2010 Soccer World Cup South Africa showcases world-class black talent

Yes, the world is in the three of football fever. The 2010 FIFA (International Federation of Association Football) World Cup, which amazes the world every four years, is now in its quarter-final stage and all bets are on who will win the cup final of this anus. Will the indomitable Germans beat the hardy Argentines or will the Netherlands score an upset? The Soccer World Cup is, without a doubt, the biggest and most anticipated sporting event of all time. Two hundred and four nations attempted to qualify for thirty-two spots, with the US qualifying for the first time in decades. The 2006 final match between Italy and France was watched by approximately 715 million. With demographic changes and 21st century technology making borders all but obsolete, this year’s account is anyone’s guess. Fans arrive at the stadiums, crowd around the televisions, with the fervor of gladiators. Stories are invoked, wars are fought, players are looted and publicly punished. Player and country loyalties are set in stone with blood and sweat.

It is universally known as “the beautiful game,” for its elegant simplicity, the divinely appointed athletic prowess of its players, and its appeal to the common man. The skill of the game, the passion and enduring love for the game creates a brotherhood that transcends sport. The unparalleled, mindless euphoria of GOOOOOAAAL! Like basketball, it elevates its talented players to the status of gods, while also connecting them with the mortals who live vicariously through them. More than any other sport, soccer is a great equalizer. Because neither the color of the mother, nor the nationality, nor the Club can dictate capacity or greatness. it’s just A boy from a favela in Brazil with a devastating goal or from an obscure town in Côte d’Ivoire can become a striker for a world-class English club. A good number come from extremely difficult circumstances, where getting ahead often means borrowing a pair of cleats and going to a game in a dusty bowl. Today’s black footballers who come from distant countries to play for European clubs such as Inter Milan, Barcelona and Manchester United. But for the World Cup, they go back to playing only for their national team. This is not to say that racism in football is not a serious problem. The taunts and behavior of the fans can be indescribably ugly, cruel and primitive, as they come from a contingent that remains stubbornly ignorant and primitive. That players consistently rise above that is a testament to their strength and personal integrity. Gaming has become a way of life that can change the trajectory of lives and communities. Surprising paychecks are often accompanied by lofty commercial endorsements from Nike, Gillette and others. Players share in their good fortune, donating substantial amounts to build life-saving hospitals, schools, and social service programs.

The 2010 World Cup in South Africa is the first to be played on the African continent and has the potential to change global perceptions on several levels. From the African Cup of Nations to the 2010 World Cup, footballers of African descent and African nationality have put the world on notice: they are a force to be reckoned with. Ask Team USA

And no self-respecting football fan calls it football. It’s football, now and forever.

Here are eight of the world’s best and brightest black soccer players from the 2010 World Cup South Africa.

Samuel Eto´o
Country: Cameroon
Club: Inter Milan; Cameroon national team
Position: Forward
Earnings: $12. 7 million

The world has been put on notice. Undoubtedly one of the best left-backs in the world, Samuel Eto’o’s achievements are momentous for his country and his club. He exemplifies footballing excellence in the vein of great legends and has exceeded expectations at every club he has played for. His performance has always been excellent and he is currently the most decorated African player of all time, including African Player of the Year for three years in a row. A goalscoring machine, Eto’o scored more than 100 goals in five seasons with FC Barcelona. He is captain of the Cameroon national team and currently the highest paid footballer in Africa. He has participated in two World Cups and five African Cup of Nations and is the all-time top scorer in African Cup of Nations history, (capturing the championship twice) with 18 goals. At the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations, Eto’o became the joint top scorer

As a member of the Cameroon national team, he was a gold medalist at the 2000 Summer Olympics.

Didier Drogba:
Country: Ivory Coast/Ivory Coast
Club: Chelsea
Position: Forward
Earnings: $7.5 million Endorsements: Pepsi; Nike, Samsung

Mark the name because it is the future of football. Don’t be fooled by Drogba’s late entry into the soccer arena, he is a powerhouse. Known for breaking through impregnable defenses, Drogba is a goalkeeper’s nightmare. Signed by Chelsea for $37 million, he has proven invaluable. He has scored more goals for the club than any other foreign player and is the seventh highest goalscorer in history. most promising African footballers, he is one of the top scorers in the Premier League. Captain and all-time top scorer of the Ivory Coast national football team, Drogba signed for Chelsea for a record fee of £24m, making him the most expensive Ivory Coast player in the league. history. Drogba rose to fame as one of the world’s most accomplished strikers in 2006, when he won the league title with Chelsea and captained the national team for the first time. At the 2006 World Cup he scored Ivory Coast’s first goal in the competition and was voted African Footballer of the Year for 2006. He is the only player to have scored in six English cup finals.

But much of this pales in comparison to his humanitarian work for his country. After Côte d’Ivoire qualified for the 2006 World Cup, Drogba advocated a ceasefire between combatants in his country’s deadly five-year civil war, which was enforced shortly thereafter. In 2007, he was named a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and donated his $4.5 million signing fee for his support of Pepsi building a hospital in his hometown of Abidjan.

Maicon Douglas Sisenando

Brazil country
Club Team: Internazionale AKA Inter Milan
Position: Defender
Earnings: $5.4 million

A talented right back and formidable defender, Maicon is a phenomenon in Brazilian football, no easy feat. He excels in defensive games and is very supportive of his team. Maicon scored Brazil’s first goal in the 2010 World Cup, a shot from a low angle, against Korea in their first match. Maicon’s contribution to Inter Milan has included strong defense and attacking support, putting him in contention for the 2010 Ballon d’Or, the European Footballer of the Year award. In a nod to his progress, Real Madrid recently paid £28m for him to join his club.

Patrick Eve:
Country France
Club team: Manchester United
Position: Defender, Full Back; french captain
Earnings: $4 million

Evra is its own version of the United Nations. Born in Senegal of Guinean heritage and French nationality, he is one of Manchester United’s most valuable players and, interestingly enough, captain of the French national team. Arguably one of the best left-backs in the world and an evil left-back, Evra has won Premier League and Champions League titles with Manchester United. During United’s 07–08 season, Evra became a key member of United’s defence. But he is not without controversy. Following the expulsion of his teammate, Nicolás Anelka, from the squad following his falling out with coach Raymond Domenech, Evra led a player riot against the decision and publicly denounced the coach. As a result, Evra was benched for the final game against South Africa. Even so, he returns to a very distinguished career.

Thierry Henry
Country France
Club Team: Barcelona; french team
Position: Forward
Earnings: Annual salary plus bonus: $6.2 million, Other income: $6.2 million
Sponsorships: Pepsi, Gilette, Reebok

He is one of the most recognized and praised players in football and, without a doubt, a worthy distinction for one of the most outstanding strikers in the sport. During his meteoric rise at Arsenal, the phenomenal Henry emerged as the top scorer in almost every season with 226 goals in all competitions. The French phenomenon won two league titles and three FA Cups and was twice nominated for FIFA World Player of the Year. Possessing devastating speed and superhero agility, he remains Europe’s all-time top scorer with 42 goals with a flair for the impossible and dramatic goals. Despite the controversy surrounding Henry’s propensity to use his hand to set up a goal, he is a footballing institution that has elevated the sport to an art form.

Nicholas Anelka
Country France
Club team: Chelsea (ENG); french team
Position: Forward
Earnings: $5.8 million Sponsorships: Puma

Although his smugness rivals his potential, Anelka has shown tremendous potential as a striker. A relentless goalscorer who is lightning fast with excellent control, Anelka’s goal won France their World Cup match against Ireland. His three-and-a-half-year contract and his reported fee mean that more money has been spent on Nicolás’s transfer throughout his career than on any other player in football history.

Sully Muntari Country: Ghana
Club Team: Internazionale AKA Inter Milan
Position: Midfielder
Earnings: $5.3 million, endorsements: Puma

If Ghana win the World Cup, you can bet Muntari will be instrumental in their victory. A soccer prodigy, Muntari was just 16 years old when he played for Ghana at the 2001 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Argentina. He was voted an All-Star Player during the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations Tournament in Ghana.

Yaya Toure
Country: Ivory Coast
Club Team: Barcelona
Position: Midfielder
Earnings: $3.7 million

Toure’s titanic stature and boundless energy combine to make him one of the best midfielders in modern football, a perfect blend of physical prowess with superb technique. He is the first Ivory Coast player to win the UEFA Champions League, in 2008/09, and one of the driving forces behind the team that rewrote football history by winning six trophies in a single season. He recently transferred from Barcelona to Manchester City for £25m, where he will join his brother, brother and club captain, Kolo. He was a powerful midfielder for his native Ivory Coast, which made his first appearance at the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

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