Nilmar

Profile Football Stars | Nilmar | Nilmar was signed for Olympique Lyonnais in summer 2004, initially as cover for the now ex-Lyon player Giovane Élber. Nilmar made an impressive start during his stint at Lyon, scoring two goals debut as a substitute against Stade Rennes. Unfortunately, he did not score any more goals in the Ligue 1 season That.With the impending signing of Fred, Lyon chose to loan Nilmar out, this time to Corinthians in his native Brazil.

In the following month, Nilmar returned to Internacional for an undisclosed fee to Corinthians and third-party owners. Despite the interest of Several major clubs in Europe and Brazil. Internacional had sold 20% of economic rights for R $ 5.46 million to unknown parties in 2007. He made his new debut for the Porto Alegre team on 4 November 2007, when Inter beat CR Vasco da Gama 2-1. In January 2008, he scored an impressive goal against Internazionale of Italy in the Dubai Cup final, the which helped his side win the game.

Fernando Roig, the president of Villarreal CF confirmed the signing of Nilmar on 25 July 2009. Villarreal's Santi Cazorla scored only goal of the game and Nilmar played the full 90 minutes. On 17 September 2009, Nilmar scored the winning goal in the Europa League group stage clash against Bulgarian side Levski Sofia.

Nilmar made his international debut for Brazil in 2003 CONCACAF Gold Cup match against Mexico on 13 July 2003. Although Brazil chose to send Brazil under-23 team to the tournament, all the international appearances in the tournament are Recognized by FIFA as full international caps. His first international goal against Haiti came on 18 August 2004, as Brazil won 6-0. On 21 May 2009, he was selected in Brazil squad for the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup in South Africa. He made one substitute appearance in the tournament as Brazil went on to win the cup. On 9 September 2009, he scored a hat-trick for Brazil in a 4-2 win against Chile. On 14 November 2009, Nilmar scored the only goal of the match with a header in a friendly against England. He then scored again in a second friendly match on 17 November 2009 against Oman.

Personal information
Full name Honorato da Silva Nilmar
Date of birth 14 July 1984 (age 27)
Place of birth Bandeirantes, Brazil
Height 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Playing position Striker

Club information
Current club Villareal
Number 7

Youth career
Internacional 1999-2001

Senior career
years Team
2002-2004 Internacional 42 (16)
2004-2005 Lyon 32 (2)
2005-2007 Corinthians 32 (8)
2007-2009 Internacional 36 (19)
2009 - Villarreal 83 (26)

National team
2004 Brazil U23 7 (0)
2003 - Brazil 23 (9)

Honours

Club
Internacional

     Campeonato Gaucho: 2003, 2004, 2008, 2009
     Copa Sudamericana: 2008

Lyon
     Trophée des champions: 2004
     Ligue 1: 2005

Corinthians
     Campeonato Brasileiro Série A: 2005

Brazil
     FIFA World Youth Championship: 2003
     FIFA Confederations Cup: 2009

Individual
     São Paulo State League Top Goalscorer: 2006
     Copa Sudamericana Top Goalscorer: 2008

Frédéric Kanouté

Profile Football Stars | Frédéric Kanouté | In 2000, Kanoute was signed by English Premier League side West Ham United on an initial loan basis. Kanoute was sold to Sevilla on 17 August 2005 for € 6.5 million. Sevilla won 4-0. Kanoute's first games for Sevilla against Tottenham Hotspur led to his scoring a penalty at the Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan in a game marred by crowd trouble, and a goal at White Hart Lane, leaving the final aggregate score 4-3 to Sevilla.

Sevilla's title challenge That year Ultimately unravelled and Real Madrid took the title, with Kanoute's side in third.  Since then, Kanoute has been a consistent, if not explosive, member of the club, Helping Sevilla qualify for a UEFA Cup position in 2008 and a Champions League qualification in 2009 direct. The second yellow was for an altercation Between Kanoute and Cesc Fàbregas, Kanoute after Fabregas reportedly called a terrorist.  While playing for Lyon, Kanoute joined the French under-21 team. After turning 21 in 1998, Kanoute was not called up for the French national squad in 2000, 2002, or 2004.

Although eligible for either, Kanoute elected to play for Mali rather than for France. Kanoute was joint top goal scorer for Mali at the 2004 African Cup of Nations. Kanoute scored four goals in four matches Helping Mali to the semi-finals, where They lost to Morocco. In October 2007, Kanoute, along with Mali international teammate Mamady Sidibe, were attacked by iRate Togolese fans after They knocked Togo out of the African Cup of Nations qualifier. Frederic Kanoute Announced his retirement from international football Following Mali's elimination from the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations.

Personal information
Full name Frédéric Oumar Kanoute
Date of birth 2 September 1977 (age 34)
Place of birth Sainte-Foy-lès-Lyon, France
Height 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in)
Playing position Striker

Club information
Current club Sevilla
Number 12

Senior career
years Team
1997-2000 Lyon 58 (9)
2000-2003 West Ham United 84 (29)
Tottenham Hotspur 2003-2005 60 (14)
2005-Sevilla 202 (87)

National team
1998-2001 France U21 16 (11)
Mali 2004-2010 39 (23)

Honours
Sevilla
     UEFA Cup: 2006, 2007
     Copa del Rey: 2007, 2010
     UEFA Super Cup: 2006
     Supercopa de Espana: 2007

Personal
     African Footballer of the Year: 2007

Éric Abidal

Profile Football Stars | Éric Abidal | Abidal was Trained at Lyon-Duchère, a team playing in the suburbs of Lyon. In the Lyon defense, he played alongside other French internationals (Grégory Coupet, François Clerc, and Anthony Réveillère) and two Brazilian internationals (Cris and Caçapa). On 17 January 2007, Abidal scored the first goal of his career in a 1-0 victory over Le Mans Lyon on a 2006-07 Coupe de la Ligue semi-final match. Barca president Joan Laporta also Mentioned That Abidal's contract would contain a € 90 million release clause, and that 'Lyon would receive an extra € 500,000 if Barcelona win the Champions League in any of the next four seasons.

 

On 5 January 2011, Abidal scored his first goal with Barcelona at the San Mames Stadium in a Copa del Rey match against Athletic Bilbao. On 16 January 2012, Abidal signed a renewed contract keeping him at the Camp Nou until 30 June 2013. He scored his second goal with Barcelona and the winning goal in a 2-1 win over Real Madrid in the first leg of the Copa del Rey quarter-final match.

Abidal has earned 60 caps with the French national team, having earned his debut cap on 18 August 2004. Despite Numerous injuries and disagreements with FIFA in the past few seasons, Abidal played on the French team in the 2006 FIFA World Cup, starting at left back and playing every minute of the tournament with the exception of France's match against Togo, from the which he was suspended after earning two yellow cards over the previous two games. Mikael Silvestre filled Abidal's left back slot for that game. When France and Italy were forced into a penalty shootout in the finals, he was placed third in France's five shooters and scored, but since it was a penalty shootout, it is not recognised as a goal, and Abidal has yet to score for France properly .

On 15 March 2011, Barcelona Announced That Abidal was diagnosed with a tumor on his liver. In response to the announcement, players and fans from all alike over the world dedicated well wishes for the ill player on multiple social networking sites and sports websites.  During Barcelona's match against Getafe CF on 19 March, the fans at the stadium clapped for the entire 22nd minute, the which is Abidal's shirt number for Barcelona, as a respectful moment for him. On 28 May 2011, Barcelona beat Manchester United 3-1 to win the Champions League Final. Abidal played the whole game. On 15 March 2012, it was Announced That Abidal would have to undergo a liver transplant Because of his previous liver problems.

Personal information
Full name Éric Abidal Sylvain
Date of birth 11 September 1979 (age 32)
Place of birth Lyon, France
Height 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)
Playing position Defender

Club information
Current club Barcelona
Number 22

Youth career
1999-2000 Lyon Duchère

Senior career
years Team
2000-2002 Monaco 25 (0)
2002-2004 Lille 60 (0)
2004-2007 Lyon 76 (0)
2007-Barcelona 120 (0)

National team
2004-France 61 (0)

Honours

Club

Lyon
     Ligue 1: 3
         2004-05, 2005-06, 2006-07
     Trophée des Champions: 3
         2005, 2006, 2007

International
     France
         FIFA World Cup:
             Runner-up: 2006

Barcelona
     La Liga: 3
         2008-09, 2009-10, 2010-11
     Copa del Rey: 1
         2008-09
     Supercopa de España: 3
         2009, 2010, 2011
     UEFA Champions League: 2
         2008-09, 2010-11
     UEFA Super Cup: 2
         2009, 2011
     FIFA Club World Cup: 2
         2009, 2011

Individual
     UEFA Team of the Year: 1
         2007
     LFP Defender of the Year Awards: 1
         2011

Karim Benzema

Profile Football Stars | Karim Benzema | Benzema has represented France at one major international tournament: UEFA Euro 2008. Benzema was born in the city of Lyon beginning his football career with local club Terraillon.  Bron. In the 2007-08 season, Benzema Became a starter and had a breakthrough year scoring over 30 goals as Lyon won its seventh straight league title. After another season at Lyon, in July 2009, Benzema signed a six-year contract with Spanish outfit Real Madrid. After struggling to Establish Himself in his debut season with the club, in the 2010-11 season, reached prominence Benzema scoring 26 goals en-route to Helping Real Madrid win the Copa del Rey. Prior to playing for the senior team, he played on the under-17 team won the 2004 UEFA That European Under-17 Football Championship. On his debut, he scored his first international goal in a 1-0 win.

Benzema was born in Lyon, to parents of Algerian descent. Benzema is a graduate of the Lyon academy. Benzema Quickly ascended up the ranks scoring 38 goals in one season with Lyon's under-16 team and scoring 12 goals in 14 matches with the under-18 team before earning a call up to the senior squad by manager Paul Le Guen. Lyon won the match 2-0 with Benzema Providing the assists on the second goal scored by Bryan Bergougnoux. Despite losing the title, Benzema got back on track scoring his 15th and 16th goals of the season on 17 May in a 3-1 away victory over rivals Marseille, the first goal being a penalty.

On 24 August, Benzema netted two goals in Real Madrid's 4-0 victory over Norwegian club Rosenborg in an annual friendly tournament organized for the Santiago Bernabeu Trophy. On 10 December 2011, Benzema scored the fastest ever El Clásico goal, just 22 seconds into the game but eventually the Opposing team, FC Barcelona, scored three goals (Alexis, Xavi and Cesc), ending with Real Madrid losing the game, with Karim's goal as the only one for the team.

In the tournament, the which was played on home soil, Benzema scored one goal against Northern Ireland in the group stage. Benzema made only five appearances with the team scoring no goals. Alongside Yoann Gourcuff, Benzema led the team in scoring in qualifying for UEFA Euro 2012 netting three. He scored his three goals in wins over Bosnia and Herzegovina, Luxembourg, and Albania. On 17 November 2010, Benzema scored the opening goal in France's 2-1 win over England at Wembley Stadium.

Personal information
Full name Karim Benzema
Date of birth 19 December 1987 (age 24)
Place of birth Lyon, France
Height 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in)
Playing position Striker

Club information
Current club Real Madrid
Number 9

Youth career1995 - 1996 SC Bron Terraillon
1996 - 2004 Lyon

Senior career
years Team
2004 - 2009 Lyon 112 (43)
2009 - Real Madrid 82 (36)

National team
2004 France U17 2 (1)
2004 - 2005 France U18 16 (14)
2005 - 2006 France U19 8 (4)
2006 - 2007 France U21 5 (0)
2007 - France 42 (13)

Honours

Club
France Lyon
     Ligue 1 (4): 2004-05, 2005-06, 2006-07, 2007-08
     Coupe de France (1): 2007-08
     Trophée des Champions (2): 2006, 2007


Real Madrid
     Copa del Rey (1): 2010-11

France U-17
     UEFA European Under-17 Football Championship (1): 2004

Individual
     Bravo Award (1): 2008
     Ligue 1 Top Goalscorer (1): 2007-08
     UNFP Ligue 1 Player of the Year (1): 2007-08
     UNFP Ligue 1 Team of the Year (1): 2007-08
     French Player of the Year (1): 2011

Hatem Ben Arfa

Profile Football Stars | Hatem Ben Arfa | Ben Arfa started his career throughout Various clubs in the Île-de-France region, having Trained at AC Boulogne-Billancourt and Versailles. Hatem Ben Arfa is a French association football player plays for English club WHO Newcastle United in the Premier League.  Ben Arfa is a former French youth international having played at all levels. Ben Arfa was called up to the senior team for the first time in October 2007 for a UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying match against the Faroe Islands.

Ben Arfa was born in Clamart, a suburb of Paris Southwestern. His father is Kamel Ben Arfa, a former Tunisian international football player. Ben Arfa began training at ASV Châtenay-Malabry. In 1998, Ben Arfa moved to sporting club AC Boulogne-Billancourt. While training at Clairefontaine during the weekdays, Ben Arfa played for FC Versailles on the weekends

On 27 August 2010, Ben Arfa Agreed to personal terms with Newcastle and, the Following day, the club confirmed it had signed That Ben Arfa on a season-long loan.  Ben Arfa spent most of his rehabilitation in his home city of Paris recuperating at the Clairefontaine academy. On 23 February, Newcastle manager Alan Pardew confirmed Ben Arfa That Could was running and return to the team in April. Ben Arfa returned to training with Newcastle on April 5.

He Ben Arfa Ultimately failed to the make any more appearances with the team in the 2010-11 season. After continuing his rehabilitation during the summer, ahead of the 2011-12 season, Ben Arfa began participating in friendly matches with the senior team. Ben Arfa ventured back to his home country to rehab the injury and returned to Newcastle on 18 September. Ben Arfa made his season debut in the match against Nottingham Forest Appearing as a substitute.  On 7 January 2012, Ben Arfa scored Newcastle's opening goal in its FA Cup third round tie against Blackburn Rovers.

Ben Arfa was, however, omitted from Domenech's final 23-man Euro 2008 squad on 28 May. After going nearly two years without representing France internationally, on 5 August 2010, Ben Arfa was called up to the senior team by new manager Laurent Blanc for the team's friendly match against Norway on 11 August 2010. Ben Arfa made his return to the team in the match Appearing as a half-time substitute for Moussa Sissoko.

Personal information
Full name Hatem Ben Arfa
Date of birth 7 March 1987 (age 24)
Place of birth Clamart, France
Height 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Playing position Winger

Club information
Current club Newcastle United
Number 10

Youth career
1994-1996 ASV Châtenay-Malabry
CF 92 1996-1998 Montrouge
1998-1999 AC Boulogne-Billancourt
INF Clairefontaine 1999-2002
2002-2004 Lyon

Senior career
years Team
2004-2008 Lyon 64 (7)
Marseille 2008-2011 63 (9)
2010-2011 Newcastle United (loan) 4 (1)
2011 - Newcastle United 14 (2)

National team
2002-2003 France U16 10 (7)
2003-2004 France U17 17 (11)
2005 France U18 4 (0)
2005-2006 France U19 6 (1)
2007 France U21 4 (0)
2007 - France 8 (2)

Honours

Club
Lyon
     Ligue 1 (4): 2004-05, 2005-06, 2006-07, 2007-08
     Coupe de France (1): 2007-08
     Trophée des champions (2): 2005-06, 2006-07

Marseille
     Ligue 1 (1): 2009-10
     Coupe de la Ligue (1): 2009-10

France
     UEFA European Under-17 Football Championship (1): 2004

Individual
     UNFP Young Player of the Year (1): 2007-08
     UNFP Player of the Month (1): February 2010