“I was born for soccer, just as Beethoven was born for music.” Arrogant, pompous words. Except when they are spoken by Edson Arantes do Nascimento, the Brazilian genius known throughout the football world as Pele.

A veteran of four World Cups, scorer of 1,283 first-class goals – 12 of them in World Cup final tournaments – a member of those magical Brazilian squads that won soccer’s greatest prize in 1958, 1962 and 1970.

But just as a collection of notes do not make a Beethoven symphony, statistics cannot capture the majesty of those glorious Brazilian sides. This was football played to a samba beat. Beautiful skills, astonishing speed and ball control – and of all those great players in the yellow and green shirts, Pele was the greatest of them all.

He was lithe, agile, strong and seemed to be able to make the ball do as he pleased. Blessed with a stunning shot and an ability to soar above defences, he was expected to perform some astonishing feat of trickery every time he was in possession.

And Brazil played such adventurous football, always attacking, constantly looking to score. Who can forget the rythmic chanting of their deliriously happy supporters? “Bra-zil, cha cha cha, Bra-zil, cha cha cha.”

It was the 1962 World Cup in Chile when those chants were heard for the first time in Europe on TV and British fans were quick to copy. First club names were shouted out, followed by a burst of clapping. Soon the strains of “ee-ay-addeo” echoed round Football League grounds.

Three decades on, the chants may be different. But it was the Brazil of Pele which gave them to the world.

Pele was born in the poor district of Tres Coracoes in 1940. His father, known as Dondhino, was a footballer too, but an undistinguished one.

Pele was in love with football from the time he learned to kick a ball. But his mother was not so keen. Dondhino earned little money from the game and she wanted something better for her son. Had she got her way, football would have been denied one of its greatest talents.

Pele’s precocious skill came to the attention of de Brito, a former Brazilian international who began to coach him. In 1954, aged 14, he joined Bauru Athletic Club juniors in Sao Paulo. At 16, despite a knee injury which was to trouble him throughout his career, he moved to Santos where he remained until 1974.

Together, Pele and Santos were to become legends, touring Europe and playing friendly matches. One of the British sides to entertain them was Sheffield Wednesday. As late as 1972, Pele turned out in his club’s famous all-white strip to play one half in a goodwill visit to Hillsborough.

It was the World Cup of 1958 in Sweden which was to create the stage for Pele’s genius. He was 17 and had won his first cap the previous year. He arrived in Sweden with an injury and was held back until Brazil’s third and final group match against the Soviet Union in Gothenburg.

Brazil won 2-0, Pele hit the post, laid on the second goal for Vava and a star had been born. The quarter-final was against Wales. Brazil only won 1-0. The scorer was Pele, his shot deflecting off Stuart Williams. It was his first World Cup goal – and he was to score six in a sequence of three games by the time the final was over.

A hat-trick against France in the semi-final was followed by two goals against Sweden in the final. One of them, a breathtaking effort, was described by the football authority Brian Glanville in his book, The Story of the World Cup.

“Catching a high ball in the thick of the penalty area on his thigh,” wrote Glanville, “he hooked it over his head, whirled round and volleyed mightily past Svensson.” Pele also hit the post as the Swedes went down 5-2 in front of their home crowd. Brazil had won the World Cup for the first time and a teenage prodigy was on his way to international fame and fortune.

By 1962 Brazil were the undisputed kings of football and Pele was rated the best player in the world. He was just 21. But the Chile finals were to be shortlived for him as Brazil sought to retain their crown.

Their opening match was against Mexico. Brazil won 2-0, Pele scoring a brilliant goal in which he beat four men before putting the ball past the keeper. But in the next game, a 0-0 draw with Czechoslovakia, Pele tore a thigh muscle which put him out of the tournament. Brazil became double world champions, beating Czechoslovakia 3-1 in the final. But if 1962 was bad for Pele, 1966 was worse. This time for him and his country. The year of England‘s greatest football triumph saw Brazil lose their first World Cup match for 12 years and then they crashed out of the tournament in the first round as Pele was literally kicked off the park by the butchers of Portugal.

Brazil played just three games in the 1966 World Cup, all of them at Everton’s Goodison Park. They got off to a reasonable start beating Bulgaria 2-0, Pele scoring from a free kick. But in the second game, with Pele missing through injury, they were given a football lesson by the mighty Magyars of Hungary, going down 3-1.

Pele was back for the crucial tie with Portugal, but it was soon obvious he was far from full fitness. Brazil had made seven changes after that shock defeat by Hungary, but it made no difference as Portugal quickly let it be known they were taking no prisoners. Morais cynically chopped down Pele in brutal fashion and was amazingly allowed to stay on the pitch by English referee George McCabe. Pele was forced off and, though Brazil were merely a shadow of the sides that had ruled the world, football won few friends by the manner of Portugal’s 3-1 victory.

Pele vowed never to appear in another World Cup, but by 1970 he had changed his mind. This time the tournament was held in sunny Mexico and this Brazilian team was probably the greatest of them all.

Pele, the boy who had played alongside Zito and Garrincha, the young man who had traded passes with Amarildo and Didi, was now a 29-year-old veteran lining-up in an attack that included Rivelino, Tostao and the incomparable Jairzinho.

And in the heat of Guadalajara he was to take part in one of the finest World Cup matches – the clash of champions against World Cup holders England.

Brazil’s opening match was against Czechoslovakia who they tore apart 4-1. However, playing fabulous attacking football, Brazil left themselves open at the back and went a goal down. They soon equalised through a scintillating, swerving free kick from Rivelino. After that, it was one-way traffic, Pele getting the second and Jairzinho the last two.

Now it was England’s turn. And what a match it was. This England team was regarded by many as technically superior to the side that had won the World Cup at Wembley in 1966. Alan Mullery was deputed to mark Pele and did a terrific job. But how do you mark genius? By the tenth minute, Pele was stealing in at the far post, towering above England’s defence to drive down a Jairzinho cross with a ferocious header.

If ever a goal looked a certainty, this was it. As the ball screamed towards its destination inside the post, somehow, miraculously, Gordon Banks got a hand to it and flicked it up over the bar.

The save of the century? Probably. Pele could only stand and stare in amazement – along with several million incredulous TV viewers around the world.

The game, often branded the “real” final, was a classic. England defended brilliantly, Alan Ball hit the bar, but a Jairzinho goal – laid on by who else but Pele – was enough to give Brazil a 1-0 victory.

Afterwards, a picture of one of the great moments of sportsmanship flashed round the world. It was of Pele and England’s captain Bobby Moore, stripped to the waist, swapping shirts and embracing each other, both recognising that the other was a master of his trade. Pele scored twice in Brazil’s final group match in a 3-2 defeat of Romania before they disposed of Peru 4-2 and Uruguay 3-1 to reach the final.

Brazil’s opponents were Italy and, as both teams had won the World Cup twice, it meant the victors would keep the Jules Rimet Trophy permanently.

Pele, in his World Cup swansong, scored with a spectacular header and made two other goals as Brazil, playing football which seemed on another level to anything the game had seen before, crushed Italy 4-1.

Brazil had become the first nation to win a hat-trick of World Cups. Pele retired from international football soon afterwards, but continued to play for Santos for a further four years. When he finally called it a day at the age of 34, Santos marked his passing by removing the No.10 shirt from their line-up. It was an admission that no-one could compare with The Master.

Then, in 1975, Pele surprised everyone by coming out of retirement to play for the New York Cosmos in America’s fledgling soccer league. The price probably helped – a small matter of $4.5 million.

He stayed for two years and in 1976 played for Team America in the Bicentennial Tournament against England. His Yankee team-mate that day was none other than Bobby Moore appearing against his old colleagues!

The end of a supreme career finally came in 1977 when Pele hung up his boots for good and settled for a role as a sporting ambassador, later becoming Brazil’s Minister for Sport. He also popped up from time to time endorsing the virtues of Pespi Cola.

But even now, 20 years on, such was his greatness that whenever Brazil are mentioned, the name that comes first to football fans’ lips everywhere is Pele . . . the one and only.

Manchester United striker, Wayne Rooney, has been voted player of the year by his peers in the Professional Footballers‘ Association.

The England international, who has scored 34 goals this season, beat off competition from Didier Drogba, Carlos Tevez and Cesc Fabregas.

Rooney, 24, said: ”It‘s a great feeling to win because it‘s voted for by the players. It‘s a great honour and I‘m really proud.”

The young player accolade, according to BBC Sport went to Aston Villa‘s James Milner.

Rooney was also nominated for that honour but England team-mate Milner, also 24, came out on top.

Milner, who seems certain to be included in Fabio Capello‘s World Cup squad, credited a change in position for his success this season.

”I‘ve been moved into the middle and that suits me as it helps me influence the game a bit more,” he said.

Here are some of the goals from 09/10:

Over the past few weeks Barcelona‘sLionel Messi has stunned the soccer world with some of the most superlative performances people have ever seen — relentlessly bettering himself and his team and enhancing the game itself.

With the World Cup fast approaching, the question around the globe is whether Messi will be as masterful with Argentina as he’s been with Barcelona. Inevitably, comparisons with his countryman and international managerDiego Maradonahave hogged the debate.

Here’s the rub: Maybe the question shouldn’t be, Is Messi as good as Maradona, but rather, Was Maradona as good as Messi?

Messi will turn 23 in June, and he has already accomplished more than Maradona had at his age. As Barcelona’sSportnewspaper pointed out, comparing the two players, Messi has won 12 titles, 10 with Barcelona and two with Argentina. Maradona, at the same stage in his career, had only two: one with Boca Juniors and one with Argentina.

And although Maradona made his debut in the first division of professional club football (10 days before his 16th birthday) and in Argentina’s national side at a slightly younger age than Messi (who was 16 years old, 145 days when debuting for Barça), Messi was younger than Maradona in his first World Cup appearance.

Messi played a deciding role in the youth World Cup of Holland 2005 (a year before his first World Cup, just as Maradona excelled in the 1979 Youth World Cup in Japan before his 1982 World Cup). Messi was also the shining star of the gold medal Olympic squad in Beijing, making a very public and strong personal stance to play against the wishes of employer club Barcelona. And he was at times mesmerizing in the 2007 Copa America, reaching the finals in superb synchronicity withJuan Roman Riquelme, just before Argentina started to become enigmatically underachieving.

Yet until last week Messi had been the target of criticism in his native country. Fans and the press blamed Messi for Argentina’s struggle to qualify for the World Cup finals. The facts that he left the country at a young age, never playing professional club football in Argentina and lacks the demeanor of Maradona (outgoing, feisty, a natural leader) also exposed Messi to harshness.

Maradona as manager did not appease the situation but rather fed it. His comments on Messi — “He is not playing as well as I would like,” for example — contrast starkly with remarks by Barça’sPep Guardiolaafter below-par Messi performances. “He can have as many bad games as he wants,” Guardiola has said. “He will still be Messi.”

Then, after Messi scored a Champions League record-tying four goals against Arsenal on April 5, Argentina changed its tune. Messi’s goals were on a loop in practically every screen in Buenos Aires. Every football chat show on every media — and that’s a lot of shows — discussed in detail the genius of a man the nation now proudly claimed as one of its own.

“Messi is the best in the world in the national team and in Barcelona and he knows it,” ex-national teammate Riquelme said last week inPagina 12. “The difference is that [in Barcelona] there are always five or six options of passes to him, which makes him impossible to mark.”

The tactical analysis of Barcelona’s system has been a hot topic with newly appointed River Plate managerAngel Cappawho is known as “Tiki Tiki” for the high regard in which he holds a game of many touches and passes. “He [Messi] has Argentine roots but is a universal player. Like [Jorge Luis]Borges, he transcends the barriers of nationality” Cappa said inEl Comericio, adding that the Barcelona team works in harmony. “No one is the conductor, they all play one or two touches. They all share the same football philosophy and Messi adds his brilliance.”

There followed another splendid Messi performance, including an early goal, against Barcelona’s archrivals and close contenders for first place in La Liga, Real Madrid. Headlines said that Messie was “Out of This Planet” and that he had “EclipsedCristiano Ronaldo”

The greats started chiming in. “First they have to decide who is the best Argentinean,”Pelesaid. “And then they will have to score 1,000 goals before they can be compared to me.” AddedJohan Cruyff: “Pele was a hero, so was I. Now it’s [Messi's] turn.”

Mario Kempes, Golden Boot and World Cup winner for Argentina in 1978, has characteristically been the voice of reason. “He’s a human being, a football player. Anyone can shadow him, mark him, or stop him” said Kempes toEFE. “What he has achieved with Barcelona this season is remarkable, but he still seeks the cherry on the cake which would be the World Cup.” Kempes went on to stress the importance of team work, saying Messi cannot do this alone: “A squad is made up of a group of players, and it’s the group that has to take the team forward. This is something Maradona will have to work on.”

That’s why the onus is now on Maradona to shift whatever needs shifting within his star-studded squad and to ensure that he finds the right players to deliver those perfect passes to Messi. Maradona needs to inspire the talented Argentinian team to rise and match Messi’s own absurdly high standard. So maybe the real question of the World Cup is: Can Maradona the manager be good enough to let Messi shine?

Thanks Marcela Mora y Araujo for writing this amazing article.

Sir Alex Ferguson has identified Tottenham‘s left back Gareth Bale as one of his prime summer targets and is said to be willing to pay $30 million to secure his services. A deal for the 20-year-old Bale, 20, could even be discussed when the two clubs meet at Old Trafford on Saturday and the player is understood to be aware of United’s interests. Primarily a left back, Bale can also play left wing. It’s not the first time United have shown interest in him. Ferguson first attempted to sign Bale in 2007, when fellow Welshman Ryan Giggs tried to persuade him to move to Old Trafford.

LONDON (AP) -David Beckham, even in the twilight of his playing career, still reigns supreme in the world of football as the highest earning player in the world, according to Forbes magazine.

The 35-year-old Beckham earns $40 million annually, with much of that coming from sponsors such as Adidas, Giorgio Armani and Motorola. But Beckham is expected to lose major sponsorship money this year because he will miss the World Cup in South Africa after tearing his Achilles’ tendon in March playing for AC Milan.

“Our list combines footballers’ salaries, incentives and sponsorship income and was compiled by examining club and commercial sponsor filings and talking to talent agents and soccer experts in Europe and the United States,” Forbes reporter Christina Settimi said.

Portugal midfielder Cristiano Ronaldo is second on the Forbes list, earning $30 million a year. Ronaldo’s major sponsors include Nike, Coca-Cola and, like Beckham, Giorgio Armani.

Ronaldo, the 2008 FIFA World Player of the Year, became the highest paid football player in the world in June when Real Madrid bought the 25-year-old winger from Manchester United for $130 million. He then signed a six-year contract that pays an estimated $15.5 million in the first year, then increases 25 percent each season.

Brazil playmaker Kaka, Ronaldo’s teammate at Madrid, is third on the list, earning $25 million annually.

The 28-year-old forward, who won the 2007 FIFA World Player of the Year Award, was bought from AC Milan for $91 million – the second highest recorded transfer fee. Kaka’s sponsors include Adidas and Giorgio Armani.

Ronaldinho is fourth on Forbes’ list, also earning $25 million a year. The 30-year-old Brazil forward, who plays for AC Milan, won the FIFA World Player of the Year Award in 2004 and ’05.

Rounding out the top five is France striker Thierry Henry, who makes $24 million a year. The 32-year-old Henry plays for Barcelona and has sponsorships with Reebok, Gillette and Pepsi.

Lionel Messi, the reigning FIFA World Player of the Year, is sixth on the list with earnings of $20 million annually. Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard is seventh, earning $17 million, with teammate John Terry in eighth, earning $16 million.

Sweden striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic is ninth, also earning $16 million, while Liverpool midfielder Steven Gerrard earns $15 million in 10th place.

On Wednesday, Forbes ranked Manchester United as football’s most valuable team. Real Madrid was second and Arsenal was third – the same top three as last year.

ROME (AP) -Ronaldinho, who has been left off Brazil for recent matches, says he’s sure he can persuade coach Dunga to include him for the World Cup in South Africa.

Ronaldinho played in the last two World Cups, but has been overlooked by Dunga, who has been emphasizing team play above individual skills.

In an article to be published on Wednesday in the weekly publication Chi, Ronaldinho predicts he will be a member of the team and says Brazil will win its sixth World Cup title.

“I will go to the World Cup and I will win it,” Ronaldinho said. “Recently I have had problems with the national team, but it hasn’t been my fault. I can’t imagine a World Cup without Ronaldinho on the field.

“It seems impossible to me when I think of not playing,” he added. “I feel bad, really bad. Therefore, I can safely say I will make my country proud in the World Cup and, above all – with my teammates – I’ll win it.”

Despite the fact he is playing well with AC Milan, most observers doubt Dunga will call Ronaldinho back into the team. Brazil was knocked out of the quarterfinals by France in the 2006 World Cup despite a squad with many of the world’s top players.

“It’s not about big names anymore,” Dunga has said repeatedly.

Johan Cruyff (born Hendrik Johannes Cruijff on 25 April 1947 in Amsterdam, Netherlands), is a Dutch football manager, former player and President of Honour of FC Barcelona. He has won the Ballon d’Or three times – in 1971, 1973 and 1974which is a record jointly held with Michel Platini and Marco van Basten. Cruyff was the most famous exponent of the football philosophy known as Total Football, explored by Rinus Michels and is widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time. (Typically dubbed as one of the four football “Legends” along with Diego Maradona, Alfredo di Stéfano, Pelé).

After his retirement from playing in 1984, Cruyff became highly successful as manager of Ajax and later Barcelona; he remains an influential advisor to both clubs. His son Jordi has also gone on to play football professionally.

In 1999, Cruyff was voted European Player of the Century in an election held by the IFFHS, and came second behind Pelé in their World Player of the Century poll. He came third in a vote organised by the French weekly magazine France Football consulting their formerBallon d’Or winners to elect their Football Player of the Century.

On 2 November 2009 Cruyff was named as the head coach of the Catalonia national football team in place of Pere Gratacòs. This is his first coaching job in the last thirteen years.