The Top 10 soccer players of all time!

By: Matthew Medina

Golden Valley High School

Santa Clarita, California

Lionel Messi

• Lionel Messi is from Argentina and plays for FC Barcelona. He is a Forward and the best player in the world. The top scorer in UEFA( Union of European Football Association) Champions League in 2008-09, he has the most goals to his credit for this season representing Barcelona.

Cristiano Ronaldo

• Cristiano Rinaldo is from Portugal and plays on Real Madrid as a Forward. He is so good that he broke a lot of his own records throughout 2008. During 2007-2008 he made 42 goals all together.

• He has also become a fashion celebrity.

Wayne Rooney

• Wayne Rooney is from England and plays for Manchester United as a forward. He is known for being a good shooter. He is known for taking a shot from anywhere on the field.

KaKa

• He is from Brazil and plays for Real Madrid as a Midfielder. Before he was on this team, he was on a different team called AC Milan. He is known for being able to dribble the ball and taking on a lot of defenders. Sadly, due to recent knee injuries he can’t play as well as he use to.

Xavi Hernandez

• Xavi Hernandez is from Spain

and plays on Barcelona as a Midfielder. He has been with this team since 1991, and will continue playing for Barcelona till 2014, following his contract. He is not as good as the other players at running, or taking a shot on goal, but he is the best on the team when it comes to passing.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic

• Zlatan is from Sweden and plays on AC Milan as a foreward. He is known for scoring a goal in a matter of seconds when they are in desperate need of a goal.

Steven Gerrard

• Steven is from England and plays for Liverpool as a Midfielder. He was recognized as being the best player on the team, so he is now the captain of the team. He has also won a lot of rewards.

Samuel Eto’o

• Samuel is from Cameroon and plays for Inter as a forward. He is 28 years old and has already been to 4 World Cups. He has been part of the Cameroon team since he was 14.

Didier Drogba

• Didier is from Ivory Coast and plays for Chelsea as a forward. He joined the team at the age of 26. He is a high goal scorer, only second to Wayne Rooney.

Andres Iniesta

• Andres Iniesta is from Spain and plays for Barcelona as a Midfielder. He is known for his ability to get past defense, and for shooting right on target to the goal.

Glossary

• Defender ( Fullbacks)- The players who are defending the goal that is under attack. Midfielders, for example, also often drop back to defend. In a broader sense, when your team loses the ball, the players closest to the ball should try to steal it back. In this case even the Forwards might be defenders.

• Forward - Primary scorers who play closest to the other

team's goal. The Right Forward ("RF") is the one on the right facing the other teams goal; LF is on the left, & CF is center. Most formations will have 2 or 3 forwards.

• Mid- Fielder- Play between Forwards & Fullbacks. Must support the Forwards & also support the Fullbacks. Used to be called "linkmen" because they link the Fullbacks & Forwards.