Michael Essien (born December 3, 1982 in Accra) is a Ghanaian International footballer. He currently plays for Chelsea in the English Premier League. He is a central midfielder and plays as a deep-lying playmaker for the "Black Stars", the Ghana national football team.

Danny Szetela (born June 7, 1987 in Passaic, New Jersey), is an American soccer player, currently one of the best young American prospects. He plays for the Columbus Crew of Major League Soccer. Szetela graduated from USSF's Bradenton Academy in 2003 and burst onto the world's stage during the Under-17 World Cup in Finland. The second-youngest player on the United States roster, he started every game for the Americans.

Carlos Bocanegra (born May 25, 1979) is an American soccer (football) player who currently plays for Fulham of the English Premiership. Although he was primarily a center back at the beginning of his pro career with the Chicago Fire of Major League Soccer, he has also seen time at left back with Fulham and the U.S. national team.

Sacha Kljestan (born September 9, 1985 in Anaheim, California) is an American soccer midfielder, who currently plays for C.D. Chivas USA of Major League Soccer. Kljestan played for the Region IV Olympic Development Program team. He then played three years college soccer at Seton Hall University. He was named first team All-American in 2004 and earned third team honors in 2005.

Oguchialu Chilioke "Oguchi" Onyewu or "Gooch" (born May 13, 1982 in Washington, D.C.) is an American soccer player who plays in defense for Standard Liège and the United States. Onyewu's parents moved to the United States from Nigeria to attend Howard University in Washington, D.C. Onyewu has two brothers, Uche and Nonye, and two sisters, Chi-Chi and Ogechi. Growing up in Silver Spring and later Olney, Maryland, …

Marvell Wynne II (born May 8, 1986 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) is an American soccer defender, who currently plays for Toronto FC of Major League Soccer. Wynne attended Poway High School in Poway, California and was a letterman in soccer and track. Wynne played two years of college soccer at UCLA, where he was named first team All-American in 2005. He then signed a Generation adidas contract with MLS. Wynne was taken first overall at the 2006 MLS SuperDraft, …

Chad Barrett (born April 30, 1985 in San Diego, California) is an American soccer striker, who currently plays for the Chicago Fire of Major League Soccer. Barrett played two seasons of college soccer at UCLA, and led the team in assists his second year. He chose to forgo the rest of his college career, signing a Generation adidas contract with MLS. Chicago drafted Barrett with the third overall pick of the 2005 MLS SuperDraft.

Justin Mapp (born October 18, 1984 in Brandon, Mississippi) is an American soccer midfielder, who currently plays for the Chicago Fire in Major League Soccer. Mapp graduated from the Bradenton Academy in 2001 and signed with MLS as a Project-40 player. He was drafted by D.C. United with the fourth overall pick in the 2002 MLS SuperDraft, but played only 28 minutes for DC in his first year as a pro. The Fire acquired Mapp for Dema Kovalenko before the 2003 season, …

Nathan Sturgis (born July 6, 1987) is an American soccer midfielder who currently plays for Real Salt Lake of Major League Soccer. Sturgis is capable of playing a variety of positions in MLS and has seen action in defense and midfield. Sturgis played two years of college soccer at Clemson University, and one year with the Ajax Orlando Prospects in the USL Premier Development League.

Ricardo Clark (born February 10, 1983 in Atlanta, Georgia) is an American soccer player, who currently plays defensive midfielder for the Houston Dynamo of Major League Soccer. Clark played high school soccer at St. Pius X Catholic High School in Atlanta, Georgia, and college soccer at Furman University in 2001 and 2002, and was named a first-team All-American in his second season. After his sophomore year, he signed a Project-40 contract with MLS, …

Tim Ward (born February 28, 1987 in Waukesha, Wisconsin) is an American soccer defender who currently plays for the Columbus Crew of Major League Soccer. Ward, who can play any position on defense and also in defensive midfield, trained with the United States Under-17 team at the Bradenton Academy from 2002 to 2004. Following his graduation, he played a year of college soccer at Saint Louis University, starting 18 games for the Billikens, …

Chad Marshall (born August 22, 1984 in Riverside California) is an American soccer player, who plays central defense for the Columbus Crew in Major League Soccer. Marshall was drafted second overall in the 2004 MLS SuperDraft by the Crew, after two distinguished years playing college soccer for Stanford University. He had an exemplary first year, anchoring the Crew defense along with Robin Fraser, …

Hunter Freeman (born January 8, 1985 in Tyler, Texas) is an American soccer defender for Red Bull New York of Major League Soccer. As a teenager, Freeman trained in residency at the United States Soccer Federation's Bradenton Academy with the United States Under-17 national team. Upon graduating, he attended the University of Virginia, where he played college soccer from 2002 and 2004. Freeman led the nation in his junior season with 21 assists, …

Drew Moor (born January 15, 1984 in Dallas, Texas) is an American soccer defender, who currently plays for FC Dallas of Major League Soccer. Drew Moor attended the Episcopal School of Dallas. Moor played college soccer for Furman University in 2002, before transferring to Indiana University, where he played for two seasons. He started every game during his college career and helped the Hoosiers to back-to-back National Championships.

Nick Rimando (born June 17, 1979 in Montclair, California) is an American soccer goalkeeper who currently plays for Real Salt Lake of Major League Soccer. Rimando played two years of college soccer at UCLA. Prior to playing at UCLA, Nick played high school soccer at Montclair High School in Montclair, California. As a rookie in 1997, he tended goal as the Bruins won the College Cup; after his sophomore year, he signed a Project-40 contract with MLS.

Will John (born June 13, 1985 in Overland Park, Kansas) is an American soccer player who currently plays for the Kansas City Wizards of Major League Soccer. John played high school soccer at Rockhurst High School in Kansas City, Missouri, college soccer at Saint Louis University, and in the USL Premier Development League for Kansas City Brass. He was drafted by the Chicago Fire in the second round of the 2005 MLS SuperDraft.

Conor Patrick Casey (born July 25, 1981 in Dover, New Hampshire) is an American soccer player. He is currently playing in Major League Soccer with the Colorado Rapids. Casey grew up in Denver, Colorado, where he played soccer at South High School. He went on to play two years of college soccer at the University of Portland for legendary coach Clive Charles, from 1999 to 2000. In his first year at Portland, Casey was named Soccer America's Freshman of the Year.

Kelly Lawrence Kirmil Gray (born April 7, 1981 in Palo Alto, California) is an American soccer defender, who currently plays for Los Angeles of Major League Soccer. Gray played forward and midfielder at the University of Portland from 1999 to 2001. He scored a total of 32 goals and 12 assists in his three years for the Pilots and was voted a second-team All-American and first-team All-WCC as a junior. After his junior season, Gray signed a Project-40 contract with MLS, …

Will Johnson (born on January 21, 1987, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada) is a striker for the Canadian national soccer team and with De Graafschap of the Dutch Eredivisie, on loan from SC Heerenveen. Johnson was born in Canada, moved shortly afterwards to England, where he started playing soccer. When he was 10 his family once again moved, this time to Woodridge, Illinois.

Mike Magee (born September 2, 1984 in Chicago, Illinois) is an American soccer forward/midfielder. He plays for Red Bull New York of Major League Soccer. Magee's entry into MLS does not parallel many other players; after graduating from USSF's Bradenton Academy, he tried his luck in Europe, trying out for a number of teams, including Ajax Amsterdam. Unable to get a contract, he came back to the US and entered the 2003 MLS SuperDraft, …

Delvin Christopher "D.J." Countess (born January 9, 1982, in Sacramento, California) is a soccer goalkeeper. At the age of 24, D.J. Countess has established himself as a premier young goalkeeper in the United States. He has already enjoyed a very accomplished National Team career, starting a total of 72 games for the U-17'S, U-20'S and U-23'S.

Joseba Andoni Etxeberria Lizardi (born 5 September, 1977, in Elgoibar, Spain) is a Spanish football winger, who currently plays for Athletic Bilbao in Spain's La Liga. Etxeberria began his career with Real Sociedad in 1994, but after playing in only seven games for the first team, he moved to Athletic in a very controversial transfer that cost Athletic Bilbao over 3 million euros.

Nick Garcia (born April 9, 1979 in Plano, Texas) is an American soccer defender, who currently plays for the Kansas City Wizards of Major League Soccer. As a senior at Bishop Lynch High School in Dallas, Texas, Garcia won the 1996-97 Gatorade National Boys Socccer Player of the Year award. Garcia played college soccer at Indiana University, leading Indiana to the consecutive national titles in 1998 and 1999, and was named All-American in his final season.

Paulo Manuel Carvalho Sousa, <small>CavIH</small&gt; (born August 30, 1970 in Viseu; pron.) is a former Portuguese football (soccer) defensive midfielder. On the club level, Paulo Sousa played for Benfica (1989-93), Sporting (1993-94), Juventus (1994-96), Borussia Dortmund (1996-98), Inter Milan (1998-99), Parma (2000), Panathinaikos (2000-01) and Espanyol (2002). He won the Champions League twice, with Juventus in 1996 and Dortmund in 1997.

Rodrigo Archubi is an Argentine football midfielder. He was born on June 6 1985, in the city of Remedios de Escalada in the Buenos Aires Province of Argentina. He currently plays for Club Atlético Lanús of the Primera Division Argentina. In 2005 Archubi was part of the Argentina Under-20 team that won the FIFA World Youth Championship.class="wikitable" !Season !Club !Title |- |2005|| Argentina Under-20|| World Youth Championship

Razak Omotoyossi (born 8 October, 1985) is a Beninese football player. The striker signed for Helsingborgs IF in 2007, leaving FC Sheriff in Moldova. Among other achievements, Omotoyossi scored the first ever goal for Benin in the World Youth Championship, and equalized for Sheriff in injury time against FC Spartak Moscow in the second qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League.. He was signed to Sheriff, the top Moldovan club, in November 2005.

Robert Prosinečki is a Croatian former football midfielder.

Francisco Gomez (born January 25, 1979 in Watsonville, California) is an American soccer player, who is currently the player-coach of Bakersfield Brigade of the USL Premier Development League. Gomez joined the Kansas City Wizards in 1999, after playing briefly with the California Jaguars of the A-League. He saw little playing time in his first two years, however - as a rookie, he appeared in only seven games, scoring one goal, …

Troy Dayak (born January 21, 1971 in Walnut Creek, California) is a former American soccer player who played as central defender. He spent his entire Major League Soccer career with the San Jose Earthquakes. Dayak (nicknamed "Cowboy") had a notable youth soccer career playing in the U-16, U-20 and U-23 United States national soccer teams. He was part of the U-20 team to place fourth in the World Youth Championship in Saudi Arabia.

Brian William Dunseth (born March 2, 1977 in Upland, California) is an American soccer player. Dunseth played college soccer at Cal State-Fullerton, and was one of the first players to sign a Project-40 contract, doing so in 1997. He was assigned to the New England Revolution and spent the next four and a half seasons there, before being traded to the Miami Fusion midway through 2001.

Philip Preston Jr. Salyer (born October 30, 1981) is an American soccer player, who last played left defender for F.C. Dallas of Major League Soccer. Salyer played college soccer for the University of Maryland in the fall of 2000 and 2001, starting 40 games and registering 6 goals and 6 assists. After his sophomore season, Salyer left Maryland, choosing to play for reserve team of Bundesliga club Werder Bremen, with whom he signed January 17, 2001.

Ramón Núñez is a Honduran soccer (football) player, who currently plays central midfielder for FC Dallas of Major League Soccer. Núñez grew up in the United States, coming with his family on his father's investor visa in the early 1990s and graduating from W. T. White High School in Dallas, Texas.

Edison Cavani is an Uruguayan football striker. He was born on February 14 1987, in the city of Salto in Uruguay. Cavani moved to Montevideo when he was 12 years old. He came through the youth system at Danubio F.C. to make his debut for the first team in 2006. He was part of the Apertura 2006 championship winning squad.

Erick Scott Bernard is a Costa Rican soccer player, who currently plays for Marathón. Scott joined the Columbus Crew of Major League Soccer on loan in March 2004, after several exceptional years with Alajuelense, with whom he had played since May 2001. Scott scored 13 goals in the 2001-2 season, and another 20 in the 2002-3 season, propelling LDA to two straight league titles.

Jamar Beasley (born October 11, 1979 in Fort Wayne, Indiana) is an American soccer player who currently plays for the Detroit Ignition of the Major Indoor Soccer League. The promising young player who had at one point trained with A.C. Milan, but due to an excessive nightlife washed out of Major League Soccer, is currently enjoying a comeback in indoor soccer. Beasley began his professional career in 1998, as a member Major League Soccer's Project-40, …

Paulo Lourenço Martins Alves, commonly shortened to Paulo Alves is a Portuguese former footballer and current manager of Gil Vicente, in the Portuguese Liga de Honra. As a player, Alves joined Porto as a 17 year old. He was a member of the Portugal side that won the World Youth Championship in 1989. During his career, he played for Gil Vicente (twice), Tirsense, Marítimo, Sporting Braga, Sporting CP, Bastia and União Leiria.

Dean Delaney (born September 15, 1980 in Dublin, Republic of Ireland) is an Irish footballer. Delaney looked to be Ireland's most promising young goalkeeper after the 1999 World Youth Championship in which he was part of the "golden generation" of Irish youth football (which included current stars Damien Duff and Robbie Keane), a side that eventually made it to the quarter finals of the competition. Overall he made 20 appearances for the Republic of Ireland youth teams.

Isaac Romo (born March 23, 1983 in Guadalajara, Jalisco) is a Mexican soccer striker, who played for C.D. Chivas USA of Major League Soccer. Romo came to Chivas USA as one of imports from parent club Chivas de Guadalajara, and also played for their other child club, La Piedad. He played for the Mexican Under-20 team at the 2003 World Youth Championship in the United Arab Emirates. Romo was released by C.D. Chivas USA following the 2005 season.

Michael Main (born December 14, 1988, in Orlando, Florida) is a baseball pitcher at DeLand High School in DeLand, Florida. His fastball reaches 99 miles per hour and has played on four AAU national championship teams. He played on these four national AAU championship teams as a 9-, 10-, 11- and 14-year-old. In 2004 he performed superbly on multiple big stages, garnering Baseball America's praise as the top 15-year-old in its annual Baseball For the Ages feature.

Grégory Vignal is a French football player. He plays on the left of defence or midfield and is currently on loan to German second division team 1. FC Kaiserslautern from French Ligue 1 team RC Lens. Vignal began his career at his home town club, Montpellier Hérault SC. He soon established a reputation as a promising young player, and was signed by Liverpool in September 2000 for £500,000.