Are you totally ignorant about football? Know nothing about the beautiful game? With the 2010 Fifa World Cup just round the corner, here you 3 of the biggest names on show. Learn them and not be left out of the conversation.
1) Lionel Messi
Lionel Messi is the 2009 European and World Footballer of the Year and one of the most skillful footballers in the world. Only 22, his dribbling skills have earned him comparisons with the great Diego Maradona. Messi has just completed a fantastic season for Barcelona, helping them retain the league title. Many fans feel that it’s a matter of time before Messi is elevated to the true greats of football, joining the likes of Pele and Maradona. However, in order to reach such heights, Messi must first win the World Cup. Will he be able to do so in South Africa this June? Messi has never been able to replicate his form for Argentina but is well poised to do so in the grandest stage of all.
2) Cristiano Ronaldo
Love him or hate him, Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the most well known footballers today. Ronaldo shot to fame with his transfer to Manchester United in 2003 and won the coveted Champions League with the Red Devils in 2008. A dazzling dribber, Ronaldo is also an accomplished scorer and header of the ball. The 2009 World Player of the Year, Ronaldo moved to Real Madrid in 2009 for a world record 80 million pounds and narrowly missed out on the league title with his new club. The biggest star in a skill Portuguese team, Ronaldo is already assured of his place as one of the greatest footballers of all time.
3) Wayne Rooney
Wayne Rooney, only 24, is England’s biggest star. His rise has been meteoric, becoming the youngest player to score in the Premier League in 2002, breaking Arsenal’s then unbeaten spell. His subsequent transfer from Everton to Manchester United has seen him pick up numerous accolades such as the 2010 Players’ Player of the Year. Known for this aggressive running and never say die attitude, Rooney has had his best season so far and is so important to England that then manager Sven Goran Eriksson took him to the 2006 World Cup even though he wasn’t fully fit. Having tarnished his last World Cup appearance by getting sent off against Portugal for a stamp on Ricardo Carvalho, Rooney has improved his temperament and is in good form for the World Cup.