spanish citizenship and was finally able to make his debut in this season's Spanish First Division. He had previously been unable to play because FC Barcelona had filled up all of their quota of non-EU players.
Messi's first outing in the UEFA Champions League at the Nou Camp was on Sept 28 against Italian club Udinese. He impressed with some great passing and a seemingly telepathic relationship with Ronaldinho that earned him a standing ovation from the 70,000-odd Nou Camp faithful. On December of that year, the Italian newspaper Tuttosport awarded him the Golden Boy 2005 title for the best under-21 player in Europe, over Wayne Rooney and Lukas Podolski
In September 2005, Messi was given an improved and extended contract until 2014.
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source: wikipedia.org
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David Beckham

Born in Leytonstone on May 2, 1975, David Robert Joseph Beckham was a Manchester United fan from a very early age. He even insisted on wearing a Red Devils shirt when training with London club Tottenham Hotspur as a schoolboy. The admiration was mutual – the biggest football club in the world had its eye on the young player.

Soccer has always been the biggest thing in David Beckham's life. He used to play for hours when he was a kid. Beckham and his father would kick the ball around until it was too dark to see each other. Because he was always kicking the ball around, David Beckham never did all that well at school. Beckham failed out when he was 16 and went to play soccer for Manchester United's Jr. Team. David played his first pro game for Manchester two years later when he was 18. By 1996, David Beckham was a regular with the team and one of the most popular players in England - by helping the team win an FA Cup and a Premier Division title in the same year. In 2002, David Beckham helped England advance to the quarter-finals of the World Cup of Soccer in Korea and Japan, where the English lost to the eventual champions from Brazil. In 2003, David Beckham was transferred to Real Madrid for a mind-boggling $40 million. After a disappointing season with Real Madrid, David Beckham is hoping he can lead England to victory in Euro 2004.
David Beckham's success in soccer means he's now making a ton of cash. David Beckham makes more than $15 million dollars a year playing for Real Madrid and zillions more from advertising endorsements. That's allowed him to pick up some nice toys as well. Beckham now owns seven cars, including a custom built Ferrari, a Porshe 911, a Range Rover, and a Jaguar. When David Beckham's not scoring goals for his team, he hangs out with his wife, Victoria Adams (Posh Spice of the Spice Girls) and their sons Brooklyn (born in March 1999,) and Romeo, (born in September, 2002. They also have two dogs named Snoop and Puffy (after Beckham's favorite rappers, Puff Daddy and Snoop Dog). So between scoring goals, making music and cleaning up after their son and dogs, this family keeps very busy.

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Ronaldinho

Ronaldinho de Assis Moreira was born on 21st March, 1980 in Porto Alegre, Brazil.
He helped Brazil win the World under-17 Championship in Egypt. During the competition he was scouted by local club Gremio and signed his first professional contract.In 1999, after hitting 15 goals in 14 games for Gremio, Ronaldinho won his first senior cap for Brazil against Latvia. After shining in that match he made Brazil’s Copa America squad and scored an incredible goal against Venezuela as Brazil won the trophy.

Ronaldinho scored his first hat-trick for Brazil against Saudi Arabia in the Confederations Cup semi-finals later that year.
In 2001 he left Gremio for Paris St. Germain (PSG) but was unable to make his debut because of contract rows, until 3 months later when FIFA stepped in.
In 2002 Ronaldinho was voted France’s player of the month for January after hitting 6 goals in 7 games for PSG.
In June of that year he scored the famous freekick against David Seaman in Brazil's World Cup Quarter Finals match against England (but was it a cross?), however later in that match he got a red card. After being suspended in the semis Ronaldinho won the World Cup with Brazil, playing in the final against Germany.
In the 2003 summer transfer market he rejected Manchester United to join Spanish side Barcelona for £21m.
After playing well for Barca Ronaldinho was named as one of the 11 greatest living footballers, announced by FIFA and chosen by Brazil legend Pele.
Then, Ronaldinho scored 15 league goals to inspire an improved Barcelona to 2nd place in La Liga. Soon after he suffered the first major injury of his career and missed Brazil’s Copa America campaign.
Ronaldinho pleased Barcelona fans by turning down Chelsea and agreeing a new contract. In December he was named best player in the world for 2004 by FIFA beating Shevchenko and Henry to first place.
Six months later Ronaldinho helped Barcelona to win La Liga 2005 easily outdoing rivals Real Madrid.
In September 2005 Ronaldinho added to his bulging trophy cabinet when he won the FIFPro's World Player of the Year in a poll of 38,000 professional football players in 40 countries. Wayne Rooney won the young player award.
In November 2005 Ronaldinho was named 2005 European Footballer of the Year - the award known as the Ballon D'Or is voted for by European football journalists selected by French magazine France Football.
The 2005/2006 season ended in excellent fashion for Barca and Ronaldinho after they won both La Liga and the Champions League.
Ronaldinho played in the Brazilian World Cup 2006 squad, however Brazil did not shine and went out in the quarter-finals. more info..........

by Ben Rosenbaum

Cristiano Ronaldo

Full Given Name
Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro

Date of Birth
February 5, 1985

Birth Place
Funchal, Portugal


Cristiano Ronaldo was born in Funchal, Portugal on February 5, 1985. His father named him after Ronald Reagan. He has one brother and two sisters.
He learned to play football (American soccer) at a very young age. He was good from the start, and only got better. He was chosen the Andorinha team at the age of 12. He was signed by Sporting as a teenager and slowly progressed through the lower divisions, but his coaches always saw the pure talent he possessed.
He became a fan favorite during his debut game in the big leagues when he scored two goals. He led Sporting to first place in the league. However, fame and fortune soon took the better of him and led him to Manchester to play in the Premier league in 2003.
He led Manchester to the FA Cup in 2003 and the Euro Finals in 2004 (although they lost against Greece).
Portugal selected Cristiano for the 2004 Olympic Team.
Won the Special Young Player of the Year Award in 2005
His team, Manchester United won the Carling Cup in 2006
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Zinedine Zidane

Name : Zinedine Zidane
Starting Number : #5
Born : 23 June 1972 in Marseilles, France
Nationality : French
Height : 185 cm / 6'2" feet
Weight : 80 kg / 176 pounds
Family Status : Married to a Spanish dancer named Veronique with two kids: Enzo (named after Enzo Francescoli) and Luca
Foot : Both
Teams : Cannes (France)Bordeaux (France)Juventus (Italy)Real Madrid (Spain)
Nicknames : Zizou
Skills : All-round player, control, dribbling, passing, creativity

Awards:

1996: European Super Cup and the World Club Cup with Juventus.

1998: World Cup with France.

1998: European Player of the Year award -- the Balon d'Or.

1999: FIFA 1998 World Player of the Year.

2000: Euro 2000 Championship with France. Named Player of the Tournament.

2000: FIFA World Player of the Year for the second time.

2002: European Champions League with Real Madrid.

2002: World Club Cup with Real Madrid.

2003: FIFA World Player of the Year for the Third time

Zinedine Zidane is born in France on the 23rd of June in 1972. His parents of Algerian descent have a total of five children. As a kid, school is not his strongest asset so he turns to football. By the age of 16, a scout by the name of Jean Varraud recruits the youngster to Cannes. One year later, Zizou makes his debut with the club's senior squad in the French First Division. He is signed by Bordeaux in 1992. With his new club, Zidane reaches the UEFA Cup final in 1995/96 and attracts the attention of European powerhouse Juventus. After his move to Italy, trophies start to to pour in. By 1996, Ziziou had the UEFA Cup, the European Supercup and the Intercontinental Cup under his belt. He also won the Italian Calcio twice in a row during 1997 and 1998. In the same two seasons, his club manages to reach the Champions League final twice.When Real Madrid purchases Zinedine Zidane in the summer of 2001, he becomes the most expensive player of all time. The Spanish club paid a whopping $66 Million for his transfer. In the 2001/02 season, the Frenchman leads Real Madrid to Champions League glory by scoring a spectacular winning goal in the final.

In international competition, Zidane enters the spotlight after carrying his national team to their first World Cup title in 1998. He eventually helps them win their second European title in EURO 2000.At World Cup 2002, France is eliminated in the first stage. Zizou struggles with an injury at the time and watches most games from the sideline. Two years later at EURO 2004, Zidane's country fails to impress again and is knocked out by tournament surprise Greece. Zidane retires from international football, but returns again in the wake of World Cup 2006.Individually, Zinedine Zidane has been given every major award that a player can achieve. He has won the precious Balon D'Or in 1998 and the FIFA World Player of the Year award in 1998, 2000 and 2003.Currently, Zinedine Zidane is one of the most skillful and technically gifted players in the game. He can settle and distribute almost any pass thrown in his direction. In individual encounters, Zidane prefers to shield the ball and dribble away from pressure. His style is not flashy, but rather simple and elegant. Zidane can apply his playmaking skills in any circumstance and make it look effortless.