(FIFA.com) Sunday 20 May 2012
© AFP
In our regular Sunday feature, FIFA.com presents you with some of the biggest names in football who will be celebrating their birthdays over the coming week.
20.
Roger Milla (60) wrote his name in the record books at USA 1994 when, at the age of 42 he scored against Russia to became the oldest player to score in the history of the FIFA World Cup™. The Cameroonian first appeared on the world stage at Spain 1982, before he returned from international retirement to score four goals at Italy 1990 as the Indomitable Lions reached their first-ever quarter-finals. Having started a career spanning four decades by winning his country’s league title with the Douala Leopards and being named African Footballer of The Year at Tonnerre Yaounde, the striker was lured to Valenciennes in France in 1977. He then wore the badges of Monaco, Bastia, Saint-Etienne, Montpellier and Reunion Island side Saint-Pierroise, before returning to Tonnerre, where he once again received the African Footballer of The Year award in 1990, and then ending his playing days at Pelita Jaya in Indonesia. Milla won the CAF Africa Cup of Nations with Cameroon in 1984 and 1988, finishing as top scorer in 1986 and 1988.
21.
Quinton Fortune (35) represented South Africa at the FIFA World Cup France 1998 and Korea/Japan 2002, scoring a goal in the latter, and reached the final of the Africa Cup of Nations in 1998, only to lose to Egypt. After making his name in Spain with Mallorca and Atletico Madrid, he moved to Manchester United at the start of the 1999/2000 season, and over the course of six years as a squad player would win three Premier Leagues, in 2000, 2001 and 2003, one FA Cup, in 2004, an FA Community Shield in 2003, an Intercontinental Cup and a UEFA Super Cup, both in 1999. The winger, who could also feature as a left-back, signed for Bolton Wanderers in 2006, before moving to Brescia in Italy, Tubize in Beligum and finally Doncaster Rovers, where he retired in 2010.
22.
Arturo Vidal (25) will be hoping to celebrate his birthday early with a win in the Coppa Italia final against Napoli on Sunday, having already lifted the Serie A crown with Juventus. The Chilean rose up through the ranks of Colo Colo, winning the Chilean Apertura and Clausura in 2006 and the Apertura once more in 2007. He then crossed the Altantic to join Bayer Leverkusen for a successful four-year spell, before signing for the 'Old Lady' at the start of this season. Vidal earned a bronze medal at the FIFA U-20 World Cup Canada 2007 before representing La Roja at the FIFA World Cup South Africa 2010 and the Copa America 2011.
23.
Fathi Matar (57) is one of the best players ever to emerge from Kuwait, having participated at his country’s first and only FIFA World Cup, at Spain 1982, and in their only AFC Asian Cup victory in the same year. The striker finished as top scorer of the competition four years earlier, as Kuwait reached the final, and also lifted the Gulf Cup in 1974 and 1976.
24.
Eric Cantona (46) is one of the greatest players never to feature at a FIFA World Cup, which did not stop him from having a successful career with a number of clubs. After starting his career with Auxerre, the forward moved between Martigues, Marseille, where he won the French league twice, Bordeaux, where he lifted the French Cup, Montpellier, and Nimes before signing for Leeds United, winning the final edition of the English First Division. He then joined Manchester United, lifting the inaugural Premier League title in his first season. 'The King', as he was known at Old Trafford, went on to lift three more Premier Leagues, two FA Cups and three Charity Shields. After retiring in 1997, he turned his focus to beach soccer, participating in the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup 2005 before leading the team to third in 2006 and fourth in 2007. In 2011, he became director of soccer of the New York Cosmos.
25.
Sayed Moawad (33) has lifted two editions of the Africa Cup of Nations with his nativeEgypt, having also participated at the FIFA Confederations Cup at South Africa 2009. Moawad made his name at Ismaily, where he lifted the Egyptian Cup in 2000 and league in 2002. After a spell with Trabzonspor in Turkey, the left-back returned to his homeland with Al Ahly, winning the league title three times, the Egyptian Super Cup and appearing at the FIFA Club World Cup Japan 2008.
26.
Luca Toni (35) was part of the Italy side that lifted the FIFA World Cup Germany 2006. The striker also participated at the FIFA Confederations Cup South Africa 2009. After playing for a number of minor clubs, he emerged as a prolific goalscorer in a spell alongside Roberto Baggio at Brescia. The powerful forward sparked interest with golden stints at Palermo, helping them to the Serie B title and UEFA Cup qualification, and Fiorentina, where he finished as top scorer of Serie A with 31 goals in the 2005/06 season, a feat which won him the European Golden Shoe, the first time an Italian had won the award. He next moved to Germany with Bayern Munich, soon lifting the League Cup in 2007 and then a Bundesliga/German Cup double in a fabulous 2007/08 season in which Toni finished top scorer of the Bundesliga, hitting the net 24 times, and joint-top scorer of the UEFA Cup with ten goals. Returning to Italy with Roma, he signed for Genoa and then Juventus. At the start of 2012, he moved to UAE side Al Nasr.
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