Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Eric Abidal

He is a French Footballer of Martiniquan descent who currently plays as a Left Back or central defender for FC Barcelona and the French national team. After his marriage to Hayet Kebir, Abidal converted to Islam.

In nearly 12 years as a professional, Abidal has managed to score just a single goal at club level: in the Coup De France for Olympidue Lyonnaise. He has yet to score a first career league goal. In 55 caps for the France national football team he has failed to score, and has missed two penalties in shootouts against Bulgaria and Iran.

Adriano Correia

One of few players in professional football who is genuinely two-footed, he is capable of playing as a defender or midfielder, on both sides of the pitch. On 16 July 2010, Adriano signed a 4+1 deal with Barcelona, for $9.5 million plus a conditional fee of €4 million; it also included a buyout clause of €90 million. He was awarded the #21 shirt vacated by Ukrainian Dmytro Chygrynskiy, departed after just one season. He made his debut in a pre-season friendly against Valerenga Football, coming on in the second half; on 14 August, he first appeared officially, in the first leg of the season's domestic supercup, a 1–3 loss at former side Sevilla.

Andres Iniesta


At the age of 12, Iniesta started to attract attention from many clubs around Spain for his dazzling performances in his native Fuentealbilla, Albacete. He was noted for his "outrageous dribbling ability" and vision on the ball that belied his age. Iniesta burst on to the international scene in 2001, helping Spain win the UEFA European Under-16 Championship, and was in the squad that claimed the UEFA European Under-19 Championship the following year. Since then, he became a regular choice for the then youth coach Juan Santisteban. In 2003 he formed part of the Spanish side that reached the FIFA World Youth Championship final in the United Arab Emirates, and was named in the FIFA all-star team. During his spell with the Spain U21s side, Iniesta was named captain on several occasions.

Carles Puyol


Mainly a central defender, he can also appear on either flanks, especially as a right back. He also serves as a longtime team captain for his only club FC Barcelona after taking over from Luis Enrique in August 2004.

David Villa

Villa made his international début in 2005. He has since participated in three major tournaments, becoming an integral member of the Spain teams that won Euro 2008 and the 2010 World Cup. He scored three goals at the 2006 Fifa World Cup, was top scorer at Euro 2008 and earned Silver Boot at the 2010 World Cup. He has scored more World Cup goals than any other player in Spain's history and is tied with Raul Gonzalez as the country's all-time top goalscorer. His goals per game ratio at World Cup matches is higher than the competition's all-time top scorer Ronaldo, while the goals per game ratio he has achieved for the national team has not been matched by any Spaniard since Alfredo De Stiffano.

Lionel Messi


Messi began playing football at a young age and his potential was quickly identified by Barcelona. He left Rosario-based Newell's Old Boys's youth team in 2000 and moved with his family to Europe, as Barcelona offered treatment for his growth hormone deficiency. Making his debut in the 2004–05 season, he broke his team record for the youngest footballer to score a league goal. Major honours soon followed as Barcelona won La Liga in Messi's debut season, and won a double of the league and Champions League in 2006. His breakthrough season was in the 2006–07 season; he became a first team regular, scoring a hat-trick in El Clásico and finishing with 14 goals in 26 league games. Perhaps his most successful season was the 2008–09 season, in which Messi scored 38 goals to play an integral part in a treble-winning campaign. In the following 2009–10 campaign, Messi scored 47 goals in all competitions, equalling Ronaldo's record total for Barcelona.Messi began playing football at a young age and his potential was quickly identified by Barcelona. He left Rosario-based Newell's Old Boys's youth team in 2000 and moved with his family to Europe, as Barcelona offered treatment for his growth hormone deficiency. Making his debut in the 2004–05 season, he broke his team record for the youngest footballer to score a league goal. Major honours soon followed as Barcelona won La Liga in Messi's debut season, and won a double of the league and Champions League in 2006. His breakthrough season was in the 2006–07 season; he became a first team regular, scoring a hat-trick in El Clásico and finishing with 14 goals in 26 league games. Perhaps his most successful season was the 2008–09 season, in which Messi scored 38 goals to play an integral part in a treble-winning campaign. In the following 2009–10 campaign, Messi scored 47 goals in all competitions, equalling Ronaldo's record total for Barcelona.

Monday, October 11, 2010

FC Barcelona

FC Barcelona is the most successful club in Spanish football in terms of overall trophies, having won twenty La Liga titles, a record twenty-five Spanish Cups, nine Spanish Super Cups, and two League Cups. They are also one of the most successful clubs in European football, having won ten UEFA competitions.It is the only European club to have played continental football every season since 1954. In 2009, Barcelona became the first club in Spain to win the treble of La Liga, Copa del Rey, and Champions League. That same year, they also became the first football club ever to win six out of six competitions in a single year, thus completing the sextuple, comprising the aforementioned treble and the Spanish Super Cup, UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup.FC Barcelona is the most successful club in Spanish football in terms of overall trophies, having won twenty La Liga titles, a record twenty-five Spanish Cups, nine Spanish Super Cups, and two League Cups. They are also one of the most successful clubs in European football, having won ten UEFA competitions. It is the only European club to have played continental football every season since 1954. In 2009, Barcelona became the first club in Spain to win the treble of La Liga, Copa del Rey, and Champions League. That same year, they also became the first football club ever to win six out of six competitions in a single year, thus completing the sextuple, comprising the aforementioned treble and the Spanish Super Cup, UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup.