THE BEST SOCCER PLAYERS

Lionel Andrés Messi has been named the FIFA World Player of the Year. The Argentina and Barcelona striker won the award for the first time for helping his Spain club win an record six trophies, including the Champions League and the La Liga title. The 22-year-old beat last year's winner Cristiano Ronaldo, Brazil midfielder Kaka, and his two club mates Andres Iniesta and Xavi Hernandez. He was presented with the trophy at an awards ceremony in Zurich. Messi said, “I'm really happy. We've just ended a historic year, a perfect year in which we've won every competition we've played in. We just needed to take this last step and everything has worked out how we wanted. It's amazing.” Lionel Messi was born 24 June 1987 in Rosario, Argentina, to parents Jorge Messi. His paternal family originates from the Italian city of Ancona where his ancestor, Angelo Messi, emigrated to Argentina in 1883. At the age of 8, Messi played to Newell's Old Boys who were based in Rosar

LIONEL MESSI reckons that Manchester United will risk humiliation if they opt to go toe to toe with Barcelona in the Champions League final. The Barca superstar admits he is after revenge for last year's semi-final defeat by the eventual champions. Back then, the Catalan giants had almost 70 per cent possession over the two legs. But they could not break down United's defensive wall and Paul Scholes' screamer put Alex Ferguson's men through. Messi told SunSport: "I don't think Manchester will play like that again. They have players to play football and will be a bit more open. "We're the best team in Europe in an open game and this will give us the advantage. If they come out to play it will be a beautiful game - and I hope it will benefit us. "I remember last year's semi-final. They were two evenly-matched games, very tight. The tie was decided by the great goal they scored." Back on May 2, Barcelona thumped Real Madrid 6-2 at the Bernab

Cristiano Ronaldo has provided Manchester United with a late injury scare ahead of the UEFA Champions League final after requiring treatment in training. The Portuguese winger needed strapping on his ankle during Tuesday evening's training session at the Stadio Olimpico. Ronaldo, who missed the start of the season after undergoing ankle surgery, is expected to be fit for Wednesday's showpiece in Rome. The 24-year-old is likely to start up front against Barcelona, with Wayne Rooney and Park Ji-sung tipped to provide support from wide. Nemanja Vidic was also photographed during the session holding his hamstring, but United have confirmed the Serbian is fit. Vidic's central defensive partner Rio Ferdinand has also declared himself fit to start the final after a recent absence due to a calf injury. Source: SkySports.com

ZURICH (AFP) – Manchester United and Portugal star Cristiano Ronaldo was on Monday named FIFA World Footballer of the Year for 2008. Ronaldo, who is also holder of the prestigious Ballon d'Or for the European Footballer of the Year, beat off competition from 2007 winner Kaka (Brazil), Lionel Messi (Argentina), Fernando Torres (Spain) and Xavi (Spain). "It's an overwhelming moment in my career and I'd like to dedicate this award to my family, friends and colleagues," he said. "Winning the Champions League for me was the most memorable moment of 2008," added Ronaldo, who scored in the final but missed a penalty in the penalty shootout against Chelsea. Ronaldo went out of his way to heap praise on United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, with whom relations became strained during last summer over whether he was going to leave the club for Real Madrid. "It's also true that the manager always has an important role to play," said Ronaldo. "It was

Francesc Fàbregas Soler has decided not to require surgery on his injured knee. Sky Sports Arsenal captain has visited a specialist in Barcelona to determine the full extent of the setback he suffered against Liverpool . reported, the According to Arsenal official website, Cesc Fabregas will be out for "three to four months" after suffering a serious knee injury against Liverpool on Sunday. The Spanish midfielder suffered a partial rupture of his medial knee ligaments just before half-time in Sunday’s Premier League game with Liverpool . The 21-year-old will not require surgery but the injury is likely to keep him out for around four months." After consulting with the best doctor possible, we've decided not to operate," Fabregas was quoted as saying in Marca. He said, the doctor didn't recommended him to do it because he is still young and the meniscus is not damaged. The Arsenal captain was hurt in a challenge with his Spanish t

By: IAN McGARRY / The Sun CHELSEA have a lot to thank Gianfranco Zola for — and the emergence of John Terry is one of them. And when the new West Ham boss is applauded on his return to Stamford Bridge tomorrow, Terry is one who will join in. The Blues skipper spent hours doing extra training with Zola when he was a young defender and is grateful to the Italian for setting a sparkling example as a pro. But now Terry is writing his own chapter in Chelsea’s book of legends and coach Ray Wilkins has tipped him to eclipse Zola. Wilkins said, “If I was to pick one of the current players who might surpass Franco in the future I’d say John Terry. “John just epitomises what we’re about. He’s professional, he’s a one-club player and I’d imagine in 10 years’ time when they have their next poll of greatest ever players, John would be the one who sits at the top.” Wilkins, a Chelsea legend himself, reckons that the current skipper would not be the player he is without Zola’s influence. He said, “Wh

Klaas Jan Huntelaar cannot wait to link up with his new Real Madrid team-mates as he prepares to put the finishing touches on his big-money move from Ajax. Madrid had been chasing Huntelaar for the last two years but finally got their man when they agreed a deal with Ajax for the 25-year-old that could rise to 27million euros. Huntelaar, who will be available for Madrid in January providing he successfully overcomes his ankle injury and passes a medical, is set to become the eighth Dutchman to make the move to the Bernabeu, of which five will be his team-mates later this season. One of those, Wesley Sneijder, was quick to congratulate his former Ajax team-mate on the move, with Huntelaar revealing: "Sneijder was the first and then the others called me. It`s a dream come true and they`ve already told me to play at Madrid is the best for a footballer. "I'm very happy right now, I suppose I will be even happier when I arrive at Madrid and can be with my new team-mates. "

Manchester United star, Cristiano Ronaldo, may be miss Champions League game versus Spanish club Real Villarreal at Tuesday (Nov. 25). The Portugal's player had a leg injuury when United draw 0-0 with Aston Villa, Saturday night. "His leg is in a mess. He is doubtful for Tuesday," said Alex Ferguson, United's manager. Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro was born at 5 February 1985 in Funchal, Madeira (Portugal), to Maria Dolores dos Santos Aveiro and José Dinis Aveiro. He plays primarily as a right winger. But he has also been used both in a central attacking role and as a second striker. Ronaldo has undergo ankle surgery at the Academic Medical Center in Amsterdam on 7 July. He returned play for United on 17 September in Champions League with Villarreal as a substitute. He scored his 100th and 101st goals in all competitions for Manchester United in a 5–0 win over Stoke City on 15 November 2008, both from free kicks. Read Cristiano Ronaldo profile at: http://en.wikip

Real Madrid's striker Gonzalo Higuain will miss Champions League match against Belarussian, BATE Borisov at Tuesday, after suffering a sprained ankle. Higuain sprained his left ankle in Satuday's match against Recreativo Huelva, the club said in a statement Sunday. The Argentine forward will undergo physiotherapy aimed at achieving a rapid recovery. Higuain is top scorer in the Primera Liga this season with nine goals. Real is already miss several key players for the match, notably Dutch striker Ruud van Nistelrooy, who is out until the end of the season following a kneee operation. Real Madrid is second in its Champions League group H, four points behind Italian club Juventus, which has already qualified for the quarter-finals. Gonzalo Gerardo Higuaín was born at December 10, 1987 in Brest, Finistère, France. His father, professional Argentine footballer Jorge "El Pipa" Higuaín, was playing for Brest, at that time in the French Ligue 1. Higuain having left France at

WILLIAM GALLAS has 10 million reasons to say sorry to his Arsenal team-mates. The French ace is on a megabucks deal which will see him earn £10m between now and 2011. But that could go up in smoke unless he apologises for publicly criticising his Emirates team-mates. If he does, the door is open for the 31-year-old defender to make a sensational return in tomorrow’s Champions League clash against Ukraine side Dynamo Kiev. If he does not, he will probably have to ship out. Gallas was monstered by boss Arsene Wenger AND stripped of the captaincy for betraying dressing-room secrets, as SunSport reported on Friday. He was also left back home in London as Arsenal crashed 3-0 at Manchester City on Saturday. Wenger insists Gallas must grovel in the dressing room before he plays for the Gunners again. But that is not out of the question. Gallas knows his career in the Premier League will be over if he refuses to back down. He is earning £80,000 a week on a contract that runs until 2011. That