2.  Cristiano Ronaldo dos SantosCristiano Ronaldo dos Santos
Aveiro was born on the 5Aveiro was born on the 5thth
February 1985 is a PortugueseFebruary 1985 is a Portuguese
footballer who plays as afootballer who plays as a
winger for Spanish club Realwinger for Spanish club Real
Madrid and serves as aMadrid and serves as a
captain of the Portuguesecaptain of the Portuguese
national team.national team.
 His contract with Real MadridHis contract with Real Madrid
is believed to have made himis believed to have made him
the highest-paid player in thethe highest-paid player in the
world.world.
 Ronaldo began his career as aRonaldo began his career as a
youth player at CD Nacional.youth player at CD Nacional.

3.  His successes with the teamHis successes with the team
led to a move to Sporting Clubeled to a move to Sporting Clube
de Portugal two seasonsde Portugal two seasons
afterwards and when he wasafterwards and when he was
18-year-old he moved to18-year-old he moved to
Manchester United.Manchester United.
 The following season, RonaldoThe following season, Ronaldo
won his first club honour, thewon his first club honour, the
FA Cup, and reached theFA Cup, and reached the
UEFA Euro 2004 final withUEFA Euro 2004 final with
Portugal, in which tournamentPortugal, in which tournament
he scored his first internationalhe scored his first international
goal.goal.
 In 2008, Ronaldo won hisIn 2008, Ronaldo won his
UEFA Champions League title.UEFA Champions League title.
 He was named the FIFA WorldHe was named the FIFA World
Player of the Year.Player of the Year.

4.  Ronaldo de Assis Moreira wasRonaldo de Assis Moreira was
born on the 21born on the 21stst
March 1980 inMarch 1980 in
Porto Alegre commonly knownPorto Alegre commonly known
as Ronaldinho or Ronaldinhoas Ronaldinho or Ronaldinho
Gaúcho, is a BrazilianGaúcho, is a Brazilian
footballer who plays for Italianfootballer who plays for Italian
Serie A side Milan and theSerie A side Milan and the
Brazilian national team.Brazilian national team.
 He is widely regarded as oneHe is widely regarded as one
of the most gifted footballers ofof the most gifted footballers of
his generation.his generation.
 Prior to his move to Milan, hePrior to his move to Milan, he
played for Paris Saint-played for Paris Saint-
Germain, and FC Barcelona,Germain, and FC Barcelona,
with whom he won his firstwith whom he won his first
Champions League in 2006.Champions League in 2006.

5.  Ronaldinho's football skillsRonaldinho's football skills
began to blossom at an earlybegan to blossom at an early
age, and he was first given theage, and he was first given the
nicknamenickname RonaldinhoRonaldinho becausebecause
he was often the youngest andhe was often the youngest and
the smallest player in youththe smallest player in youth
club matches.club matches.
 He developed an interest inHe developed an interest in
futsal and beach football,futsal and beach football,
which later expanded towhich later expanded to
organized football.organized football.
 His first brush with the mediaHis first brush with the media
came at the age of thirteen,came at the age of thirteen,
when he scored all 23 goals inwhen he scored all 23 goals in
a 23-0 victory against a locala 23-0 victory against a local
team Ronaldinho wasteam Ronaldinho was
identified as a rising star.identified as a rising star.

6.  Lionel Andrés Messi was bornLionel Andrés Messi was born
in 24in 24thth
June 1987 is anJune 1987 is an
Argentina footballer whoArgentina footballer who
currently plays for La Ligacurrently plays for La Liga
giants Barcelona and thegiants Barcelona and the
Argentine national team.Argentine national team.
 Messi is considered to be oneMessi is considered to be one
of the best football players ofof the best football players of
his generation, havinghis generation, having
received several Ballon d’Orreceived several Ballon d’Or
and FIFA World Player of theand FIFA World Player of the
Year nominations by the ageYear nominations by the age
of 21.of 21.

7.  His playing style and ability haveHis playing style and ability have
drawn comparisons to footballdrawn comparisons to football
legend Diego Maradona, wholegend Diego Maradona, who
himself declared Messi hishimself declared Messi his
"successor"."successor".
 Messi began playing football at aMessi began playing football at a
young age and his potential wasyoung age and his potential was
quickly identified by Barcelona.quickly identified by Barcelona.
 Messi was the top scorer with sixMessi was the top scorer with six
goals, including two in the finalgoals, including two in the final
game of the 2005 FIFA Worldgame of the 2005 FIFA World
Youth Championship.Youth Championship.
 In 2008, in Beijing, he won his firstIn 2008, in Beijing, he won his first
international honour, an Olympicinternational honour, an Olympic
gold medal, with the Argentinagold medal, with the Argentina
Olympic football team.Olympic football team.

8.  Alessandro Del Piero, wasAlessandro Del Piero, was
born on the 9born on the 9thth
November,November,
1974 in Conegliano Veneto is1974 in Conegliano Veneto is
an Italian World Cup-winningan Italian World Cup-winning
footballer who plays for Seriefootballer who plays for Serie
A club Juventus.A club Juventus.
 Along with three awards inAlong with three awards in
Italy for gentlemanly conductItaly for gentlemanly conduct
he has also won the Goldenhe has also won the Golden
Foot award, which pertains toFoot award, which pertains to
personality and playing ability.personality and playing ability.
 Del Piero usually plays as aDel Piero usually plays as a
supporting-striker andsupporting-striker and
occasionally between theoccasionally between the
midfield and the strikers,midfield and the strikers,
known in Italy as theknown in Italy as the
“trequartista" position.“trequartista" position.

9.  Del Piero has become famousDel Piero has become famous
over the years for scoring fromover the years for scoring from
a special "Del Piero Zone",a special "Del Piero Zone",
approaching from the left flankapproaching from the left flank
and curling a precise lob intoand curling a precise lob into
the far top corner of the goal.the far top corner of the goal.
 On April 6, 2008, AlessandroOn April 6, 2008, Alessandro
Del Piero became the all-timeDel Piero became the all-time
highest-capped Juventushighest-capped Juventus
player, ahead of Juve legendplayer, ahead of Juve legend
Gaetano Scirea.Gaetano Scirea.
 He is in sixth place in theHe is in sixth place in the
UEFA Champions League all-UEFA Champions League all-
time goalscorer records.time goalscorer records.