THE BEST SOCCER PLAYERS

Arsenal star Cesc Fabregas is "100 per cent" confident he will be fit to play for Spain at the World Cup. Fabregas has been out of action since suffering a cracked bone in his fibula during the 2-2 draw with Barcelona on 31st March. The classy midfielder has been ruled out for the rest of the season, but Fabregas is confident of recovering in time to make Spain's squad. Fabregas is set to visit a specialist in London next week, with the player expecting to then step up his rehabilitation work ahead of Spain's opening match in South Africa, against Switzerland at Durban on 16th June. Writing his captain's notes in the Arsenal match programme for the Premier League game against Manchester City, Fabregas said: "I am back in Spain at the moment, but will return to London for a specialist appointment and routine scan in the next few days. "I will be at the last [Arsenal] game of the season, of course, because all the players will go on a

Wayne Rooney, who is expected to be crowned the PFA player-of-the-year on Sunday evening, has hailed Lionel Messi as the best player in the world. The Manchester United star, who will miss the remainder of the Premier League campaign with a groin injury, has scored 34 goals this season and elevated himself amongst the world's best players. However, having watched Barcelona star Messi at close quarters, Rooney himself feels Messi is the outstanding star of this generation. "It's nice that people put me up there but I think Lionel Messi is the best in the world," he told United Review. "The things he can do with the ball are unbelievable and he is scoring a lot of goals as well. "He has been fantastic again this year. He is the best player in the world." Rooney is the clear favourite to win the PFA player-of-the-year and he is also nominated for a third triumph in the young player category as well. The 24-year-old could become only the third pla

Liverpool striker Fernando Torres fears a lengthy spell in the Premier League could result in chronic long-term injuries. Torres is currently ruled out for the season with a reoccurring knee problem that has also limited him to just 22 appearances this season, although he has still scored 18 goals. The Spanish international, who expects to be fit in time for the World Cup, is concerned at the physical toll of the English top-flight and is amazed that players like Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard have performed at such a high level for so long. "The Premier League is such a tough competition and I have always admired this championship and the players who are here," Torres told the News of the World. "This is my third season and I'm still amazed to see Gerrard, Rooney and Lampard, players who have been here a long time, still playing at such a high level and with such impressive rhythm because the English league really wears down a player. "I just can

Portugal winger Nani has signed a new four-year contract with Manchester United, the England giant club. His impressive form this season has made MU a deal that will keep him at Old Trafford until 2014. Nani had been the subject of plenty of criticism after failing to live up to his £17 million price tag since moving to United in 2007, but he has proved his worth over the past few months - producing a number of scintillating displays, including a man of the match performance in the 3-1 over Arsenal. Nani had been the person of plenty of criticism after deteriorating to live up to his £17 million rate since moving to MU in 2007, but he has proved his value over the past few months - producing a sort of brilliant displays, including a man of the match action in the 3-1 triumph over Arsenal. "Nani is an emerging talent in this team and has developed greatly since joining the club," United coach Sir Alex Ferguson told the club's official website. "We ar

Long considered to be the ‘next Zidane’ by fans in France, Algerian playmaker Mourad Meghni appears to finally coping with this weighty expectation and is currently pushing hard for a place in Algeria’s squad for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Barring another injury like the ones that have blighted his career so far – his delicate frame has done him no favours in that regard – it is more than likely that Meghni will be showing off his skills in South Africa this June. Nearly ten years ago it was in French colours that the promising attacking midfielder played first impressed on the world stage, helping the country of his birth to secure the FIFA U-17 World Championship in Trinidad and Tobago in 2001. The Caribbean adventure was one of many successes achieved by this golden generation of French footballers, who had already reached the final of the UEFA European U-17 Championship the year before, and were destined to go on to win the prestigious Toulon U-21 international tourn

Park Ji-sung headed Manchester United back to the Premier League as the champion from behind to beat Liverpool 2-1 on Sunday. Park’s 60th-minute goal restored United’s two-point lead over Arsenal. Park Ji-Sung is a South Korean professional footballer who moved to MU at 2005 from PSV Eindhoven (Netherland). Now he is the captain of the South Korean national team. Park Ji-sung is one of stars of the South Korean team that finished fourth at the 2002 FIFA World Cup. After the World Cup, Park joined the coach Guus Hiddink go to PSV Eindhoven. As a member of the South Korean national team, Park has won 84 caps and scored 11 goals. Adapting to the English Premiership is Park's biggest test, but he has impressed everybody at the club so far. His pedigree on the European stage, however, is already proven. Park Ji-Sung profile: • Born: 25 February 1981, Seoul, South Korea • Signed: 8 July 2005, from PSV Eindhoven • Other Previous Clubs: Kyoto Purple Sanga • Debut: 9 Augu

Liverpool’s striker Fernando Torres has admitted he will think about his future at Liverpool if the club do not buy the players needed to turn them into Premier League contenders. Liverpool are currently sixth place in table having played more games than all of their main rivals for the fourth Champions League berth. The Reds forward has been part of a side that has had a disappointing campaign so far – Monday’s defeat at Wigan dented their chances of a top-four Premier League finish and a 1-0 reverse to Lille in the Europa League on Thursday leaves them with a tough task of progressing into the next round. Many have speculated that Liverpool’s key players could leave Anfield if they do not qualify for next season’s UEFA Champions League, but Torres has played down such reports. However, the 25-year-old, who has scored 13 league goals in 18 appearances so far this term, says that Rafa Benitez needs to bring in more quality players to bolster the squad. When asked by Spanish n

Wayne Rooney returned to inspire Manchester United victory. Two goal through header in the second half drowned Italian giants AC Milan in their own cage, Giuseppe Meazza Stadion, San Siro Milan, on Tuesday (Feb. 16). The England superstar was originally seemed frustrated throughout the first half, especially on two colleagues, Nani and Darren Fletcher, who failed to give him good passes. But after Antonio Valencia replaced Nani in the second half, things changed 180 degrees. Valencia able to indulge Rooney with well passes, where Rooney scored a goal with one of them. “I was very frustrated in the first half,” Rooney said. “Some people were not doing their jobs right and I let my feelings be known. We learned from that and won the game, which I am pleased about.” Rooney lead the comeback of his team with two great headers that Ferguson compared him to Lionel Messi, Kaka and Cristiano Ronaldo as the world's elite footballers. “Wayne Rooney, in the­second half, continued his recent f