Sports

Players

Everything you need to know about what makes the best players in the world so special. This is a database of some of the game's magicians with news, bios, stats, achievements and background on the teams they play for.

Karim Benzema Profile

Karim Benzema Profile - A Look At The Career of Real Madrid Striker Karim Benzema

Gianluigi Buffon Profile

Gianluigi Buffon Profile - A Look At The Career of Juventus Goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon

Five Players Heralded As 'The New Maradona'

When a young Argentine attacker has shown early promise, there has been a tendency among the media to label him ‘the new Maradona’, after the great Diego. Here is a look at five players who have been burdened with that lofty title.

Who Is Lionel Messi?

Who is Lionel Messi? Learn all about Messi, the best soccer player in the world.

Gareth Bale

Gareth Bale Profile - A look At The career of Tottenham Hotspur Winger Gareth Bale.

2011/12 Winter Transfers in Italy

A run down of the 2012 Italian Serie A Transfers in January.

2011/12 Winter Transfers in Spain

A run down of the 2012 Spanish Liga Transfers in January.

2011/12 Winter Transfers in England

A run down of the 2012 English Premier League Transfers in January.

Iker Casillas

Iker Casillas Profile - A Look At The Career of Real Madrid Goalkeeper Iker Casillas

Michael Ballack Profile

Michael Ballack Profile - A Look At The Career of Bayer Leverkusen Midfielder Michael Ballack

The 'Golden Bin' Award

The 'Golden Bin' is an award given to the worst player in Serie A each year.

Best Free Kick Takers

A look at 10 of the best free kick takers in world soccer.

Jean Marie Dongou

A profile of young Barcelona striker Jean Marie Dongou.

Ballon d’Or Winners

A list of Ballon d’Or winners since the inaugural award in 1956.

Greatest Soccer Players of all Time

Ten of the greatest soccer players of all time.

Javier Pastore

Javier Pastore Profile - A Look At The Career of Paris Saint-Germain playmaker Javier Pastore.

Nani

Nani Profile - A Look At The Career of Manchester United Winger Nani

Ten of the Best Playmakers in the World

Best playmakers - A look at 10 of the world's best playmakers.

Paulo Henrique Ganso

Paulo Henrique Ganso Profile - A Look At The Career of Santos Midfielder Paulo Henrique Ganso

Frank Lampard

Frank Lampard Profile - A Look At The Career of Chelsea Midfielder Frank Lampard

Josh McEachran

Josh McEachran profile, including cuurent club, previous clubs and honors.

Nicolas Anelka

Nicolas Anelka profile, including cuurent club, previous clubs and honors.

Alex

Alex profile, including cuurent club, previous clubs and honors.

Salamon Kalou

Salamon Kalou profile, including cuurent club, previous clubs and honors.

Jose Bosingwa

Florent Malouda profile, including cuurent club, previous clubs and honors.

Florent Malouda

Florent Malouda profile, including cuurent club, previous clubs and honors.

Jon Obi Mikel

Jon Obi Mikel profile, including cuurent club, previous clubs and honors.

Yossi Benayoun

Yossi Benayoun profile, including cuurent club, previous clubs and honors.

Ramires

Ramires profile, including cuurent club, previous clubs and honors.

David Luiz

David Luiz profile, including cuurent club, previous clubs and honors.

Ashley Cole

Ashley Cole profile, including cuurent club, previous clubs and honors.

Branislav Ivanovic

Branislav Ivanovic profile, including cuurent club, previous clubs and honors.

Petr Cech

Petr Cech profile, including cuurent club, previous clubs and honors.

2011/12 Summer Transfers in Germany

A run down of the transfers German clubs have made in summer 2011.

2011/12 Summer Transfers in Italy

A run down of which players Italian clubs have been signing in the 2011 summer transfer window.

2011/12 Summer Transfers in Spain

A run down of which players Spanish clubs have been signing in the 2011 summer transfer window.

2011/12 Summer Transfers in England

A run down of the Premier League transfers English clubs have made in summer 2011.

Sergio Aguero

A look at the career of Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero.

Antonio Valencia

Profile of the Manchester United midfielder.

Radamel Falcao

A look at the career of Porto striker Radamel Falcao

Alexis Sanchez

Profile of the Udinese attacker.

Best Young Strikers in the World

A look at five of the best young strikers in the world.

Neymar

The bright young hope of Brazilian soccer.

Brazil 2011 Copa America Squad

A look at the Brazil Copa America Squad for the 2011 finals

Wojciech Szczesny

Profile of the Arsenal goalkeeper

Best African Players

A look at 10 of the Best African Players.

Emmanuel Frimpong

Profile of the Arsenal midfielder.

Marouane Chamakh

Profile of the Arsenal striker.

Kieran Gibbs

Profile of the Arsenal defender.

Emmanuel Eboue

Profile of the Arsenal defender.

Andrey Arshavin

Profile of the Arsenal midfielder

Gael Clichy

Profile of the Arsenal defender.

Lukasz Fabianski

Profile of the Arsenal goalkeeper.

Johan Djourou

Profile of the Arsenal defender.

Sébastien Squillaci

Profile of the Arsenal defender.

Alex Song

Profile of the Arsenal midfielder.

Aaron Ramsey

Profile of the Arsenal midfielder

Tomas Rosicky

Profile of the Arsenal midfielder.

Laurent Koscielny

Profile of the Arsenal defender.

Thomas Vermaelen

Profile of the Arsenal defender.

Bacary Sagna

Profile of the Arsenal defender

Abou Diaby

Profile of the Arsenal midfielder.

Manuel Almunia

Profile of the Arsenal goalkeeper.

Ten of the Best Barcelona Players

A look at 10 of the best Barcelona players to have donned the famous blaugrana shirt.

Anders Lindegaard

Profile of the Manchester United goalkeeper.

Bebe

Profile of the Manchester United midfielder.

Tomasz Kuszczak

Profile of the Manchester United goalkeeper.

Darron Gibson

Profile of the Manchester United midfielder.

Gabriel Obertan

Profile of the Manchester United midfielder.

Darren Fletcher

Profile of the Manchester United midfielder.

Jonny Evans

Profile of the Manchester United defender.

John O'Shea

Profile of the Manchester United defender

Rafael da Silva

Profile of the Manchester United defender.

Fabio da Silva

Profile of the Manchester United defender.

Paul Scholes

Profile of the Manchester United midfielder.

Michael Carrick

Profile of the Manchester United midfielder.

Nemanja Vidic

Profile of the Manchester United defender.

Park Ji-Sung

Profile of the Manchester United midfielder.

Chris Smalling

Profile of the Manchester United defender.

Rio Ferdinand

Profile of the Manchester United defender.

Ryan Giggs

Profile of the Manchester United midfielder.

Dimitar Berbatov

Profile of the Manchester United striker.

Anderson

Profile of the Manchester United midfielder.

Michael Owen

Profile of the Manchester United striker.

Wes Brown

Profile of the Manchester United defender.

Owen Hargreaves

Profile of the Manchester United midfielder.

Patrice Evra

Profile of the Manchester United defender.

Edwin van der Sar

Profile of the Manchester United goalkeeper.

Jerzy Dudek

Profile of the Real Madrid goalkeeper.

Sami Khedira

Profile of the Real Madrid midfielder.

Angel Di Maria

Profile of the Real Madrid midfielder.

Pedro Leon

Profile of the Real Madrid midfielder.

Ezequiel Garay

Profile of the Real Madrid defender.

Raul Albiol

Profile of the Real Madrid defender.

Alvaro Arbeloa

Profile of the Real Madrid defender.

Sergio Canales

Profile of the Real Madrid midfielder.

Xabi Alonso

Profile of the Real Madrid midfielder.

Marcelo

Profile of the Real Madrid defender.

Esteban Granero

Profile of the Real Madrid midfielder.

Karim Benzema

Profile of the Real Madrid striker.

Fernando Gago

Profile of the Real Madrid midfielder.

Emmanuel Adebayor

Profile of the Real Madrid striker.

Ricardo Carvalho

Profile of the Real Madrid defender.

Sergio Ramos

Profile of the Real Madrid defender

Highest Paid Players

A look at the 10 highest paid soccer players in the world.

Mario Balotelli

Profile of the Manchester City striker.

Best Young Midfielders

A look at five of the best young midfielders in world soccer.

Demba Ba Profile

Demba Ba - Profile of Newcastle Soccer Player Demba Ba

Cristiano Ronaldo Profile

Profile of Real Madrid soccer player Cristiano Ronaldo

Andy Carroll

Andy Carroll - A Look At The Career of Liverpool Striker Andy Carroll.

Soccer Transfer Rumors

Discover which players may be going where in the soccer transfer rumors section.

Player Profiles

These player profiles contain information about some of soccer's biggest stars.

Luis Suarez

Luis Suarez - A Look At The Career of Liverpool Striker Luis Suarez.

Ten of the Best Defensive Midfielders in the World

Successful teams generally have a world class player who screens his defense. The likes of Roy Keane, Patrick Vieira and Edgar Davids excelled in the position in their heyday. Here is a look at ten of the best defensive midfielders currently in the game.

Samir Nasri

Samir Nasri - A look at the career of Arsenal midfielder Samir Nasri.

Premier League Top Scorers

The top goalscorers in the 2010-11 Premier League.

Galácticos

A look at Florentino Perez's policy of signing galacticos for Real Madrid.

Lionel Messi Videos - Five of the Best Lionel Messi Videos

These five Lionel Messi videos not only contain his first 150 goals in a Barcelona shirt, but exhibit his vast repertoire of skills both inside and outside the area. There is also a video comparing his game to that of Cristiano Ronaldo, while some of his best moments in an Argentina shirt are also on parade.

Xavi Hernandez

Xavi Profile - A look at the career of Barcelona midfielder Xavi

Ten of the Best Players in the Premier League

A look at 10 of the best Premier League players.

Lionel Messi vs Cristiano Ronaldo

A comparison of the two best players in the world: Messi vs Ronaldo.

Antonio Cassano

Antonio Cassano - A look at the career of Sampdoria striker Antonio Cassano.

Andres Iniesta

Andres Iniesta profile - A look at the career of Barcelona midfielder Andres Iniesta.

Coutinho

Coutinho - A look at the career of Inter Milan midfielder Coutinho.

Best Soccer Players in the World

A look at 10 of the best players in the world.

Ten of the Best Players in Serie A

A look at 10 of the best players in Serie A.

Ten of the Best Full Backs in the World

A look at 10 of the best full backs in the world.

Mesut Ozil

Keen students of Germany's Bundesliga would have been aware of Mesut Ozil's vast potential long before his eye-catching World Cup performances.

Ten of the Best Wingers in the World

A look at 10 of the world's best wingers.

Ten of the Best Real Madrid Players

A look at 10 of the best players to have donned the famous Real Madrid shirt.

Wesley Sneijder

Persistence is the reason Wesley Sneijder ended up at Inter Milan.

Gonzalo Higuain

Gonzalo Higuain was the subject of a tug-of-war between France and Argentina as a teenager, and it is easy to see why.

Maicon

Marauding Inter Milan defender Maicon is a 'right-back' in the loosest possible sense.

Franck Ribery

Franck Ribery was something of a late developer on the world scene, only receiving genuine acclaim after joining Marseille in 2005.

Ten of the Best Young Players in Europe

A look at 10 of the best young players currently plying their trade in Europe.

Robin van Persie

Many at Arsenal saw Robin van Persie as the long-term replacement for the great Dennis Bergkamp when he signed from Feyenoord in 2004.

The 10 Most Expensive Players in History

A run-down of the 10 most expensive transfers in soccer history.

Daniele De Rossi

Daniele De Rossi is Roma through and through. The combative midfielder is a fans' favorite and a vital cog in the engine room for club and country.

Legends: Zinedine Zidane

Zinedine Zidane's actions on the pitch often conflicted with his serene character. Prone to moments of rage - not least his infamous head-butt on Marco Materazzi at the 2006 World Cup - Zidane will be remembered for the sublime and the ridiculous

Lionel Messi Gallery

Many critics believe that Lionel Messi can go on to surpass Pele and Diego Maradona as the greatest ever player. This gallery illustrates some of his early achievements in a career that could continue for another 15 years.

Legends: Johan Cruyff

If South Americans Pele and Maradona represent the very top brass, the world game's two premier players, Johan Cruyff can realistically lay claim to the European title.

Legends: Franz Beckenbauer

The only person who has captained and coached a World Cup winning side, Franz Beckenbauer is regarded as the best German player ever.

David Villa

Valencia striker David Villa has few visible weaknesses. He is quick, skilful and capable of tap-ins or spectacular goals from outside the area.

Five Classic Rooney Videos

Pace, dribbling skills, an accurate final ball and a deadly finish – Wayne Rooney has the lot. These five videos show some of his best goals, both for Everton and Manchester United, and also include an interview on life at one of the world’s biggest clubs.

Legends: Diego Maradona

The Argentinean’s talent was unquestionable, but his temperament continues to land him in hot water. Maradona’s is a classic story of the boy from the slums who made good.

Legends: Pele

The only player in history to have won three World Cups, Pele is considered by many to be the best to have ever played the game.

Five Classic Cristiano Ronaldo Videos

Cristiano Ronaldo was signed by Manchester United as a teenager from Sporting Lisbon. Six magnificent years at Old Trafford ended in 2009 with a world record US $131 million move to Real Madrid. One of the game’s true artisans, these five videos showcase his devastating skills and deadly finishing.

Thierry Henry Gallery

Thierry Henry has enjoyed an illustrious career, with a trophy-haul to match his considerable talent. This gallery charts his rise from Monaco, via Arsenal, to Barcelona, and of course the famous handball.

Five Classic Torres Videos

Fernando Torres is used to carrying the weight of expectation. Previously with Atletico Madrid and now Liverpool, fans look to the striker for inspiration and he rarely disappoints. These five videos are a tour de force in clinical finishing and smooth build-up play.

Didier Drogba

Didier Drogba has tormented Premier League defenses for several years and if you ask many center-backs who they fear coming up against the most, the Ivorian’s name is often the first uttered.

Samuel Eto'o

The goalscoring and hard running of Samuel Eto’o make him an asset to any team. The Cameroon star is his country’s record scorer and enjoyed a successful spell in Spanish soccer before joining Inter Milan in 2009.

Five Classic Ronaldinho Videos

Ronaldinho has thrilled crowds in Europe for the best part of 10 years since joining Paris Saint-Germain from Gremio. These five videos showcase some of the outrageous skills he has in his locker and also many of the great goals he has scored for PSG, Barcelona, AC Milan and Brazil.

David Beckham Gallery

David Beckham has had a long and distinguished career, which has seen him score from the halfway line against Wimbledon in 1996 and turn out for AC Milan at the San Siro.

Fernando Torres

Fernando Torres produces panic in opposition defenses with his sheer pace and ability to take advantage of any lapse in concentration. Liverpool have come to rely on him too much since he joined in the summer of 2007 from Atletico Madrid. At international with Spain level he combines with David Villa to form one of the most dangerous strike...

Lionel Messi

Lionel Messi has the uncanny ability to hold onto the ball under extreme pressure from defenders. He scores a lot of goals for someone who is not an out-and-out striker and he capped a superb 2009 by winning the Fifa World Player of the Year award.

Cristiano Ronaldo Gallery

Cristiano Ronaldo will be one of the major attractions at this year's World Cup and this gallery encapsulates some of his characteristics and achievements.

Kaka

Possessed with beautiful balance, a defence-splitting pass and superb close control, Kaka became Serie A's marquee player in his six years at AC Milan. Now he is thrilling crowds at the Bernabeu after joining Real Madrid in one of the biggest transfers in soccer history.

Wayne Rooney

Wayne Rooney seems to have been around forever, but only in his mid-20s, the Manchester United and England striker has at least another ten years at the top of the game.

Alexandre Pato

Youngster Alexandre Pato has wasted little time making an impact on the world game. The fleet footed striker finds the net with regularity for AC Milan and also scored on his Brazil debut against Sweden.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic

Zlatan Ibrahimovic was involved in one of the biggest swap deals in soccer history when he left Inter Milan for F.C. Barcelona in July 2009. Cameroon striker Samuel Eto’o and a large transfer fee went in the opposite direction. He can be temperamental, but his admirers argue that Ibrahimovic’s vast range of skills means he is worth every penny.

Diego Ribas da Cunha

After three successful seasons with German club Werder Bremen, Brazil midfielder Diego Ribas da Cunha was transferred to Italian giants Juventus in 2009. His subtle skills and penchant for goalscoring make him one of the most feared playmakers in the world game.

Cesc Fabregas

Arsenal's Cesc Fabregas has blossomed into one of the most accomplished midfielders in world soccer. Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger signed him from F.C Barcelona’s youth academy when he was a teenager and Fabregas has since wowed Premier League fans with his superb range of passing and ability to provide assists for team-mates.

The 2009 January Sales in England, Spain, and Italy

A comprehensive list of all the dealings during the January 2009 transfer window in the English Premier League, Spain's La Liga, and Italy's Serie A — the top three leagues in Europe.

Thierry Henry

With lightning pace and one of the deftest touches in the game, Thierry Henry has established himself as one of the deadliest strikers in the world. He is best known for his eight seasons in London with Arsenal, but now plays for F.C. Barcelona. At the international level, he was a precocious youngster in the France squad that won the 1998 World Cup and the 2000 European Championships.

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