Books - Soccer superstars 2018

Contents

Neymar

Hometown: So Paulo, Brazil

Club: Paris Saint-Germain

N eymar da Silva Santos Jr. drew attention for his stunning soccer skills from an early age in football-crazed Brazil. Joining the youth academy of Santos FC at 11, he was already being courted by European powerhouse Real Madrid at 14. Santos convinced him to stay in Brazil, however, and soon he would star for the senior club.

Neymar made his professional debut for Santos in 2009, scoring 14 goals in 48 games. Over the next four seasons, he would become a star, scoring 122 goals for Santos and earning numerous awards, including South American Footballer of the Year in 2011 and 2012. He would also contribute 46 goals for the Brazil national team in 67 caps and help lead Brazil to the final of the 2012 Olympics against Mexico. In the summer of 2013, he spurred Brazil to victory in the Confederations Cup, scoring a goal in the final versus Spain and being named MVP of the Tournament.

It was just after defeating Spain with his countrymen that Neymar moved across the Atlantic to join Barcelona. In his first season with the star-stacked club, he scored 15 goals in 41 matches. But it was his 20142015 season in which he truly broke out, scoring 39 goals, second on Bara only to Lionel Messi. He was the top scorer in the Copa del Rey with seven goals and tied Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo as top goalscorer in the Champions League with 10, both of which Barcelona won. He also played brilliantly for Brazil in the 2014 World Cup before a back injury derailed their run. A dazzling ball-handler and especially lethal on free kicks, Neymar has explosive scoring ability from anywhere on the pitch.

In August 2017, Neymar moved to Paris Saint-Germain for a record $263 million fee and a five-year contract that made him the highest-paid soccer player in the world.

Toni Kroos

Hometown: Greifswalder, Germany

Club: Real Madrid

Born in the former East Germany, Toni Kroos has the unique distinction of being the only World Cup winner born in the former Soviet satellite. Shortlisted for FIFAs Golden Ball award for the tournaments best player, Kroos scored twice in two minutes in Germanys shocking 71 upset seminfinal win over host Brazil and was named man of the match. He also led the tournament in assists and rated as its top player according to the Castrol Performance Index. His standout role in Germanys 2014 World Cup run earned him an offer he couldnt refuse from Real Madrid later that summer, leading him to leave Bayern Munich and the Bundesliga for Spanish La Liga.

A prototypical attacking midfielder, Kroos is known for his vision, passing accuracy, and ability to set up scoring opportunities for teammates. Coming up through his local club team as a youth, Kroos transferred to Bayern Munichs youth program at 16. A year later, in 2007, he was promoted to the senior team, making him the youngest player at the time to ever appear for Bayern in a match, at 17 years, eight months, and two days old. Though Bayern loaned Kroos to rival Bayer Leverkusen for 18 months, he would spend almost five seasons with Munich, becoming one of the best players in Europe, and helping the Bavarians to three league championships, three DFB-Pokal cups, and a Champions League title in 20122013.

Since joining Real Madrid, Kroos has gone on to help the Blancos win a UEFA Super Cup, a FIFA Club World Cup, and another Champions League title, while being named to the Champions League Squad of the Season four straight years.

NGolo Kant

Hometown: Paris, France

Club: Chelsea

F rom obscurity in the third division of French soccer in 2013, NGolo Kant has risen farther and faster than just about any other footballer on the planet. The catalyst on a Leicester City team that shocked England and the world by winning its first ever Premier League title in 2016, NGolo was named Leicester Citys Players Player of the Year. Signing with Chelsea for the 20162017 season, NGolo again led his team to the league championship and this time was named the PFA Players Player of the Year, the Premier League Player of the Season, and the FWA Footballer of the Year.

Underestimated from an early age due to his small stature, NGolos ability, energy, and work ethic have made him one of the top defenders and most valuable players in the world. In his breakout season with Leicester, NGolo led the Premier League in tackles (175) and interceptions (157)both by a wide margin. And when he departed for Chelsea (the only Leicester player who left that year), his old team fell off precipitously, while his new team won the league title. Twice with Chelsea, NGolo has been named Man of the Matchonce in a 30 win against his former team and again in a March 2017 10 victory over Man United in which he scored the only goal. Lquipe named him the worlds sixth-best footballer of 2016, and he was nominated for the Ballon dOr in 2017.

Born in Paris to Malian immigrants, NGolo decided to play for France and debuted on the senior side in 2016, making his first start and scoring his first goal on his 25 th birthday against Russia. He plans to join Antoine Griezmann and Paul Pogba on a loaded French squad and make a serious run at World Cup glory in 2018.

Marco Reus

Hometown: Dortmund, Germany

Club: Borussia Dortmund

Known for his speed, versatility, and technique, Marco Reus has become an offensive star of the Bundesliga, where he has spent his club career, and since 2010 as a member and then starter for the eventual World Cupchampion German national team.

Joining the youth program of his hometown Borussia Dortmund club at the age of seven, Reus spent 10 years coming up through Dortmunds ranks. But Dortmund let him go in 2006 to play for the U-19 team of Rot Weiss Ahlen, where he broke into the first team within a year. By 20082009 he was a mainstay, playing in 27 matches and scoring four goals. This led to his signing with Bundesliga club Borussia Mnchengladbach, where he would become a prolific goalscorer, netting 41 goals over three seasons. At the end of the 20112012 season, Reus was named the Footballer of the Year in Germany. His old club took notice.