Cristiano Ronaldo – Portugal
Cristiano Ronaldo has blossomed in 2008, equaling the Premier League record of 31 goals in a 38-match season and scoring a total of 42 goals for Manchester United in all competitions.
Ronaldo is currently the biggest name in world football and scored an impressive 8 goals in qualifying. Although he is not your typical playmaker, Ronaldo provides the heartbeat for any team he plays in. His scything runs cutting in from either flank create terror in defenses and he is lethal with both feet and in the air.
Ronaldo’s wicked, dipping free kicks are legendary, while his mere presence creates extra space and time for his teammates.
As of June 6, 2008, Ronaldo has scored 20 goals in 52 games for Portugal, and is a leading contender for the golden boot at Euro 2008.
He is one of only two players to be named in the Professional Footballers Association (PFA) Premier League Team of the Year for the last 3 seasons, and he is also the first player to win all 3 PFA awards in one season.
Andrea Pirlo – Italy
Pirlo is one of the most gifted passers in world football and with Gennaro Gattuso forms a formidable defensive midfield partnership for AC Milan and Italy. The brains to Gattuso’s brawn, Pirlo thrives in a deep-seated playmaking role.
His deadball delivery is lethal – in the 2006 World Cup Final it was his corner that led to Marco Materazzi’s equalizing header against France.
Pirlo is a man for the big occasion. He was named Man of the Match in 3 of Italy’s 7 World Cup matches in 2006, including the semi-final and final, more than any other player, and was voted the tournament’s third best player behind Zinedine Zidane and Fabio Cannavaro.
In 2007, Pirlo was nominated for the FIFA World Player of the Year Award, and the last of his 6 international goals came last year in qualifying against Georgia.
Pirlo previously captained Italy U-21s to the 2000 European Championship title, finishing as the tournament’s top scorer with 3 goals.
Fransesc Fabregas – Spain
In 2008, Fabregas was nominated for both the PFA Player and Young Player of the Year awards for the second season in a row, winning the latter award.
Still just 21, Fabregas has long been earmarked for international greatness. At the 2003 FIFA U-17 World Championship in Finland, Fabregas finished as top scorer and was voted player of the tournament as Spain finished runners-up to Brazil.
In 2006, at the age of 19, he became the youngest Spaniard to play at the World Cup and was nominated for Young Player of the Tournament.
Fabregas, who continues to display a maturity that belies his tender age, is a silky playmaker whose incredible passing range is characterized by finesse and creativity, while he is also a dangerous deadball specialist.
Michael Ballack – Germany
Ballack debuted for the German national side in 1999. At the 2002 FIFA World Cup he scored 2 goals in the knockout phases but was suspended for the final as Germany lost to Brazil.
Known for his strength, precision passing, deadly shot and aerial ability, Ballack is a formidable opponent. He has scored 36 goals in 81 international appearances, including a goal every 2 games in competitive internationals (20 in 40 games).
The midfield general was given the national captaincy following Euro 2004 and at the 2006 World Cup he was named Man of the Match against both Ecuador and Argentina and won a place in FIFA’s World Cup All-Star Team, as Germany finished 3rd.
Germany was the first team to qualify for Euro 2008 and Ballack’s leadership and goals were instrumental in his country’s easy passage to the tournament.
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