Squad: Cristiano Ronaldo (7)

Cristiano Ronaldo

Cristiano Ronaldo was born and raised in a working class neighborhood on the Portuguese island of Madeira. He officially began playing football in 2003 for Clube Futebol Andorinha de Santo Antonio. By the age of ten, the islands more prominent teams began expressing interest in the phenom. Ronaldo joined Nacional da Ilha da Madeira, where he continued his meteoric rise and one year later was on the move to Lisbon, where he signed for Sporting in 2001. He is still the only player in club history to be promoted by four academy teams until debuting with the first team in one season. Ronaldo scored a brace in his first match against Deportivo Moreirense and went on to win the Superliga that same year as a mainstay One season later he made his European debut in a Champions League qualifier against Inter.

The turning point of his career was a brilliant performance during a friendly against Manchester United in 2001. Ferguson later admitted that his players couldn’t stop talking about Ronaldo. Even on the flight back to England, players of the likes of Roy Keane and Van Nistelrooy insisted that the manager sign Cristiano. The official announcement was made one week later after ManU paid £12.24 million for his services; a record transfer fee for an adolescent.

Cristiano Ronaldo perfected his skills in the following years and also managed to stand out for his intelligence and great physique. He would go on to win the Ballon d’Or, the Golden Boot, the FIFA World Player award, the FIFPro award, the UEFA Club Forward of the Year distinction, and became the top-scorer of the Champions League.

The Madridista forward made his international debut on 20 August 2003 against Kazakhstan and has since become the captain of Portugal, who he led into action in the 2010 World Cup.

Data

• Place of Birth: Madeira, Portugal
• Date of Birth: 02/05/1985
• Position: Forward
• Weight: 84.5 kg
• Height: 186.5 cm
• Nationality: Portuguese

Honours (Clubs / National team)

• Super League: 2002
• FA Cup: 2004
• Football League Cup: 2006, 2009
• Premier League: 2007, 2008, 2009
• Community Shield: 2007, 2008
• UEFA Champions League: 2008
• FIFA Club World Cup: 2008
• Copa del Rey (Spanish Cup): 2010/11
• La Liga (Spanish League): 2011/12
• Spanish Super Cup: 2012

Honours (Individual)

• Bravo Trophy: 2004
• FIFPro Special Young Player of the Year: 2005, 2006
• Portuguese Footballer of the Year: 2006, 2007
• FA Premier League Player of the Year 2007
• Ballon d'Or runner-up: 2007
• FIFA World Player, third place: 2007
• UEFA Champions League Top-Scorer: 2008
• Golden Boot: 2008, 2011
• UEFA Club Footballer of the Year: 2008
• UEFA Club Forward of the Year: 2008
• FIFPro World Player of the Year: 2008
• Ballon d'Or (Golden Ball): 2008
• FIFA World Player 2008

Squad: Angel Di Maria (22)

Angel Di Maria

Angel di Maria is a versatile left winger who can play just as well along the right or serve as a second attacker. The youngster has already garnered accolades on both club and national team levels.

In 2007 Di Maria won the Under-20 World Championship with Argentina and one year later scored the Gold Medal winner in the Olympic Games, where he played alongside Madridista teammates Gago and Garay. In 2009/10 with Benfica, Di Maria won the double and one year prior won the Portuguese League Cup.

The midfielder began his career at Rosario Central and moved to Portugal in the summer of 2007. Three summers later, he found himself on international duty in the 2010 World Cup. His debut with the Argentine national team took place on 6 September 2009 in what was a World Cup qualifier against Paraguay.

Data

• Place of Birth: Rosario, Argentina
• Date of Birth: 02/14/1988
• Position: Midfielder
• Weight: 75 kg
• Height: 180 cm
• Nationality: Argentine

Honours (Clubs / National team)

• La Liga (Spanish League): 2011/12
• Copa del Rey (Spanish Cup): 2010/11
• Spanish Super Cup: 2012
• Portuguese Liga: 2009/10
• Portuguese League Cup: 2008/09, 2009/10
• Olympic Gold Medal: 2008
• Under-20 World Championship: 2007

Honours (Individual)

• Best Player of the Portuguese Liga: 2009/10

Squad: Lass Diarra (23)

Lass Diarra

Determined to become a football player, he joined Nantes' youth system as a child and later landed at Le Mans, with whom he played in the French Second Division. The most recent French side he played for was Le Havre (2003-05).

Chelsea took interest in Lass and signed him in 2005, making him the youngest player in club history. He won the Premiership and a Carling Cup with the Blues. He later moved to Arsenal, where he remained only half a season before joining Portsmouth, where he would immediately see more playing time and become one of the top players in the Premiership.

Diarra is strong, solid in defence and covers a large part of the pitch. He is excellent in the aerial game despite not being too tall and he is capable of scoring goals from a distance thanks to a powerful shot. His versatility allows him to play both as a midfielder and as a right back.

Data

• Place of Birth: Paris, France
• Date of Birth: 10/03/1986
• Position: Midfielder
• Weight: 73 kg
• Height: 172.2 cm
• Nationality: French

Honours

• La Liga (Spanish League): 2011/12
• Copa del Rey (Spanish Cup): 2010/11
• Spanish Super Cup: 2012
• Carling Cup: 2007
• FA Cup: 2007, 2008

Real Madrid Away Kit for Champions League (2011-2012)

Adidas surprised introducing this season the golden in the first kit jersey of Real Madrid and so will the away kit for the Champions League. The sports brand has come out of the range of colors has been used in recent years to design the equipments of Real Madrid and has used the 'Liverpool' red for the alternate dress the team will wear in Europe.

It seemed that the major innovations were in the home jersey. However, Adidas has wanted to change the image of Real Madrid in Europe and has avoided the black, blue and purple to opt for a striking color. Although in this case, the number and stretches, will back to white and not golden as in the home jersey. Also the socks will be white. Another important thing is that this away kit for Champions League will also be used by the team in the Spanish League as third kit.

However, it is not the first time that Real Madrid is dressed in red. The club did so in a European Cup match against Dynamo Kiev in 1973. The match, played in the town of Odessa, passed into history despite finishing with the initial score 0-0. It was thanks to the only player not dressed in red that day... goalkeeper, Garcia Remon. The spectacular performance of Garcia Remon in Ukrainian lands, earned him the nickname 'The Odessa Cat', which would retain throughout his career. Also two years ago, Real Madrid had used a uniform of this color, but with a much worse outcome because lost 1-0 on their visit to Cardiff.

Adidas had a plan against leaks to avoid that the shirt came out prematurely. The plan was as follows: each catalog delivered to stores was printed in a different reference number so that, in case of possible digital reproductions, can know the identity of the store. But even with those. Now need to know if the shirt gets the approval of the Real Madrid fans.

Real Madrid third kit jersey (2011-2012)

Squad: Jose Callejon (21)

Jose Callejon

Jose Maria was born in Motril (Granada) on 11 February 1987. He joined Real Madrid's academy in September 2002 following a stint at Agrupacion Deportiva de Futbol Costa Tropical. His brother Juan Miguel, who currently plays for Cordoba, also joined the club.

Callejon started out on the Under-16 side, climbing up the ladder until he became a Real Madrid C player at the start of the 2006/07 campaign - he played some games with the third team during the previous year. He was promoted to Castilla in the 2007/08 season and made his international debut with Spain's Under-21 side on 25 March 2008 against Kazakhstan, scoring one goal.

Real Madrid transferred Callejon to Espanyol in the summer of that year. He made his Firtst Division debut with the Barcelona team against Getafe on 3 September. He arrived as a striker, but adapted to the winger position down either side thanks to his versatility, speed and dribbling skills.

Data

• Place of Birth: Motril (Spain)
• Date of Birth: 02/11/1987
• Position: Midfielder
• Weight: 73 kg
• Height: 179 cm
• Nationality: Spanish

Honours

• La Liga (Spanish League): 2011/12
• Spanish Super Cup: 2012

Squad: Mesut Özil (10)

Mesut Özil

A constant work in progress, Mesut Ozil has quickly earned a reputation as an elegant and versatile midfielder. His knack for the final pass, his free-flowing movement on every third of the pitch and his exquisite left foot earned Ozil a spot in Shalke 04's academy in 2005. It only took one season for the midfielder to earn his promotion to the first team and he made his Bundesliga debut at the age of 17.

During the winter transfer window 0f 2008, Ozil completed a switch to Werder Bremen, where he played over 60 matches and scored 13 goals. With Werder, the midfielder went on to win the 2009 DFB Cup and the 2009 DFL Supercup. On an individual level, Ozil was rewarded for his outstanding Bundesliga play by being named the best player of the first leg of the 2009 season.

Ozil is paving the way for the German national team's new generation of players. Although of Turkish decent, his entire life has been committed to Germany. He played for the Under-17 side and moved his way up to the Under-21 side, which won the 2009 European Championship. Ozil provided two assists and scored a goal in the final against England.

His debut with the senior side dates back to 12 August 2009, when Germany defeated Azerbaijan. Ozil continued to impress in World Cup qualifiers and by the end of the 2010 World Cup was among the ten finalists for the Golden Boot.

Data

• Place of Birth: Gelsenkirchen, Germany
• Date of Birth: 10/15/1988
• Position: Midfielder
• Weight: 70 kg.
• Height: 181 cm.
• Nationality: German

Honours

• La Liga (Spanish League): 2011/12
• Copa del Rey (Spanish Cup): 2010/11
• Spanish Super Cup: 2012
• DFB Cup: 2009
• DFL Supercup: 2009
• UEFA Cup runner-up: 2009
• UEFA European Under-21 Championship: 2009

Squad: Kaka (8)

Kaka

Kaka is the complete package. His vision of the game is unparalleled and his shooting ability strikes fear into opponents. No one in Europe can control the tempo like the Brazilian. He is a consistent assist-man who concludes every season with more than a handful of goals. Kaka’s leadership skills allow him to shoulder any responsibilities that may arise. He’s a man whose football career has been based on his quiet, out-of-the-spotlight life and strong religious convictions.

During his youth team years, Kaka tended to stand out above the rest. Sao Paulo first took notice and by 2001 he had earned a starting spot with the first team, played in 27 matches and scored 12 goals. The following season he knocked in ten goals in 22 matches. After leading Sao Paulo to the Super Campeonato Paulista title in 2002, Kaka debuted with the Brazilian national team. By then, steady European interest in the 21-year old culminated in his signing with AC Milan.

Kaka played in 30 matches and scored ten goals en route to the Scudetto and Italian Super Cup in his first year with Milan. In 2005, the attacking midfielder almost single-handedly carried his team to the Champions League final, which Milan lost in a penalty shootout against Liverpool. In 2007, Kaka became the focal point of Milan’s offense and added Champions League and Club World Cup titles to his trophy case. That same year he went on to win all the top individual accolades, including the Ballon d’Or, FIFA World Player of the Year and FIFPro World Player of the Year.

Kaka made his debut for Brazil in a 2002 friendly against Bolivia. That summer he was a member of the 2002 World Cup-winning squad but received very little playing time. In 2005, Kaka was included in Brazil’s squad for the FIFA Confederations Cup and played all five matches, including a goal-scoring performance in the final, while in 2006 he started in his first World Cup. He has been a Seleção mainstay ever since.

Data

• Place of Birth: Brasilia, Brazil
• Date of Birth: 04/22/1982
• Position: Midfielder
• Weight: 82 kg
• Height: 185.6 cms
• Nationality: Brazilian

Honours (Clubs / National team)

• Torneio Rio-Sao Paulo: 2001
• Super Campeonato Paulista: 2002
• World Cup: 2002
• European Super Cups: 2003, 2007
• Scudetto: 2004
• Supercoppa Italia: 2004
• Confederations Cups: 2005, 2009
• Champions League: 2007
• Club World Cup: 2007
• Copa del Rey: 2011
• La Liga (Spanish League): 2011/12
• Spanish Super Cup: 2012

Honours (Individual)

• Serie A Player of the Year: 2004
• UEFA Champions League Best Midfielder: 2005
• UEFA Champions League Top Scorer: 2007
• UEFA Champions League Best Forward: 2007
• FIFPro World Player of the Year: 2007
• Ballon d'Or: 2007
• FIFA World Player of the Year: 2007
• FIFA Club World Cup Golden Ball: 2007
• FIFA Confederations Cup Golden Ball: 2009

Squad: Esteban Granero (11)

Esteban Granero

Esteban Granero's versatility makes him a player that all team's wish to have. He can play as an attacking midfielder or along either flank. An offensive-minded player, Granero is a creative workhorse who has a powerful kick. Granero first suited up for Real Madrid with the Under-10 squad; a division he would score 83 goals in. The years passed by and Granero continued to improve. In 1999 he captained the Under-14 team that won the International Football Seven Tournament in Barcelona. Granero scored the game-winner and was named Best Player of the championship.

At the age of 17, Granero joined Real Madrid C and was soon the center of attention of not just the team, but of Real Madrid Castilla coach Michel, as well. In December of 2005/06 he debuted with the 'B' team against Albacete and finished the match with a goal assist. That same season he went on to win the Under-19 European Championship in Poland.

The 2006/07 season saw Granero really step onto the scene. He had earned the playing time and the opportunity to gain experience in Spain's top flight, both of which were provided by Getafe. It didn't take long for Granero to become the go-to guy on the team, and his arrival coincided with the best run ever by the 'Azulones'.

Data

• Place of Birth: Madrid, Spain
• Date of Birth: 07/02/1987
• Position: Midfielder
• Weight: 76.5 kg
• Height: 179.7 cm
• Nationality: Spanish

Honours

• La Liga (Spanish League): 2011/12
• Copa del Rey (Spanish Cup): 2010/11
• Spanish Super Cup: 2012
• Under-19 European Championship: 2006
• Copa del Rey runner-up: 2006/07

Squad: Hamit Altintop (16)

Hamit Altintop

Altintop was born on 8 December 1982 in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, but as a Turkish citizen has been capped 64 times and scored six goals for Turkey. He is a versatile midfielder who can play on either end of the pitch as well as on either flank. Altintop spent his early days Schwarz-Weis Gelgenkirchen, Tus Rotthausen and Wattenscheid 09 before spending four seasons at Shalke 04 and later signing for Bayern Munich in 2007.

In 2005/06 he scored his only Champions League goal while on duty with Schalke, and four seasons later with Bayern he was named Man-of-the-Match in the first leg of the quarterfinal tie against Manchester United.

The first time Altintop set foot on the Bernabeu turf was for the 2009/10 Champions League final against Jose Mourinho's Inter Milan. He played in 14 matches and scored two goals for Bayern in the 2010/11 campaign.

Data

• Place of Birth: Gelsenkirchen, Germany
• Date of Birth: 08/12/1982
• Position: Midfielder
• Weight: 83 kg
• Height: 183 cm
• Nationality: Turkish/German

Honours

• Bundesliga: 2008, 2010
• Cup of Germany: 2008, 2010
• German Super Cup: 2010
• German League Cup: 2005, 2007