Global appeal
Who’s top in Europe?
These nationalities have featured most often in UEFA Champions League squads this season
1. France 2. Spain
3.
Italy
4. Brazil
111 99 83 71
5. Germany 59 6. England
49
7. Argentina 39
8. Russia 9. Portugal
10. Netherlands 30
38 34
9
These countries have supplied most European champions
1.
Italy 2. Spain
3. England
79 77 58
4. Germany 51 5. Netherlands 51 6. Portugal 7. France
8. Brazil
5
41 27 25
9. Scotland 25 10. Serbia
Diego
BRAZIL JUVENTUS
The 25-year-old attacking midfielder was born in Ribeirão Preto to a family of Italian descendants who had emigrated to South America to run a coffee farm. After playing local football for years, he was signed up by Santos FC making his debut, at 16, in 2002 and winning the Campeonato Brasileiro before joining FC Porto in 2004 as a potential successor to Deco. But he was soon sold to Werder Bremen. After three superb seasons in Germany – and victory in the Copa America in 2007 with Brazil – he joined Juventus last summer for €24.5million.
10
Marouane Chamakh
MOROCCO FC GIRONDINS DE BORDEAUX
With an eye for goal and the skill to hit the target, the FC Girondins de Bordeaux striker looks certain to become Morocco’s record goalscorer. Born in Tonneins, France to Moroccan parents, the powerful forward could have played for France but chose to follow in his father’s footsteps and has scored 27 goals for Morocco. Spotted by Bordeaux talent scouts, he signed for the club in 2000 and made his debut in this competition as Bordeaux drew 0-0 with Galatasaray SK in the 2006/07 group stage. He has scored 12 goals in 30 European appearances.
11
9
Xavi Hernandez
SPAIN FC BARCELONA
Born in the Catalan city of Terrassa, Xavi was schooled at FC Barcelona’s La Masia academy. He was just 18 when he made his debut in the UEFA Champions League in a 3-3 draw away to Manchester United FC in the first 1998/99 group stage. “Imagine what it was like for me to hear that noise. I was still playing for Barça B in front of 1,000 fans at the time,” says Xavi. On the bench when Barcelona beat Arsenal FC to win their second European crown in 2006, he was pivotal for his idol, Josep Guardiola, as the Catalans won the 2009 final.
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