Francesco Totti

Profile Football Stars | Francesco Totti | In the following seasons, he began to play more games and scored his first goal on 24 September 1994 in a 1-1 draw against Foggia. By 1995, Totti had become a regular in the starting eleven and scored 16 goals in the next three seasons. Manager Zdenek Zeman played with an offensive 4-3-3 formation, in the which Totti was the left winger. Totti scored 30 goals during Zeman's two-year managerial stint. Though Totti was not called up for the 1998 FIFA World Cup, he was named the Serie A Footballer of the Year Young in the 1998-99 season. On 17 June 2001, he won the Scudetto, and scored one goal in a 3-0 victory against Fiorentina Supercoppa Italiana. Totti was born in Rome, to parents Lorenzo and Fiorella Toitt. Totti began to play youth football team at the age of 8, with Fortituto, then he joined Smit Trastevere and Lodigiani. A 2006 World Cup and Euro 2000 winner finalist, Totti was selected in the All-Star team for both tournaments. In 2011, Totti has been Recognized by IFFHS as the most popular footballer in Europe.

Roma's new coach for the 2005-06 season, Luciano Spalletti, went with a 4-2-3-1 formation. Totti scored his 200th goal with Roma in a 4-0 Coppa Italia win over Torino on 16 January 2008. Roma won the Coppa Italia Their ninth with a 2-1 victory over Internazionale on 24 May. Totti did not play though, he was still allowed to lift the cup as the team's captain. With this win, Totti Became the most Successful captain in team history.

Totti performed well in the UEFA Europa League Inaugural. On 20 March, Totti Became the sixth player in Serie A history to score 200 goals, finding the target twice in the 2-2 draw with Fiorentina That to raise his total to 201. On 1 May, Totti scored a brace against Bari to equal and overtake Roberto Baggio in the total number of goals scored in the league with his 205th and 206th goals. Totti completed a remarkable turn-around in his season, Completing the 2010-11 Serie A campaign with 15 goals - scoring 12 goals in Roma's last thirteen league fixtures.

On 8 January 2012, Totti scored his first goal of the season against Chievo, converting first one penalty in the first half and then another in the second, in a game the which ended 2-0 for Roma. He went on to score two goals in a 5-1 win against Cesena the which allowed Totti to set a new record as his second goal of the match Brought his league tally to 211 goals - the most any player has ever scored for a single club in Serie A. As the second round of the 2011-2012 season begins, Totti's goals remain at four but his performances continue to convince and in Roma's 4-0 win over rivals Internazionale on 5 February 2012, Totti's corner turned into an assist for Juan as he headed in the opening goal in Roma's dominating performance. As of that game, Totti's stats for the season are 8 goals and 7 assists in 25 appearances. Totti scored his fifth goal in 2011-12 season in a 3-1 victory over Udinese. He scored again in a 2-1 loss against Fiorentina, and two weeks later on his 500-th match in Serie A he scored two goals in a 2-2 draw against Catania at the Olimpico.

Totti first came into international prominence while playing in the UEFA youth tournaments. Totti won the UEFA Under-21 Championship in 1996, in the final match, he opened the scoring in a 1-1 draw against the Spanish before triumphing on Penalties. After starring with the Azzurrini in Italy's Under-19 and Under-21 sides, Totti earned his first cap for Italy during a Euro 2000 qualifying victory against Switzerland on 10 October 1998. Then-Italy coach Roberto Donadoni Attempted to get Totti to change his mind for the remaining Euro 2008 qualifiers but was not successful.  After the national team reunited with Marcello Lippi, Totti Announced That he would play in the 2010 World Cup Finals in South Africa if he got called up. The Azzurri lack creative players like Totti.

Personal information
Full name Francesco Totti
Date of birth 27 September 1976 (age 35)
Place of birth Rome, Italy
Height 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Playing position Striker / Attacking midfielder

Club information
Current club Roma
Number 10

Youth career
1984 Fortitudo
1984-1986 Smit Trastevere
1986-1989 Lodigiani
1989-1992 Rome

Senior career
years Team
1992-Rome 501 (215)

National team
1992 Italy U-15 6 (3)
Italy U-16 1991-1992 13 (2)
1993-1995 Italy U-18 14 (7)
Italy U-21 1995-1997 8 (4)
1997 Italy U-23 4 (2)
Italy 1998-2006 58 (9)

Honours

Club
Winners
    Serie A: 2000-01
    Supercoppa Italiana (2): 2001, 2007
    Coppa Italia (2): 2006-07, 2007-08

Runner-up
    Serie A (6): 2001-02, 2003-04, 2005-06, 2006-07, 2007-08, 2009-10
    Coppa Italia (4): 2002-03, 2004-05, 2005-06, 2009-10
    Supercoppa Italiana (3): 2006, 2008, 2010

International
Winners
    UEFA European Under-21 Championship: 1996
    Mediterranean Games (Under-23): 1997
    FIFA World Cup: 2006

Runner-up
    UEFA European Under-18 Championship: 1995
    UEFA European Championship: 2000

Records
    Serie A Leading Goalscorer Active: 215 goals
    Roma All-Time Leading Goalscorer: 270 goals
    Roma All-Time Leading Goalscorer in Serie A: 215 goals
    Roma All-Time Leading Goalscorer in UEFA Champions League: 16 goals
    Roma All-Time Leading Goalscorer in UEFA Europa League: 21 goals
    Roma All-Time Leading Goalscorer in UEFA Competitions: 37 goals
    Roma All-Time Appearance Maker: 641 games
    Roma All-Time Appearance Maker in Serie A: 501 games
    Roma All-Time Appearance Maker in UEFA Champions League: 50 games
    Roma All-Time Appearance Maker in UEFA Europa League: 38 games
    Roma All-Time Appearance Maker in UEFA competitions: 88 games

Individual
    Guerin d'Oro (2): 1998, 2004
    Serie A Young Footballer of the Year: 1999
    Euro 2000 Final Man of the Match
    Euro 2000 Team of the Tournament
    Serie A Footballer of the Year (2): 2000, 2003
    Italian Footballer of the Year (5): 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2007
    ESM Team of the Year (3): 2000-01, 2003-04, 2006-07
    FIFA 100
    Serie A Goal of the Year (2): 2005, 2006
    2006 FIFA World Cup All-Star Team
    Serie A top scorer: 2006-07
    European Golden Shoe: 2006-07
    USSI Silver Ball: 2007-08
    Golden Foot: 2010

Ballon d'Or
    2000 - 14th
    2001 - 5th
    2002 - nominated (top 50)
    2003 - 18th
    2004 - nominated (top 50)
    2007 - 10th

FIFA World Player of the Year
    2000 - 10th
    2001 - 10th
    2002 - 14th

Michael Owen

Profile Football Stars | Michael Owen | The son of former footballer Terry Owen, Owen began his senior career at Liverpool in 1996. In 2001, Liverpool won a cup treble of the UEFA Cup, FA Cup and Football League Cup, and Owen was the recipient of the Ballon d'Or. He went on to score 118 goals in 216 appearances in the Premier League for Liverpool. Internationally, Owen first played for the senior England team in 1998, Becoming England's youngest player and youngest goalscorer at the time. Owen's long injury absence after the 2006 World Cup resulted in a dispute Between FIFA and The FA and Newcastle United, and eventually resulted in an unprecedented £ 10m compensation award to Newcastle, and Brought changes to the compensation arrangements Between club and country regarding injuries sustained by contracted club players while on international duty.

The 2002-03 season saw Owen on top form again as he hit 28 goals. Owen also scored at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff when Liverpool beat Manchester United 2-0 to win the League Cup and scored his 100th Premier League goal against West Bromwich Albion.  Following Gérard Houllier's sacking as Liverpool manager, Speculation about Owen's departure from the club began. During the first few Champions League games at the start of the 2004-2005 season, Owen sat on the bench to avoid being cup-tied for the Champions League, Something That Meant he would have would be Unable to play in European competitions for any other That club season. Since 1998 Owen had been Liverpool's top scorer every season until he left the club.

Owen had a slow start to his Madrid career. A few days later, he scored his first Spanish league goal in a 1-0 victory over Valencia. During his time at Real Madrid, Owen scored 18 goals from 41 games, 15 of the which were starts.

Roughly 20.000 fans were present at Newcastle's home ground of St James 'Park for Owen's official unveiling as a Newcastle player. Owen scored his first hat-trick for Newcastle in the 4-2 away win over West Ham on 17 December. On 14 June it was reported That Owen's management company Wasserman Media Group had sent out a 34-page brochure advertising Owen to Several potential clubs.

On 3 July 2009, it was Announced That Owen had signed a two-year deal with Premier League champions, Manchester United. Owen started his second game of the season in the fourth round of the League Cup , against League Two club Aldershot Town. In February 2012, Owen started light training with the Manchester United squad. From April 2012, Owen started full training but not yet ready for first team games.

Owen had a highly Successful record at youth level, playing for the England under-20 team at the 1997 FIFA World Youth Championship and scoring three goals in four games. As of December 2007, Owen has never gone more than four international games in a row without scoring a goal. Owen's future as a first choice striker for England is uncertain however, due to competition from Manchester United's Wayne Rooney and fast-developing Theo Walcott amongst others. Owen's lack of action in Fabio Capello's first two England friendlies and Capello's selection of a single striker 4-5-1 formation also support the view That Owen's international opportunities in future may be limited. On 28 February, he suffered a hamstring injury in the League Cup final and was ruled out for the rest of the season.

Personal information
Full name Michael James Owen
Date of birth 14 December 1979 (age 32)
Place of birth Chester, England
Height 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
Playing position Striker

Club information
Current club Free Agent

Youth career
Liverpool 1991-1996

Senior career
years Team
Liverpool 1996-2004 216 (118)
2004-2005 Real Madrid 36 (13)
2005-2009 Newcastle United 71 (26)
2009-2012 Manchester United 31 (5)

National team
1997 England U20 4 (3)
1997 England U21 1 (1)
2006-2007 England B 2 (0)
1998-2008 England 89 (40)

Honours

Club
Liverpool
     FA Cup (1): 2000-01
     Football League Cup (2): 2000-01, 2002-03
     FA Community Shield (1): 2001
     UEFA Cup (1): 2000-01
     UEFA Super Cup (1): 2001


Manchester United
     Premier League (1): 2010-11
     Football League Cup (1): 2009-10
     FA Community Shield (1): 2010

Individual
     PFA Young Player of the Year (1): 1997-98
     PFA Premier League Team of the Year (1): 1997-98
     Premier League Player of the Month (1): August 1998
     Premier League Golden Boot (2): 1997-98, 1998-99
     Carling Player of the Year (1): 1997-98
     FIFA World Cup Best Young Player Award (1): France 1998
     BBC Sports Personality of the Year (1): 1998
     Ballon d'Or (1): 2001
     Premier League 10 Seasons Awards (1992-93 to 2001-02):
     Domestic Team of the Decade
     FIFA 100

Samuel Eto'o

Profile Football Stars | Samuel Eto'o | As a member of the Cameroon national team, he was a part of the squad that won the 2000 Olympic tournament, he has participated in three World Cups and six African Nations Cup (being champion twice) and is the leading all-time scorer in the history of the African Nations Cup with 18 goals. Eto'o scored over 100 goals in five seasons with FC Barcelona, and so is the record holder in number of appearances by an African player in La Liga. In 2010, he became the first player to win two European Continental Trebles following his back-to-back achievements with Barcelona and Internazionale. He is the second player to have ever scored in two separate UEFA Champions League finals and the fourth player, after Marcel Desailly, Paulo Sousa, and Gerard Piqué, to have won the UEFA Champions League two years in a row with different teams. He is the most decorated African player of all time having won the African Player of the Year award a record four times in 2003, 2004, 2005, and 2010th

Samuel Eto'o joined Real Madrid in 1997 but, he could only train with Real Madrid B, as he was still a minor. The next season, in the winter transfer window, he Transferred to La Liga team RCD Mallorca on loan, scoring six goals in 19 games. At the end of the season, Eto'o left Real Madrid, signing a permanent deal with RCD Mallorca for a club record £ 4.4 million fee. In his second season, he scored 11 goals and began to garner attention throughout the league. Mallorca won the match 3-0, with Eto'o scoring two late goals to seal the victory.

Eto'o departed Mallorca as the club's all-time leading scorer domestic league (54 goals) when he signed for FC Barcelona in the summer of 2004 for a transfer fee of € 24 million after lengthy, three-way negotiations with Mallorca and Madrid. After aggravating a meniscus injury on 28 August during a summer friendly against Internazionale, Eto'o was sidelined indefinitely.  Eto'o recorded his first league hat-trick in a match against Levante UD on 24 February 2008. He finished with a total of 16 league goals in 18 appearances for the season. Only two games later, on 8 November 2008, Eto'o scored four goals in the first half of Barcelona's game against Real Valladolid , Which ended 6-0. On 29 November 2008, he scored his 111th career goal in all competitions in Barcelona a 3-0 road win over Sevilla FC, moving him into the club's top ten all-time goalscorers.  On 14 February 2009, he scored his 99th and his 100th league goals for Barcelona in a 2-2 draw with Real Betis. Eto'o scored his 30th goal of the 2008-09 season in a La Liga match against Real Valladolid.  Eto'o scored the opening goal in the 2009 UEFA Champions League final against Manchester United.

After Maxwell completed the transfer from Internazionale, Joan Laporta confirmed that there was an agreement in principle between Barcelona and Internazionale for Zlatan Ibrahimovic to join the club in exchange for Eto'o and € million 46th after Ibrahimović agreed terms with Barcelona, the club announced Eto'o would travel to Milan for his medical to complete the transfer. On 16 March 2011, Eto'o gave a legendary performance in Munich as he helped eliminate Internazionale Bayern Munich 3-2 (on aggregate with score of 3-3, winning on away goals) in the Champions League. Eto'o is fantastic. " On 29 May, Eto'o scored two goals in the final of the Italian Cup against Palermo to help Internazionale 3-1 win and taking his season total to 37 goals, a new record high for him.

Eto'o scored his sole goal of the 2002 World Cup when he netted the game-winner against Saudi Arabia during the group stage on 6 June, 2002, Which was Cameroon's only win of the competition. On 1 December 2009, Eto'o finished fifth in voting for the Ballon d'Or, Which was won by his former Barcelona teammate Lionel Messi. On 19 June 2010, Eto'o scored a goal in Cameroon's 2010 World Cup group stage match against Denmark, from a mistake by Christian Poulsen. Cameroon eventually lost the game 2-1 and was eliminated from the World Cup. Eto'o Described it as the biggest disappointment of his career. In December 2010, Eto'o became the first man to be named African Player of the Year for a fourth time.  On 16 December 2011, Eto'o was suspended for fifteen games by the Fédération de Football Camerounaise, after the team refused to play a friendly against Algeria earlier this year.

Personal information
Full name Samuel Eto'o Fils
Date of Birth 10 March 1981 (age 31)
Place of birth Nkon, Cameroon
Height 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Playing position Striker

Club information
Current club Anzhi Makhachkala
Number 99

Youth career
1992-1997 Kadji Sports Academy

Senior career
Years Team Apps
1997-2000 Real Madrid 3 (0)
1997-1998 Leganes (loan) 30 (4)
Espanyol in 1999 (loan) 0 (0)
2000 Mallorca (loan) 19 (6)
Mallorca 2000-2004 120 (48)
Barcelona 2004-2009 145 (108)
2009-2011 Internazionale 67 (33)
2011-Anzhi Makhachkala 22 (13)

National team
2000 Cameroon U-23 6 (1)
1997-Cameroon 109 (54)

Honours

Club
Mallorca
     Copa del Rey (1): 2003

Barcelona
     La Liga (3): 2004-05, 2005-06, 2008-09
     Copa del Rey (1): 2009
     Supercopa de España (2): 2005, 2006
     UEFA Champions League (2): 2005-06, 2008-09

Internazionale
     Series A (1): 2009-10
     Coppa Italia (2): 2010, 2011
     Super Coppa Italiana (1): 2010
     Super Coppa Italiana Runner Up: (1) 2011
     UEFA Champions League (1): 2009-10
     FIFA Club World Cup (1): 2010

Cameroon
     African Cup of Nations (2): 2000, 2002
     LG Cup (1): 2011
     Cameroon Olympic Team
     Olympic Gold Medal (1): 2000

Individual
     Young African Player of the Year: 2000
     African Player of the Year: 2003, 2004, 2005, 2010
     ESM Team of the Year: 2004-05, 2005-06, 2008-09, 2010-11
     FIFPro World XI: 2005, 2006
     UEFA Team of the Year: 2005, 2006
     African Cup of Nations Top Scorer: 2006, 2008
     UEFA Champions League Best Forward: 2006
     La Liga top scorer: 2006
     African Cup of Nations All-Time Top Scorer
     RCD Mallorca All-Time Top Scorer
     Cameroon All-Time Top Scorer
     2005 FIFA World Player of the Year Third
     UEFA Champions League Final Man of the Match 2006
     FIFA Club World Cup - Golden Ball 2010
     CAF Starting XI in the Africa Cup of Nations Egypt 2006

Deco

Profile Football Stars | Deco | Deco arrived in Portugal in 1997 at the age of 19 along with fellow Brazilian player Caju after being acquired by Benfica of Lisbon. Despite good showings in training, Benfica decided to loan Deco to the Liga de Honra Alverca club, where he played for a season. Deco is one of the few players to have won the UEFA Champions League with two different clubs - FC Porto in 2004 and FC Barcelona in 2006. Deco was the first player to win the UEFA Best Midfielder Award with two different clubs, Porto and Barcelona. Deco received Portuguese citizenship in 2002, having completed six years of Portuguese residence, opting to play Subsequently internationally for the Portugal national football team. Subsequently, Deco what Salgueiros transferred in the season 1998-99, playing games and scoring 12 two goals.

A key figure in the season 2002-03, he scored 10 goals in 30 games, but nevertheless received 17 yellow cards and one red card. Deco was one of the key players in Porto's UEFA Cup final 3-2 win over Celtic that year. In the 2003-04 season, Deco helped Porto recapture the national title and led the team to the 2004 UEFA Champions League Final, in which Porto won 3-0 over Monaco, scoring the second goal of the match. That season, Deco won the UEFA Club Footballer of the Year as well as the award for the best midfielder in the competition.

On 17 June 2004, Deco told a Portuguese radio station that he would almost certainly join English side Chelsea (then coached by Jose Mourinho) following UEFA Euro 2004. Deco scored twice in the Spanish Super cup 2006-07, Barca won Which. Deco won the UEFA Best Midfielder Award yet again for his performance in Barca's Champions League-winning season, enabling him to join the exclusive group of players that have won the same award more than once with different teams, having won the Champions League previously with Porto.

Deco scored on his Chelsea debut and his Premier League debut, with a 30-yard goal in a 4-0 victory over Portsmouth. Deco followed up his performance by scoring in his second game for Chelsea, a curling free kick against Wigan Athletic. Deco made his Champions League debut for Chelsea on 16 September. Deco was Chelsea's 7-1 win in sensational over Aston Villa, creating chances for his teammates and helping Chelsea's midfield flow. On 6 August 2010, Deco signed a two-year contract with Brazilian club Fluminense on a free transfer, joining former Chelsea and FC Barcelona player Juliano Belletti. Also in 2010, Deco has won his first Brazilian Championship, participating Fluminense's victorious campaign in.

Having played six years of club football with Porto Deco allowed to gain Portuguese citizenship that made him eligible to play for Portugal. None of Deco's great grandparents, grandparents or parents were Portuguese and FIFA's player eligibility Therefore under Portuguese citizenship rules required to be Considered eligible. Deco was mentioned several times in the media as an option for the Portuguese national team. Despite the early criticism, Deco was one of the highlights of the Portuguese national team. Deco played for Portugal in their opening game against Côte d'Ivoire.

Personal information
Full name Anderson Luis de Souza
Date of Birth 27 August 1977 (age 34)
Place of birth São Bernardo do Campo, Brazil
Height 1.74 m (5 ft 8 1/2 in)
Playing position Attacking midfielder

Club information
Current club Fluminense
Number 20

Youth career
1995-1996 National-SP

Senior career
years team
1996-1997 Corinthians 2 (0)
1997-1999 Benfica 0 (0)
1997-1998 Alverca (loan) 32 (13)
Salgueiros 1998-1999 (loan) 12 (2)
Porto 1999-2004 154 (32)
Barcelona 2004-2008 113 (11)
2008-2010 Chelsea 42 (5)
2010-Fluminense 53 (5)

National team
2003-2010 Portugal 75 (5)

Honours

Club
postage
     Portuguese League: 1997-98, 1998-99, 2002-03, 2003-04
     Taça de Portugal: 2000, 2001, 2003
     Portuguese Super Cup: 1999, 2001, 2003
     UEFA Champions League: 2004
     UEFA Cup: 2003

Barcelona
     La Liga: 2004-05, 2005-06
     Supercopa de España: 2005, 2006
     UEFA Champions League: 2006

Chelsea
     Premier League: 2009-10
     FA Cup: 2009, 2010
     Community Shield: 2009

Fluminense
     Campeonato Brasileiro Série A: 2010
     Taça Guanabara: 2012
     Rio de Janeiro State League: 2012

Individual
     Portuguese League Footballer of the Year: 2003-04
     UEFA Club Footballer of the Year: 2003-04
     UEFA Best Midfielder: 2003-04, 2005-06
     FIFA World Club Cup Golden Ball: 2006
     Premier League Player of the Month: August 2008
     UEFA Team of the Tournament: 2004

Orders
     Medal of Merit, Order of the Immaculate Conception of Vila Viçosa
    (House of Braganza)

Raul Meireles

Profile Football Stars | Raul Meireles | By his great performances, Meireles was brought to the Portuguese powerhouse, FC Porto, winning three league titles in a row Primeira, adding two Portuguese Cups and three Portuguese Super Cup. In 2010 he moved to Liverpool where he won the 2011 PFA Fans' Player of the Year award following a very successful first season in the Premier League. On August 2011, Meireles signed for Chelsea, joining his former manager André Villas-Boas with whom he had spent a short period of time. In international football career began at youth Meireles national level when he Represented the Under-16 side at the 2000 UEFA European Under-16 Football Championship in Israel.

In the summer of 2001, the Desportivo Aves from the Liga de Honra (Portuguese second level football competition) signed on loan from Boavista Meireles, and he was presented on 8 July. He made his senior debut on 8 August 2001, a friendly match against Gondomar, Which Desportivo das Aves won 3-0. In his first campaign, Meireles clocked up only 16 league appearances. In the 2002-03 season, on 25 May 2003, he scored his first senior goal against União da Madeira Meireles fired a shot 30 meters out past the reach of the goalkeeper União He scored just one goal in twenty-six league appearances that season. In the 2003-04 season, he returned to Boavista after a two-year loan spell. Meireles made his debut in the Portuguese first league against Benfica on 17 August 2003, and was chosen as the man of the match by the Portuguese Record newspaper. That season, he failed to score any goals but, he made 29 league appearances, proving that he was important for the team.

Five days later, on 23 February, Meireles made his Premier League debut against Inter Milan, playing the entire 90 minutes. During that season, he made only 13 league appearances, ten as substitute, no recording goals. During the season 2005-06, on 19 February 2006, Meireles scored his first goal for the team in his 50th league appearance, giving a 1-0 home victory over Maritimo. Only three games later, on 10 March, he scored his second goal of the season in a 2-0 league triumph against Vitória de Setúbal. In that campaign, he scored two goals in 18 appearances, winning his first career title, the Portuguese league trophy, and some days later his second, the Portuguese Cup. In the following four seasons, Meireles featured regularly in Porto's midfield. He scored his first goal in the Champions League during the 2006-07 season, on 21 February 2007, against Chelsea.

Only four days later, he made his Champions League victory in a 4-1 over Steaua Bucharest at Anfield debut. on 16 January 2011, Meireles scored his first goal for Liverpool against Everton in a 2-2 Premier League draw at Anfield, coinciding with Kenny Dalglish's first home game back as manager. On 2 February 2011, he scored another goal, his third in four games in a 2-0 home victory against Stoke City, and four days later made it four in five, by scoring the victory goal at Stamford Bridge against Chelsea. his goal tally for Meireles Increased the club on 12 February by scoring against Wigan Athletic, taking his tally to five goals in six Premier League matches.  Meireles started the 2011-12 Premier League campaign as a 75th minute substitute against Sunderland.

In the following year, he scored his first Chelsea goal during their UEFA Champions League group stage 5-0 victory against Racing Genk.  On 12 December 2012, Meireles scored his first Premier League goal for the Blues in a 2-1 home win over league leaders Manchester United. In the following round, on 18 March, Meireles scored a goal and two assists provided to Fernando Torres game, who ended his goal drought 24 in the 5-2 win against Leicester City that sealed a berth for the Wembley FA Cup semi-final. On the final match day of the season, Meireles scored second goal of the Chelsea '2-1 victory, his second Premier League goal of the season, relegated over Blackburn.

Next year, Meireles Represented the under-17 team in the 2001 Meridian Cup held in Bari, Italy. Consequently, Portugal finished third in the competition. In November, he was named in the Portuguese squad for European Under-19 Championship qualifying tournament, where Portugal assured a place in the major competition, and Meireles scored one goal in The 2-1 loss against Belarus. Meireles regularly featured in the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches.  As expected, on 10 May 2010, Meireles was named in the Portuguese squad for the 2010 World Cup. He started all of Portugal's matches at the tournament, scoring one goal in Portugal's second group stage match against North Korea in Cape Town.

Personal information
Jose Raul Meireles fullname Trindade
Date of Birth 17 March 1983 (age 29)
Place of birth Porto, Portugal
Height 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Playing position Midfielder

Club information
Current club Chelsea
Number 16

Youth career
Boavista 1999-2001

Senior career
years team
Boavista 2001-2004 29 (0)
2001-2003 Aves (loan) 42 (1)
Porto 2004-2010 138 (15)
2010-2011 Liverpool 35 (5)
2011-Chelsea 29 (2)

National team
2003-2005 U21 Portugal 26 (2)
2004-Portugal 55 (8)

Honours

Club
postage
     Portuguese League (4): 2005-06, 2006-07, 2007-08, 2008-09
     Taça de Portugal (3): 2006, 2009, 2010
     Supertaça Candido de Oliveira (3): 2006, 2009, 2010

Chelsea
     FA Cup: 2011-12

Country
     UEFA European Under-16 Football Championship: 2000

Individual
     PFA Fans' Player of the Month: February 2011
     PFA Fans' Player of the Year: 2011

Luuk de Jong

Profile Football Stars | Luuk de Jong | De Jong started his career with amateur football club, DZC'68, together with his brother Siem. They were both recruited by the professional team, De Graafschap. Siem enlisted and was scouted by Ajax when playing in De Graafschap's youth, while Luuk stayed with the club. After another match coming of the bench against SC Heerenveen Luuk de Jong Became a starter joining newly acquired Ben Sahar. Together in their first match against Willem II Luuk de Jong gave an assist to Ben Sahar giving De Graafschap a 1-0 win. Luuk de Jong made his first Eredivisie goal in a home match against FC Twente he scored the 2-1. Moments later Luuk de Jong made a hand ball penalty giving the which FC Twente a Blaise N'Kufo scored, the match ended in 2-2. His second goal in a home match came versus Heracles Almelo. 

On April 6, 2012 it was confirmed That Luuk de Jong signed a contract for three years with an option for another year with FC Twente. Luuk intercepted a pass from Maarten Stekelenburg to Gregory van der Wiel and then stayed calm and scored the winner in the which the match ended 1-0. On 4 March, de Jong scored a goal in Twente's 6-2 thrashing of fellow title contenders PSV Eindhoven at the Philips Stadium. However Twente ended up falling out of the competition, losing 4-1 in the second leg in Germany, as de Jong's fellow Dutchman Klaas-Jan Huntelaar netted a hat-trick.

De Jong received his first call-up for the Netherlands senior team for the friendly against Austria on May 9.2011 and made his debut in the same match, Replacing Dirk Kuyt. He scored his first goal with the national squad on September 6, 2011 in the 2-0 win during the UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying game against Finland That Dutch secured qualification to the Euro in 2012.

Personal information
Full name Luuk de Jong
Date of birth 27 August 1990 (age 21)
Place of birth Aigle, Switzerland
Height 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Playing position Striker

Club information
Current club FC Twente
Number 9

Youth career
-2001 DZC '68
2001-2008 De Graafschap

Senior career
years Team
2008-2009 De Graafschap 14 (18)
2009 - Twente 76 (39)

National team
2008-2009 Netherlands U19 five (5)
2009-2011 Netherlands U21 2 (3)
2011 - Netherlands 7 (1)

Honours

Club
FC Twente
     Eredivisie: 2009-10
     Johan Cruijff Shield: 2010, 2011
     KNVB Cup: 2010-11

Individual
     Top goalscorer and top assist provider for FC Twente in the 2010-11 season.
     Top goalscorer for FC Twente in the 2011-12 season.

Iker Casillas

Profile Football Stars | Iker Casillas | As of 2011 Casillas is one of a very select group of players have won all major who and national club championship titles. In 2010, he was awarded with the Sports Prince of Asturias Award. On 19 October 2010, Became the most capped Casillas Goalkeeper of all time in the UEFA Champions League and in November 2011, he Became the most capped player of all time for the Spanish national team. Casillas has a brother, seven years younger, named Unai, who currently plays as a central midfielder for CD Mostoles.  As a young child, one weekend Casillas forgot to post his father's football predictions on the weekend his father had entered correctly predicted all 14 results.

Casillas had started in the junior squad of Real Madrid's youth system during the 1990-91 season. After the match, he received praise from fellow Spanish England Goalkeepers and Goalkeeper Gordon Banks, who Stated "Casillas' reflexes are incredible. Europa Press reported Casillas That was the 2nd most popular Spanish sportsman on the internet throughout 2010.  During the 2011-12 season, Casillas won IFFHS Best Goalkeeper award, making him the only and first Goalkeeper to win it four times. Casillas played his 600th match for Real Madrid on January 22, 2012 in a 4-1 win against Athletic Bilbao. On 2nd May, 2012, Casillas clinched his 5th league title and his 1st as a captain of Real Madrid, with 3-0 win at Bilbao.

Casillas debuted for the national team in the U-17 level. At age 16, he was the youngest player in the Spanish squad That placed third at the 1997 FIFA U-17 World Championship in Egypt. Casillas was the highest ranked Goalkeeper (4th place) in the 2008 Ballon d'Or behind Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and national teammate Fernando Torres. Also in 2008 Casillas was named the world's best goalkeeper by the IFFHS. He also came in third place in the best Goalkeepers of all time ranking; beating Oliver Kahn.

On 5 September 2009, after a 5-0 win over Belgium in a qualifying match for the World Cup, Casillas equaled Andoni Zubizarreta's national record of 56 clean sheets, and during the Spanish team's next match against Estonia on 9 September 2009, Zubizarreta as he surpassed the record holder for the most international Spanish clean sheets (this being Achieved in Casillas' 98th appearance for the national team, while Zubizarreta made 126 before his retirement). In doing so he Goalkeeper Became the third ever to captain a World Cup winning side (along with Gianpiero Combi in Dino Zoff in 1934 and 1982). He was voted the tournament's best Goalkeeper and awarded the Golden Glove. On 15 November 2011, Casillas Spain's most capped Became player, breaking record after Andoni Zubizarreta's starting for Spain in their 2-2 draw against Costa Rica. On 29 February 2012, in Spain's 5-0 win over Venezuela, Casillas equaled Edwin van der Sar's record of 72 international clean sheets.

Personal information
Full name Iker Casillas Fernández
Date of birth 20 May 1981 (age 30)
Place of birth Mostoles, Madrid, Spain
Height 1.82 m (5 ft 11 1/2 in)
Playing position Goalkeeper

Club information
Current club Real Madrid
Number 1

Youth career
1990-1998 Real Madrid

Senior career
years Team
1998-1999 Real Madrid C 26 (0)
1999 Real Madrid B 4 (0)
1999-Real Madrid 456 (0)

National team
1996 Spain U15 1 (0)
1996-1998 Spain U16 19 (0)
1997-1999 Spain U17 10 (0)
1999 Spain U18 4 (0)
1999 Spain U20 2 (0)
1999-2000 Spain U21 5 (0)
2000-Spain 128 (0)

Honours

Club
Real Madrid
     La Liga (5): 2000-01, 2002-03, 2006-07, 2007-08, 2011-12
     Copa del Rey (1): 2010-11
     Supercopa de España (3): 2001, 2003, 2008
     UEFA Champions League (2): 1999-2000, 2001-02
     UEFA Super Cup (1): 2002
     Intercontinental Cup (1): 2002

Spain-20
     FIFA World Youth Championship: 1999

Spain
     FIFA World Cup: 2010
     UEFA European Championship: 2008
     FIFA Confederations Cup: Third-place 2009

Individual
     Bravo Award: 2000
     La Liga Breakthrough Player of the Year: 2000
     UEFA Team of the Year: 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011
     Zamora Trophy: 2007-08
     UEFA Euro Team of the Tournament: 2008
     ESM Team of the Year: 2008
     FIFA / FIFPro World XI: 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011
     FIFPro FIFPro # Fifa World's Best Goalkeeper: 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011
     IFFHS Best Goalkeeper: 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011
     Best European Goalkeeper: 2008, 2010
     FIFA World Cup Golden Glove: 2010
     FIFA World Cup All-Star Team: 2010
     UEFA European Championship Winning Captain: 2008
     FIFA World Cup Winning Captain: 2010

Decorations
     Gold Medal of the Royal Order of Sporting Merit: 2009
     Favourite son of Navalacruz: 2010
     Favourite son of Mostoles: 2010