David Villa Sanchez

PERSONAL DETAILS

Name: David Villa Sanchez
Position: Forward
Place of birth: Tuilla, Langreo
Date of birth: 03-12-1981
Height: 175cm
Weight: 69kg
Debut: FC Barcelona-Sevilla FC (4-0, Spanish Super Cup), 21/08/2010
Personal Website: http://www.davidvilla7.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/David-Villa-Sanchez/20714737025 

David Villa, 28, moved to FC Barcelona on 21st May 2010, just five days after the team won the second consecutive league title of the Guardiola era.

David Villa Sanchez made his first division debut with Zaragoza but really made his name with Valencia. However, his roots are in the mining region of Asturias in northern Spain where his father was a miner. He joined the youth teams of local club Sporting Gijon and soon made his way up the ranks to the first team.

He’s the 11th Asturias –born player to defend the Barca colours – previous famous compatriots in recent years being Quini, in the 80’s and former Barca captain Luis Enrique. Both of them recommended Barca to Villa.

David Villa’s career has been characterized by his unerring ability to score plenty of goals. In his seven seasons in the first division before joining Barca he never scored less than 15 a season.

He joins Barca in his prime – he’s 28 – and is a proven striker. He spent two years with Zaragoza (2003-05) and five with Valencia (2005-10), scoring 140 goals in 239 matches.

Despite his individual talent, he has collected relatively little silverware – two Cup medals and a Spanish Super Cup. So he joins Barca with plenty of hunger for honours.

Villa is also a key part of the international team and, after the South African World Cup, has scored more World Cup goals than any other Spanish players. He played a huge role in Spain’s victory. His five goals made him Spain’s top scorer and – together with Müller (Germany), Snejder (Holland) and Forlán (Uruguay) – also the tournament’s top scorer.

PROFILE
He’s not especially big for a striker (1.75 m and 69 kg). His main virtue is his ability to shoot with both feet. As a child, he had a medical problem with his right leg so he focussed on his left, eventually becoming two-footed. In addition he’s an excellent header of the ball – an authentic goal machine.

Apart from his shooting ability, ‘El Guaje’ (The Lad) as he is affectionately known, is amazingly fast and mobile – a player who looks for the pass into space. Unpredictable. Off the ball, he works hard for the team and applies constant pressure to the opposing defence. He’s a charismatic player, a winner, who can turn a game at any moment.

HONOURS

FC Barcelona 2010/11 Spanish Super Cup

Valencia 2007/08 Kings Cup

Zaragoza 2004/05 Spanish Super Cup
2003/04 Kings Cup

Spanish national team 2010 World Cup   2008 EURO 2008

Individual honours 2010 WC Silver Boot
2010 WC Bonze Ball
2009/10 Zarra Trophy
2009 Bronze Boot Confederations Cup
2008/09 Zarra Trophy
2008 Top scorer EURO 2008
2006/07 Zarra Trophy
2005/06 Zarra Trophy

CAREER
2010-11 FC Barcelona
2009-10 Valencia CF
2008-09 Valencia CF
2007-08 Valencia CF
2006-07 Valencia CF
2005-06 Valencia CF
2004-05 Real Zaragoza
2003-04 Real Zaragoza
2002-03 Sporting Gijón
2001-02 Sporting Gijón
2000-01 Sporting Gijón

www.fcbarcelona.com

Javier Alejandro Mascherano

PERSONAL DATA

Name: Javier Alejandro Mascherano
Position: Midfield
Place of birth: San Lorenzo, Argentina
Date of birth: 08-06-1984
Height: 1,74 m
Weight: 74 kg 

Javier Mascherano was presented as an FC Barcelona player on August 30, 2010 after the authoritative midfielder completed his move from Liverpool.

‘El Jefecito’, as the Argentinian is affectionately known, is a player who has earned the respect of all wherever he has played. He made his professional bow under Manuel Pellegrini at River Plate after having played for Argentina in a game against Uruguay.

After impressing with River for two seasons Mascherano moved to Corinthians in Brazil and won the league title. That form alerted European clubs and he was on the move once again when West Ham United secured his services. The London club bought him and his Corinthians team-mate Carlos Tévez for a combined fee of $35 million.

In January 2007 he was on the move once again as he headed to the north west of England to join Liverpool, but missed out on the Champions League encounter with FC Barcelona that spring. At Anfield he formed a lethal midfield trio alongside Steven Gerrard and Xabi Alonso. During his three-and-a-half years at the club Liverpool reached the Champions League final but failed to win any silverware.

On August 30, 2010 Mascherano signed a four-year contract with FC Barcelona. Signed to compete for a place in the centre of midfield following the departure of Touré Yaya to Manchester City

Mascherano is the only Argentinian player to have won two gold medals at the Olympic Games. After securing his first at the games in Athens in 2004 he then helped his country to further success in Beijing in 2008, where he played with Lionel Messi. The two Blaugrana players also appeared together for Argentina at the World Cup Finals in South Africa 2010.

Javier Mascherano (June 8, 1984) has authority and presence in the centre of the pitch. The captain of Argentina is a natural leader and is superb when tracking back to win tackles and protect his defence.

He sweeps up across the middle of the field and lays the ball off for team-mates to create forward movement. He is technically gifted and has a good shot from distance as well as an aptitude for tactics and discipline. His natural awareness and positional sense also make him a fearsome player.

HONOURS
River Plate
2004 Torneo Clausura

Corinthians
2006 Brasilian League

Argentina
2008 Olympic gold medal
2004 Olympic gold medal

CAREER

2010-11 FC Barcelona
2009-10 Liverpool
2008-09 Liverpool
2007-08 Liverpool
2006-07 West Ham
2005-06 Corinthians
2004-05 River Plate
2003-04 River Plateb

www.fcbarcelona.com

Gabriel Alejandro Milito

PERSONAL DETAILS

Name: Gabriel Alejandro Milito
Position: defense 
Place of birth: Bernal (Argentina)
Date: 7-9-1980
Height: 179 cm
Weight: 78 kg
Debut:
FC Barcelona-Athletic Club (3-1, League), 02/09/2007

Gabriel Milito is the twentieth Argentinian to wear the Barça shirt. He is a central defender who started out at Independiente in Avellaneda, and then spent four years at Zaragoza before coming to the Camp Nou.

Gabriel Milito was born in Bernal (Buenos Aires), on September 7, 1980. He came up through the youth ranks at Independiente, making his top flight debut aged 17 with the Avellaneda based club. 'El Mariscal', as he is known, led the side’s defence despite his young age, but his promising future was almost cut short by a serious injury. He tore cruciate ligaments in his right knee in 2001 and was out for nine months. And shortly after his return, he was injured for another four months, this time with a broken meniscus in his right foot.

Once he was back to full fitness, Gaby Milito was one of the main reasons for Independiente’s Opening Championship victory in 2002. He was named Argentinian Player of the Year and in the summer of 2004 made his move to Spain.

Milito was originally headed for Real Madrid. However, before signing his contract the club’s doctors concluded that he was not fully recovered from his knee injury and warned against signing the player. Milito went instead to Zaragoza, and that season won the Copa del Rey at Montjuïc, ironically beating Real Madrid. Later that year, Zaragoza also won the Spanish Super Cup and Milito was heralded as one of the finest defenders in the league. In four years at Zaragoza, he never failed to please.

In the 2005/06 and 2006/07 season, Gaby was joined by his older brother, Diego, at La Romareda. The Milito brothers were the stars of a side that won back to back UEFA Cups.

In the 2007/008 season he became a fixture at the heart of Barça’s defence. He played in 27 League games, scoring a goal and consistently turning in fine performances. After the second leg of the semi final of the Champions League in Manchester, Milito damaged cruciate ligaments in his right knee, and therefore missed the entire 2008/09 season. After 19 months out injured, Milito made his official reappearance on 5th January 2010 in the Spanish Cup tie against Seville. He made a triumphant return from serious injury. He played 11 matches in the 2010-11 league season and renewed his contract until 2012.

Gaby Milito has also found his way into the Argentina national team. He made his international debut in 2000 and played at the World Cup in Germany in 2006 and in the 2007 Copa America, where he was a regular feature in Alfio Basile’s side, which reached the final.

PROFILE
The Argentinian international, known as 'el Mariscal', is a respected, authoritarian, imposing and well-positioned centre back. He also a skilful playmaker and can help in attack. Although he is not particularly tall (1.79 m.), Milito is good in the air and can be dangerous from dead ball situations. He also has a very strong personality, and is a natural leader.

HONOURS

FC Barcelona 2010/11 Spanish Super Cup
2009/10 Liga
2009/10 World Club Cup
2009/10 European Super Cup   2009/10 Spanish Super Cup 
2008/09 Champions League
2008/09 Liga
2008/09 Copa del Rey

Zaragoza
2004/05 Spanish Super Cup
2003/04 Spanish Cup

Independiente Avellaneda
2002/03 Trofeo Apertura

Argentinian national team
1999 South American Under-20 championship

CAREER

2010-11 FC Barcelona
2009-10 FC Barcelona
2008-09 FC Barcelona
2007-08 FC Barcelona
2006-07 Reial Saragossa
2005-06 Reial Saragossa
2004-05 Reial Saragossa
2003-04 Reial Saragossa
2002-03 Club Atlético Independiente
2001-02 Club Atlético Independiente
2000-01 Club Atlético Independiente
1999-00 Club Atlético Independiente
1998-99 Club Atlético Independiente
1997-98 Club Atlético Independiente 

www.fcbarcelona.com

Lionel Andrés Messi

Name: Lionel Andrés Messi
Position: forward
Place of birth: Santa Fe (Argentina)
Date: 24-06-1987
Heignt: 1'69
Weight: 67
Debut:
RCD Espanyol-FC Barcelona (0-1, League), 16/10/2004
Personal Website: http://www.leomessi.com/ 

Leo Messi, with two Ballon d'Or awards to his name (2009 and 2010), is the best player in the world. This modest Argentinian has speed, dribbling and shooting skills. But despite so many individual virtues, he is also a remarkable team player.

This Argentinian striker's footballing career started in 1995 at Newell's Old Boys, where he played until the year 2000. At the age of 13, Lionel Messi crossed the Atlantic to try his luck in Barcelona, and joined the Under 14s.

Messi made spectacular progress at each of the different age levels, climbing through the ranks of the different youth teams and then Barça C, followed by Barça B and the first team in record time.

In the 2003-2004 season, when he was still only 16, Messi made his first team debut in a friendly with Porto that marked the opening of the new Dragao stadium. The following championship-winning season, Messi made his first appearance in an official match on October 16, 2004, in Barcelona's derby win against Espanyol at the Olympic Stadium (0-1).

With several first team players seriously injured, the services of several reserve team players were called upon, and Messi became a regular feature of Barça squads. On May 1, 2005, he became the youngest player ever to score a league goal for FC Barcelona - against Albacete when Messi was only 17 years, 10 months and 7 days old. That record would eventually be beaten by Bojan.

At the Under 20 World Cup in Holland, Messi not only won the title with Argentina, but was also the leading goalscorer and was voted best player in the tournament. Aged 18 years, he had become one of the hottest properties in the world game. Shortly after, he made his first full international appearance in a friendly against Hungary.

His breakthrough as a player came in the 2005-06 season, starting with an amazing performance in the Joan Gamper Trophy match against Juventus. He was also outstanding at the Santiago Bernabéu, in Barcelona's unforgettable 3-0 win, and also at Stamford Bridge, in the Champions League match against Chelsea. Injury kept him sidelined for much of the latter stage of the season. Messi played a total of 17 league games, 6 in the Champions League and 2 in the Copa del Rey. Messi scored eight goals.

The following season Messi moved up a gear and astounded the world with goals such as the one he scored against Getafe in the King’s Cup. In the 2006/07 season, and even though the team didn’t win any titles, the Argentine was second in the FIFA World Player awards and third in the Golden Ball. He continued to develop in the 2007/08 campaign, when he scored 16 goals and gave 10 assists in the 40 games he played in. In 2008, Leo Messi was runner up in the FIFA WORLD PLAYER AWARD for the second season in a row.

In the 2008/09 season, and now without Ronaldinho alongside him, Messi continued to be the main star of the Barça line up. He managed to stay injury free all season, and played 51 games, scoring 38 goals. The Argentinian was also fundamental in the two finals, scoring Barça’s second goals in both. El año 2009 ganó el FIFA World Player y Balón de Oro.

How far can Leo Messi go? He was the league’s top scorer in the 2009-10 season and equalled Ronaldo’s historic total of 34 goals (96-97). He scored the goal against Estudiantes de La Plata that gave Barça the Club’s first World Club Cup.

Messi also consolidated his place in the national side, now having played at a World Cup (2006) and Copa America (2007) for Argentina. In 2008 he also went to the Olympic Games in Beijing, where his country won gold.

PROFILE

Messi is an excellent, sensational, unique player. He is astoundingly creative, has amazing individual skill and is able to constantly put his rivals at unease. A natural left footer, he is stunningly versatile, and can play either in the middle or on whichever of the wings required, although it is out on the right that he feels most comfortable.

He may not be very tall, but his speed and physique enable him to cope with even the toughest of defenders. He is surprisingly strong, and can hold on to the ball in style, as if it were stuck to his feet. There is simply nobody like him anywhere else in the game. He is also a specialist at all dead ball situations, especially free kicks and penalties.

His cold blood and ability to take on responsibilities are other virtues that make Leo Messi simply the best footballer on the planet.

HONOURS
FC Barcelona 2010/11 Spanish Super Cup
2009/10 Liga
2009/10 World Club Cup
2009/10 European Super Cup   2009/10 Spanish Super Cup
2008/09 Champions League 
2008/09 Liga
2008/09 Copa del Rey
2006/07 Spanish Super Cup
2005/06 Champions League
2005/06 Liga
2005/06 Spanish Super Cup
2004/05 Liga

Argentinian National Team
2008 Gold Medal Beijing'08
2004/05 World Cup Under-20

Individual awards 2010 Ballon d'Or
2009/10 Golden Boot
2009/10 Spanish League Top Scorer
2009 FIFA World Player
2009 Ballon d'Or
2008 2nd best FIFA WORLD PLAYER
2007 2nd best FIFA WORLD PLAYER

CAREER

2010-11 FC Barcelona
2009-10 FC Barcelona
2008-09 FC Barcelona
2007-08 FC Barcelona
2006-07 FC Barcelona
2005-06 FC Barcelona
2004-05 FC Barcelona

www.fcbarcelona.com