The Famous Five – Players to watch in the 2006 World Cup

SAVIOLA Javier - Argentina
An exciting and mobile striker with a keen eye for goal, Javier Saviola burst on to the scene as a teenager with hometown club River Plate. He won the Golden Boot and Best Player awards at the 2001 FIFA World Youth Championship where he scored a tournament-record 11 goals. He moved to FC Barcelona in 2001 where he averaged just under a goal every two games in three seasons before spending the 2004/05 campaign on loan at AS Monaco. Scored three goals as Argentinareached the 2004 Copa America final and also played a part as they won gold at the 2004 Olympics. Is nicknamed 'El Conejo' - or The Rabbit.

RONALDINHO -Brazil
Despite possessing shooting skills and ball control that verge on the supernatural, Ronaldinho Gaucho still blushes when he is compared to legendary Brazilians like Pele or Zico. He also asks with typical modesty not to be placed on a pedestal with other greats like Garrincha, Didi or Dada. But it seems his pleas are destined to fall on deaf ears. Fate looks to have a special place reserved for him among the pantheon of Brazil greats.

But it was as a member of Brazil's winning side at the 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan that the 25-year-old really came of age. Things did not look too promising at the outset, with the fanatical Brazilian public expressing their preference for Romario. However, then coach Luiz Felipe Scolari opted for Ronaldinho, and the youngster justified the faith put in him. Asked once to reveal the secret of his success, he answered: "No matter where you go or what you do in the world, it is noteasy to find an opening. When two teams are technically very similar, as is often the case in Brazil, then you have to want it more, fight until the death and never give in."

BALLACK Michael-Germany
If he plays well, the scribblers generally say "Ballack could do better". If he is average, the same question always poses itself: "What was wrong with Ballack today?" If Oliver Kahn ships too many goals, "Ballack was playing too offensively". If things are not going well in the final third, "Ballack was sitting too deep". In fact, only when he has a truly outstanding game do we read: "Today we saw the real Michael Ballack".

It isn't easy being the German captain. The midfielder has long abandoned the notion that he can make everything right. However, it often seems that scarcely anybody is satisfied with his performances and, ironically, his completeness as a footballer makes him a prime candidate for a scapegoat. After spells with Chemnitzer FC, FC Kaiserslautern and Bayer Leverkusen, the "most prolific goal-scoring midfielder in the world", according to club boss Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, arrived at record German championship winners Bayern Munich in 2002. His contract ends before the coming World Cup, and Chelsea are on the verge of stealing him before the start of the World Cup as other clubs sit back and watch the color of money.


Lionel MESSI - Argentina
Lionel Messi became the toast of Argentina when, just days after his 18th birthday, he inspired his country's U-20 side to a fifth world title with a series of masterful displays at the FIFA World Youth Championship Netherlands 2005. Such was the impression made by the prodigious midfielder that in addition to taking home a gold medal he also picked up the adidas Golden Shoe award as top scorer, and the adidas Golden Ball as best player. At 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany, the 18-year-old could well be in the running to pick up a brand new award - the Gillette Best Young Player Award.

'Messimania' has also broken out back in Argentina with many supporters and analysts already comparing him to the young Diego Maradona. Indeed 'El Diego' himself was so taken with the youngster's mercurial displays that he personally phoned to offer his congratulations and encouragement.

Wayne Rooney - England
Wayne Mark Rooney is widely considered to be one of the leading young talents in world football - in September 2005 he was selected by his fellow professionals as the inaugural FIFPro World Young Player of the Year. He currently plays for Manchester United and the England national football team as a second striker, although the 2005-06 season has seen Rooney playing both centrally and on the left and right flanks. He wears the number 8 shirt for his club, vacated by Nicky Butt, and is generally given the number 9 for his country.

Although he has been under an intense media spotlight since first arriving on the scene in 2002, it was not until his performances at the Euro 2004 that he gained a reputation on the world stage, as he spearheaded the English attack, scoring 4 goals - England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson compared his impact to that made by the legendary Brazilian, Pelé at a similar age during the 1958 World Cup - this comparison has led to him being nicknamed "El Blanco Pelé" - the white Pelé - by some United fans.