Diego Armando Maradona
bio: Diego Armando Maradona has enthralled both fans and critics during the long span of his career, from his debut in professional football during 1975 to his farewell match in November of 2001. Throughout a quarter of a century, Diego has influenced a multitude of people including some of the top soccer players today. In addition to his brilliant skill, Maradona has stirred global controversy of unmatched magnitude. Regardless of his off field actions, Maradona is still regarded as the most skillful soccer player of all time.
also known as: The King, Pibe de Oro, "El Pibe de Oro" (The Golden Boy), "el Diego", "pelusa"
born: 30 October 1960 in Villa Fiorito, Buenos Aires
nationality: Argentinian
physical: height: 168 cm / 5'8" feet
weight: 78 kg / 172 pounds (in 1997)
sport: Football or Soccer
teams / clubs: Argentinos Juniors (Buenos Aires)
Boca Juniors (Buenos Aires)
Barcelona (Spain)
Napoli (Italy)
Sevilla (Spain)
Newell's Old Boys (Rosario)
position: Midfielder/Attacker
foot: Left
jersey number: #10
achievements: 1979-81 Argentine Football Writers' Footballer of the Year
1979-81, 1986 Argentine Sports Writers' Footballer of the Year
1979-80, 1986 Argentine Sports Personality of the Year
1979, 1986, 1989, 1990, 1992 South American Footballer of the Year (El Mundo, Caracas)
1986 Golden Ball for Best Player of the FIFA World Cup
1986 European Footballer of the Year (France Football)
1986-7 Best Footballer in the World (Onze)
1996 Golden Ball for services to football (France Football)
1999 Best World Cup goal (1986 (2-0) v. England)
1999 Argentine Sports Writers' Sportsman of the Century
2000 "FIFA best football player of the century", people's choice.His gratest moment was on June 22nd, 1986, at Mexico Football World Cup, Diego Maradona scored what mnay consider the best goal in Football World Cup history: he sent the ball to the net after eluding 5 English players and the English goalkeeper. Agentina National Team won that game and went on to win the World Cup. Maradona scored 5 goals and was the best player of the tournament.
what you may not know: He has two daughters (Dalma and Giannina) from his former wife Claudia Villafane; has an illegitimate son (Diego Armando Junior) frm Christiana Sinagra; other women are suing him for child support
In 2002, Maradona published his autobiography Yo Soy El Diego, which became an instant bestseller in his home-country.
His coaching career included 1994 Mandiyú de Corrientes, 1995 Racing Club de Avellaneda
For his National Team Maradona crossed the ocean five times in twelve days and played with a hurt ankle.
November 3rd, 1978, in Tucuman, after a friendly match where they had beaten the Cosmos, the great "Kaiser" Franz Beckenbauer asked for his t-shirt as a souvenir.
David Robert Joseph Beckham
bio: Footbal player and worldwide superstar.
also known as: Becks, Spice boy, Goldenballs, DB7
born: 2 May 1975 in Leytonstone, London
nationality: British
physical: Height: 182-183 cm / 6 feet
Weight: 75 kg / 165 pounds
sport: Football or Soccer
teams / clubs: Preston North End (England)
Manchester United (England)
Real Madrid (Spain)
Los Angeles Galazy (USA)
Milan (Italy)
position: Midfielder
foot: Right
jersey number: #7
achievements: 1999 Intercontinental Cup winner (Manchester United)
1999 Champions League winner (Manchester United)
1996 Premiership Champions (Manchester United)
1997 Premiership Champions (Manchester United)
1999 Premiership Champions (Manchester United)
2000 Premiership Champions (Manchester United)
2001 Premiership Champions (Manchester United)
2003 Premiership Champions (Manchester United)
1996 FA Cup winner (Manchester United)
1999 FA Cup winner (Manchester United)
2004 League Cup Finals (Real Madrid)
2003 League Cup Finals (Manchester United)
what you may not know: Married to wife Victoria with sons Brooklyn and Romeo.
He has become more well known in North America since the success of the British film 'Bend It Like Beckham'. It is about a British Sikh girl who idolises David Beckham and has great ambitions of being a football player.
Elton John is the godfather to David's two older sons, Brooklyn and Romeo, and the two are set to inherit part of John's estate.
Ronaldinho de Assis Moreira
bio: Ronaldinho made such a huge impact as a teenager that Paris Saint- Germain broke the world record transfer fee for a teenager (signed for fee of $4.5 million) to bring him to the club. He is a regular for Brazil and was one of their stars during the 2002 World Cup win.
also known as: little Ronaldo, Ronaldinho Gaucho ('little' Ronaldinho)
born: 21 March 1980, in Porto Alegre, Brazil
nationality: Brazilian
physical: Height: 180-2cm
Weight: 76-80Kg
(depending on sources)
sport: Football or Soccer
teams / clubs: current club: F.C. Barcelona. Spain - la Liga Primera Division
previous clubs:
1999 - 2001: Gremio de Porto Alegre, Brazil
2001 - 2003: Paris St. Germain, France Ligue 1.
position: Forward, Attacking Midfielder
jersey number: Squad number 10
achievements: 1997: U-17 FIFA World Cup Winner. Voted MVP of Tournament
1999: Copa America Winner
1999: Debut for Brazil against Venezuela June 26,
1999.
2000: FIFA Confederations Cup. Golden Boot Award - six goals
2002: FIFA World Cup Winner
2004: FIFA World Player of The Year
Season 2004-2005: Primera Division Champion with F.C. Barcelona.
2005: FIFpro World Player of The Year.
2005: European Footballer of The Year - 'Ballon d'Or' Winner
2005: FIFA World Player of The Year
what you may not know: First professional match was Auxerre - Paris-SG : 1-1 on 04/08/2001
Ronaldo Luis Nazario de Lima
bio: Brazilian Football player Ronaldo is one of the great strikers of present day soccer. He has had ups and downs in his career mainly due to a recurring knee injury - but has always bounced back to score more great goals.
also known as: Rona, Ronaldinho, Fenomeno, R9, Dadado, The Extraterrestrial
born: 22nd September 1976, in Bento Ribeiro, Rio de Janiero, Brazil
nationality: Brazilian
physical: Height: 1.83-1.84 m.
Weight: 83-89 kg
(depending on sources)
sport: Football or Soccer
teams / clubs:
1988 - Aged 12 years Ronaldo signs for Social Ramos
1990 - Signs Professional Contract, Social Ramos
1991 - Sao Cristovoa - 2nd. Division, Brazil
1993 - Cruzeiro - 1st. Division, Brazil
1994 - PSV Eindhoven - Netherlands
1996 - Barcelona - Spain
1997 - Inter Milan - Italy
2002-07 - Real Madrid
2007-08 - Milan
2009 - Corinthians
position: Forward - Striker
foot: Right
jersey number: #9
achievements: 1995 Dutch League top scorer (PSV Eindhoven)
1996 Dutch Cup winner (PSV Eindhoven)
1996 - FIFA World Player of the Year
1997 Golden boot (Inter Milan)
1997 Copa America winner (BRESIL)
1997- FIFA World Player of the Year
1997 - European Footballer of the Year
1997 Cup Winners Cup winner (FC Barcelone)
1997 League Cup winner (FC Barcelone)
1997 Primera Division top scorer (FC Barcelone)
1998 UEFA Cup winner (Inter Milan)
1999 Copa America winner (BRESIL)
2000 Italian Cup Finals (Inter Milan)
2002 Golden boot (Real Madrid)
2002 Intercontinental Cup winner (Real Madrid)
2002 World Cup Golden Boot (BRESIL)
2002 World Cup winner (BRESIL)
2002- FIFA World Player of the Year - For the 3rd. time
2002 - European Player of the Year
2003 Primera League Champions (Real Madrid)
2004 Primera Division top scorer (Real Madrid)
what you may not know: Once married world female juggling champion Milene Domingues with whom he had a child Ronald.
Is the overall top goal scorer in the Wolrd Cup with 15 goals.
Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro
bio: Cristiano Ronaldo is a current champion soccer player from Portugal, known for his fancy flicks and stepovers.
also known as: Cris, Ron, Ronnie, The Sultan Of The Stepover, CR7, Wonder Kid
born: born Feb 5, 1985, in Funchal, Madeira, Portugal
family: Parents Maria Dolores dos Santos Aveiro and José Diniz Aveiro. He has an older brother Hugo and two elder sisters, Elma and Liliana Cátia.
nationality: Portuguese
physical: Height: 6' 0½" (1.84 m)
Weight:
sport: Football or Soccer
teams / clubs:
Sporting CP, Manchester United, Real Madrid
position: winger
foot:
jersey number: 7 (No. 17 when plays for Portugal)
achievements: Cristiano Ronaldo won the FIFA Player of the Year in 2008
what you may not know: His name was inspired by the former US-president, Ronald Reagan, whom his father was influenced by.
Was selected for the Portuguese Olympic football team for 2004.
He was the first ever Portugese Manchester United player.
he is of Moroccon descent.
He was named the sexiest player of Euro 2004 and World Cup 2006 by Gay Krant, a Dutch gay magazine.
Ricardo Izecson dos Santos Leitebio: Kaká is a current champion Brazilian soccer player, currently playing for Real Madrid.
also known as: Kaká
born: born April 22, 1982 in Brasília, Brazil
family: parents are Bosco Izecson Pereira Leite and Simone Cristina Santos Leite. He married his childhood sweetheart Caroline Celico on 23 December 2005 and they have one child Luca Celico Leite, born in 2008.
nationality: Brazilian
physical: Height: 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)
Weight:
sport: Football or Soccer
teams / clubs:
São Paulo (2001–2003), Milan ( 2003–2009), Real Madrid (current)
position: attacking midfielder
foot:
jersey number: 8
achievements: Kaka won the FIFA Player of the Year in 2007
what you may not know: Ricardo Izecson dos Santos Leite is a Portuguese name; the first family name is Santos and the second is Leite.
Kaká began his career with São Paulo at the age of eight.
His younger brother Rodrigo (known as Digão) and cousin Eduardo Delani are also professional footballers.
Kaka is very religious - his favorite music is gospel and his favorite book is the Bible.
His nickname Kaká comes from his younger brother Rodrigo calling him "Caca" due to his inability to pronounce "Ricardo" when they were young
Lionel Andrés Messi
bio: Lionel Messi is one of the top football players in the world. he was born in Argentina, though plays for Barcelona in Spain.
also known as: Leo, La Pulga Atomica (The Atomic Flea)
born: 24 June 1987, in Rosario, Argentina
family: parents are Jorge Horacio Messi and Celia María Cuccittini. He has two older brothers Rodrigo and Matías and a sister named Maria Sol
nationality: Argentinian
physical: Height: 1.69 m (5 ft 6+1⁄2 in)
Weight:
sport: Football or Soccer
teams / clubs:
Barcelona
position: striker
foot:
jersey number: 10
achievements: Lionel Messi won the FIFA Player of the Year in 2009 and 2010.
what you may not know: At the age of five, Messi started playing football for Grandoli, a local club coached by his father Jorge
He is featured on the front cover of the video game Pro Evolution Soccer 2009
