- Zinedine Zidane
Zinedine Yazid Zidane, popularly nicknamed Zizou, is a French former football midfielder who played for four European clubs, including Juventus FC and Real Madrid. As a member and later captain of the French national team he participated in two World Cup finals - including winning the tournament in 1998 - and in three European Championships, winning that tournament in 2000. Having gained fame in Europe as a playmaker for Juventus, …
- John Terry
John George Terry (born December 7, 1980 in Barking, London) is an English professional football player. Terry plays as a centre back and is the captain of both Chelsea in the English Premier League and the national football team of England. Terry is regarded as one of the best defenders in the world. He was voted best defender in the 2005 UEFA Champions League, PFA Players' Player of the Year in 2005, and was included in the FIFPro World XI for 2005 and 2006.
- Miroslav Klose
Miroslav Klose is a German footballer who plays as a striker. He currently plays for Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga, as well as the German national football team. He was the top scorer and thus the Golden Boot winner of the 2006 World Cup hosted by his country Germany, with 5 goals. Klose also scored 5 goals in his debut World Cup, the 2002 World Cup hosted jointly by the Korea Republic and Japan, giving him a total of 10 goals in World Cup finals.
- Francesco Totti
Francesco Totti, Cavaliere Ufficiale OMRI, (born 27 September 1976 in Rome) is an Italian football player. He plays for A.S. Roma in Serie A and for the Italian national team, with whom he won the 2006 FIFA World Cup. Francesco Totti's position is that of a striker or an attacking midfielder, though he is best known for playing as the trequartista (or second striker), a compromise between the two positions where the player acts as a link between midfield and attack.
- Luca Toni
Luca Toni, Cavaliere Ufficiale OMRI (born May 26, 1977 in Pavullo nel Frignano, Modena) is an Italian football striker who plays for FC Bayern Munich in the German Bundesliga. Something of a late bloomer who played for almost ten clubs before finally settling, Toni was also a part of the Italian winning team in the 2006 FIFA World Cup.
- Fabio Cannavaro
Fabio Cannavaro was born in Naples on the 13th of September 1973. Heâs the second of three children (the firstborn Renata and Paolo are his sister and brother). Fabio Cannavaro grew up playing for Napoli, then moved onto Parma
- Xabi Alonso
Xabier Alonso Olano, commonly known as Xabi Alonso (born 25 November 1981 in Tolosa, Basque Country Spain, is a Spanish footballer who plays for Liverpool F.C.. He wears the number 14 shirt at Liverpool and is a central midfielder, often playing as a deep-lying playmaker. Alonso has gained the reputation as being one of the best passers of the ball in the world. He also has a reputation for scoring spectacular long range goals, …
- Marco Materazzi
Marco Materazzi, Cavaliere Ufficiale OMRI, (born August 19, 1973 in Lecce) is an Italian football defender, who currently plays for Serie A club Internazionale, sometimes known as Inter Milan. He was a part of the Italian team that won the 2006 FIFA World Cup, where he was headbutted by Zinedine Zidane, after having provoked him. Materazzi is tall and uses his physique to play as a tough and hard working defender.
- Andrea Pirlo
Andrea Pirlo (born May 19, 1979), is an Italian World Cup-winning footballer. He currently plays for A.C. Milan, as well as the Italy national team. Pirlo was an important key figure of the Italian team that won the 2006 FIFA World Cup. He is known to many fans as the "Maestro" because of his talent for setting up plays.
- Guus Hiddink
Guus Hiddink (born 8 November 1946 in Varsseveld) is a Dutch football manager. He managed PSV Eindhoven between 2002-2006. Throughout his entire managerial career, he is best recognised for leading South Korea to a 4th place finish in the 2002 FIFA World Cup, managing the Netherlands into the same position in the 1998 FIFA World Cup in France, …
- Claudio Reyna
Claudio Reyna (born July 20, 1973 in Livingston, New Jersey) is an American soccer player. He was the captain of the U.S. national team before retiring from international soccer immediately following the USA's exit from the 2006 FIFA World Cup. Reyna currently plays for Red Bull New York of Major League Soccer, where he is team captain.
- Jürgen Klinsmann
Jürgen Klinsmann is a German football manager and former football player, who played for several prominent clubs in Europe and was part of the West German national team that won the 1990 FIFA World Cup. He was one of Germany's premier strikers during the 90s. He managed the German national team to a third-place finish in the 2006 World Cup, a much better result than the general expectations, including those from Germany's own fans.
- Philipp Lahm
Philipp Lahm (born November 11, 1983 in Munich, Bavaria) is a German footballer who currently plays as a defender for Bayern Munich and Germany at Euro 2004 and the 2006 FIFA World Cup. He scored the opening goal of the 2006 FIFA World Cup. He is considered one of the best young fullbacks in the world, as is shown by his inclusion in the Mastercard All Star Team. Known to be young and energetic, Lahm's pace is unbelievable, …
- Omar Bravo
Omar Bravo Tordecillas is a Mexican international Football player, specializing as a Striker, currently playing for Chivas de Guadalajara in the Primera División de México.
- Eddie Johnson
Edward "Eddie" Johnson (born 31 March 1984 in Bunnell, FL, United States) is an American soccer striker. He currently plays for Kansas City Wizards in the Major League Soccer league, and represented the United States in the 2006 FIFA World Cup. Already an established player on the US Under-17 team and having trained at the Bradenton Academy, Johnson became one of the youngest players to sign with MLS, …
- Fabio Grosso
Fabio Grosso, Cavaliere Ufficiale OMRI, (born November 28, 1977 is an Italian World Cup-winning footballer, who plays for Ligue 1 team Olympique Lyonnais and the Italian national football team.
- Roberto Donadoni
Roberto Donadoni (born September 9, 1963 in Cisano Bergamasco, Province of Bergamo, Lombardy) is an Italian football (soccer) manager and former player. He was an attacking midfielder or winger known for pace and technique. He was a pillar of the powerhouse A.C. Milan teams of the late 1980s and early 1990s and one of the pioneers of Major League Soccer, where he played two seasons for the NY/NJ MetroStars.
- Henrik Larsson
Henrik Edward Larsson MBE (born September 20, 1971 in Helsingborg, Skåne) is a Swedish footballer. Larsson is best known for seven successful years with Scottish club Celtic. He subsequently had a two-year spell at Barcelona of Spain, where he won the Champions League. Having left Barcelona in the summer of 2006, he returned to his home town club of Helsingborgs IF. He later joined Manchester United on a short term loan in January 2007, …
- Ronaldinho
Ronaldo de Assís Moreira is a Brazilian footballer, also known as Ronaldinho "Gaúcho" (due to him being from the Rio Grande do Sul state of Brazil), or simply and most commonly Ronaldinho. He became a naturalized Spanish citizen in January 2007. Ronaldinho, meaning "little Ronaldo", is better known in Brazil by the nickname Ronaldinho "Gaúcho", in order to distinguish him from Ronaldo (already called Ronaldinho in Brazil).
- Daniele de Rossi
Daniele De Rossi, Cavaliere Ufficiale OMRI, (July 24, 1983) is an Italian World Cup-winning footballer, who plays for AS Roma. Among his titles also the 2004 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship, and the bronze medal gained at 2004 Athens Olympic Games, all with the Italy national football team, are the most prestigious.
- Carles Puyol
Carles Puyol i Saforcada (born April 13, 1978 in La Pobla de Segur, Catalonia, Spain) is a Spanish footballer who is the current team captain of FC Barcelona. He is a regular in the Spanish national team. Puyol played for Spain at the 2000 Olympics, 2002 FIFA World Cup, Euro 2004 and the 2006 FIFA World Cup; Puyol has been capped over 60 times. He has also played for the unofficial Catalonia national football team in one friendly.
- Leo Beenhakker
Leo Beenhakker is an international Dutch football coach, currently the coach of the Polish national team. He has been the coach of several prestigious clubs including Ajax, Feyenoord, Real Madrid, Real Zaragoza and Club América. He has also coached the Saudi Arabian and Dutch national teams. He coached the national team of Trinidad and Tobago in the year leading up to the 2006 FIFA World Cup. Under Beenhakker's guidance the team managed to qualify for the 2006 World Cup, …
- Artur Boruc
Artur Boruc is a Polish football player. He is a goalkeeper for Celtic and also represents the Poland national football team. On July 12 2005 he signed with Celtic from the Polish club Legia Warszawa. The deal was initially a year's loan, with an option to make it permanent. It has since been made permanent, with Boruc penning a three-and-a-half year deal with Celtic until 2009. Boruc has appeared 20 times for Poland.
- Paul Robinson
Paul William Robinson (born October 15, 1979 in Beverley) is a professional footballer. He is presently the first-choice goalkeeper for Tottenham Hotspur and England. He started his career at Leeds United, for whom he made 119 appearances before transferring to Tottenham in May 2004.
- Fabien Barthez
Fabien Alain Barthez (born 28 June 1971 in Lavelanet) is a French football player who plays the position of goalkeeper.One of the best goalkeepers to play the sport, he played with the French national team, he won the 1998 FIFA World Cup and Euro 2000 and reached the final of the 2006 World Cup. He shares the record for most World Cup final clean sheets with Peter Shilton, with 10. Professionally, …
- Hidetoshi Nakata
Hidetoshi Nakata, is a Japanese former football player. He was one of the most famous Asian footballers of his generation. Nakata began his professional career in 1995 and won the Asian Football Confederation Player of the Year award in 1997 and 1998, the Scudetto with A.S. Roma in 2001, played for Japan in three FIFA World Cup tournaments(1998, 2002 and 2006) and played in the Olympics twice (1996 and 2000).
- Alberto Gilardino
Alberto Gilardino, Cavaliere Ufficiale OMRI, (born July 5 1982 in Biella, Piemonte) is an Italian World Cup-winning footballer, who is a striker for AC Milan and the Italian national team.
- Pablo Mastroeni
Pablo Mastroeni (born August 29, 1976 in Mendoza, Argentina) is an American soccer midfielder. He plays for the Colorado Rapids of Major League Soccer, of which he is its captain, and is a member of the United States national soccer team instead of the argentina national soccer team. Mastroeni moved to the United States from his native Argentina at the age of four.
- Rafael van der Vaart
Rafael Ferdinand van der Vaart (born 11 February 1983) is a Dutch footballer who captains Bundesliga side Hamburger SV and plays for the Dutch national team. Van der Vaart was born to a Spanish mother and a Dutch father in Heemskerk, in North Holland. He has scored 11 goals in 44 caps for the national team. His previous clubs were Ajax and De Kennemers in his hometown of Heemskerk. Van der Vaart played for the Netherlands in Euro 2004 and in the 2006 World Cup.
- Luís Figo
Luís Filipe Madeira Caeiro Figo, born November 4, 1972 in Lisbon, Portugal) is a Portuguese football player who is widely regarded as one of the world's top players of recent years. In his homeland Figo is considered by some second only to Eusebio as Portugal’s greatest player. He plays as a midfielder and winger, currently for Inter Milan. Known as the original Golden Boy (a name which now belongs to Cristiano Ronaldo, …
- Javier Saviola
Javier Pedro Saviola (born 11 December 1981 in Buenos Aires, Argentina) is an Argentinian professional football player, who plays for Real Madrid. His usual position is as striker. He is known for his speed and ability to score from almost any position. He has scored 10 goals in 34 games for the Argentina national team, and represented his country at the 2006 FIFA World Cup. In 2005, he was the youngest named on the FIFA 100 list of the 125 greatest living footballers.
- Sven-Göran Eriksson
Sven-Göran Eriksson is a Swedish football manager. He is currently the football manager of Manchester City after agreeing a 3-year-deal with the club. He is set to earn £2million per year plus bonuses. Eriksson is so far the only manager who was won the Double (League and Cup in the same season), in three different countries, having won it in Sweden, Portugal and Italy.
- Graham Poll
Graham Poll (born July 29, 1963 in Tring, Hertfordshire) is a former English football referee in the FA Premier League. With 26 years of experience, he was regarded as one of the most prominent referees in the Premiership, often taking charge of the highest profile games. His final domestic game in a career spanning 1544 matches was the Championship play-off final on May 28 2007 between Derby County and West Bromwich Albion. His last ever match, and his last in Europe, …
- Mauro Camoranesi
Mauro Germán Serra Camoranesi, Cavaliere Ufficiale OMRI, (born October 4, 1976 in Tandil, Argentina) is an Italo-Argentinian World Cup-winning footballer, who currently plays for Juventus football club. Camoranesi is a member of the Italy national football team and was part of the winning squad at the 2006 World Cup. He is a midfielder, and usually plays on the right wing, where he is most comfortable and effective.
- Horacio Elizondo
Horacio Marcelo Elizondo is a former Argentine international football referee best known for officiating the opening and final matches of the 2006 World Cup. Having achieved all his goals in refereeing, Elizondo retired after the December 10th match between Boca Juniors and Lanús, 6 years before the compulsory retirement age.
- Dick Advocaat
Richard Advocaat (born September 27, 1947 in The Hague, Netherlands) is the Dutch coach of the Russian pro soccer team Zenit. He has served as coach of his native Dutch national football team and more recently as the chief of South Korea national football team, earning the team's first World Cup win on away soil in the 2006 FIFA World Cup finals against Togo and drawing against veterans France. Korea failed to make it into the round of 16 after a loss against Switzerland.
- Tranquillo Barnetta
Tranquillo Barnetta (born 22 May 1985 in St. Gallen) is a Swiss football player who currently plays as a midfielder for Bayer Leverkusen. His father and mother are Italian but he grew up near by St. Gallen, Switzerland and has played since 21 for the Swiss national team. Barnetta started his career with FC St. Gallen in Switzerland, but he was soon snapped up by the German side Leverkusen. He has also enjoyed a loan spell at Hannover 96.
- Marcos Senna
Marcos Antonio Senna da Silva is a Brazilian-Spanish football player for Villarreal who plays in midfield. Senna plays for Villarreal CF, and since moving to the club from Sao Caetano in 2002 has helped them as far as the Champions League semi-finals. He has recently been granted Spanish citizenship, and was part of the Spanish squad for the 2006 FIFA World Cup despite being Brazilian by birth.
- Willy Sagnol
William "Willy" Sagnol is a French international Defender currently playing for Bayern Munich in Germany's Bundesliga. He was part of the French squad at the 1997 FIFA World Youth Championship, 2002 World Cup, Euro 2004 and 2006 World Cup. He is considered as one of the best right backs in professional football.
- Lucas Neill
Lucas Edward Neill (born March 9, 1978 in Sydney, Australia) is an Australian football (soccer) player who currently plays for West Ham United, and most often plays at right-back or centre-back. He is a regular member of the Australian national team and was a member of the Australian squad which competed in the 2006 FIFA World Cup.