Skip to content

Top Navigation

PEOPLE.com PEOPLE.com
    • All News
    • Coronavirus
    • Crime
    • Human Interest
    • Politics
    • Heroes
    • Stories to Make You Smile
    • All Entertainment
    • Celebrity
    • TV
    • Movies
    • Music
    • Country
    • Awards
    • Sports
    • Theater
    • Books
  • Royals
    • All Lifestyle
    • Style
    • Fashion
    • Beauty
    • Health
    • Parents
    • Home
    • Pets
    • Food
    • Tech
    • Travel
  • PeopleTV
    • All Shopping
    • People Tested
    • All Podcasts
    • Me Becoming Mom
    • People Every Day
    • PEOPLE in the '90s

Profile Menu

Join Now

Account

  • Join Now
  • My Profile
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription
  • Logout

More

  • Give a Gift Subscription
  • Premium
My Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • My Profile
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription
  • Logout

More

  • Give a Gift Subscription
  • Premium
Login
Subscribe

Explore PEOPLE.com

PEOPLE.com PEOPLE.com
  • Explore

    Explore

    • Rita Moreno Says She Dated Elvis as Revenge Against Cheating Ex Marlon Brando: 'It Was Wonderful'

      Rita Moreno Says She Dated Elvis as Revenge Against Cheating Ex Marlon Brando: 'It Was Wonderful'

      Rita Moreno revealed she dated Elvis Presley to get back at her ex-boyfriend Marlon Brando for cheating on her Read More
    • Machine Gun Kelly Poses with Daughter Casie at the 2021 American Music Awards

      Machine Gun Kelly Poses with Daughter Casie at the 2021 American Music Awards

      The American Music Awards, hosted by Cardi B, are broadcasting live from Los Angeles on Sunday Read More
    • Jennifer Lopez Sings from the Heart in New 'On My Way' Music Video

      Jennifer Lopez Sings from the Heart in New 'On My Way' Music Video

      Jennifer Lopez released the official music video for her song "On My Way," which is featured in her upcoming rom-com Marry Me Read More
  • News

    News

    See All News
    Stars Who Opened Up About Their Sexuality and Gender Identity in 2021

    Stars Who Opened Up About Their Sexuality and Gender Identity in 2021

    • Coronavirus
    • Crime
    • Human Interest
    • Politics
    • Heroes
    • Stories to Make You Smile
  • Entertainment

    Entertainment

    See All Entertainment
    The Best (& Worst) Jeopardy! Celebrity Guest Host Show Moments

    The Best (& Worst) Jeopardy! Celebrity Guest Host Show Moments

    • Celebrity
    • TV
    • Movies
    • Music
    • Country
    • Awards
    • Sports
    • Theater
    • Books
  • Royals
  • Lifestyle

    Lifestyle

    See All Lifestyle
    Billie Eilish Ditches Her Blonde Hair for Brunette Tresses: 'Miss Me?'

    Billie Eilish Ditches Her Blonde Hair for Brunette Tresses: 'Miss Me?'

    The singer revealed that she dyed her hair dark brown after debuting her blonde look earlier this year
    • Style
    • Fashion
    • Beauty
    • Health
    • Parents
    • Home
    • Pets
    • Food
    • Tech
    • Travel
  • PeopleTV
  • Shopping

    Shopping

    See All Shopping
    • People Tested
  • Podcasts

    Podcasts

    See All Podcasts
    Sen. Tammy Duckworth Calls Going Back to Work After Having a Miscarriage 'Inhumane'

    Sen. Tammy Duckworth Calls Going Back to Work After Having a Miscarriage 'Inhumane'

    "Even though we cleared my calendar for the day, I was still on the phone. There was no resting, you just kept on going," Tammy Duckworth says on an episode of PEOPLE's podcast Me Becoming Mom
    • Me Becoming Mom
    • People Every Day
    • PEOPLE in the '90s

Profile Menu

Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
Join Now

Account

  • Join Now
  • My Profile
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription
  • Logout

More

  • Give a Gift Subscription
  • Premium
My Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • My Profile
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription
  • Logout

More

  • Give a Gift Subscription
  • Premium
Login
Sweepstakes

Follow Us

  1. People.com
  2. Celebrity
  3. World Cup's Finest!

World Cup's Finest!

From the USA's own Landon Donovan and Oguchi Onyewu to international stars like Cristiano Ronaldo, check out a dozen reasons to be a soccer fan
By Cara Lynn Shultz Updated June 23, 2010 05:00 PM
Skip gallery slides
FB Tweet

1 of 12

FB Tweet
Pinterest Email Send Text Message

LANDON DONOVAN

LANDON DONOVAN
Credit: Jed Jacobsohn/Getty

If You Like: An all-or-nothing guy
With the U.S. facing World Cup elimination, the midfielder, 28, scored the match-winning goooaaaal against Algeria, sending Team USA to the round of 16. Equally impressive: Donovan's love of country, which he put on display in a flag-baring photo shoot for Vanity Fair.

1 of 12

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 12

FB Tweet
Pinterest Email Send Text Message

CARLOS BOCANEGRA

CARLOS BOCANEGRA
Credit: Jim Watson/AFP/Getty

If You Like: A leader
As captain of the U.S. national team, Bocanegra, 31, helped lead America to the final round of 16 in the World Cup. He's someone who knows how to use his head – literally, having scored most of his 10 goals with his noggin.

2 of 12

3 of 12

FB Tweet
Pinterest Email Send Text Message

GIANLUCA ZAMBROTTA

GIANLUCA ZAMBROTTA
Credit: Claudio Villa/Getty

If You Like: Confident guys
The Italian team may be eliminated – just don't tell the AC Milan defender, 33. "We haven't thought about it and we're not thinking about it," he said.

3 of 12

Advertisement
Continued on next slide.
Advertisement

4 of 12

FB Tweet
Pinterest Email Send Text Message

JERMAIN DEFOE

JERMAIN DEFOE
Credit: Quinn Rooney/FIFA/Getty

If You Like: A closer
The English player, 27, scored the lone goal that helped his country advance beyond Slovenia to the knockout round of 16 countries.

4 of 12

Advertisement

5 of 12

FB Tweet
Pinterest Email Send Text Message

GREGORY VAN DER WIEL

GREGORY VAN DER WIEL
Credit: Stuart Franklin/Getty

If You Like: Bad boys
While sidelined with a concussion, the Dutch star, 22, took time off not to rest – but to go to a Lil Wayne concert. After posting a pic with the rapper on his Twitter page, it ignited public fury in his country. Naughty, naughty!

5 of 12

6 of 12

FB Tweet
Pinterest Email Send Text Message

SERGIO AGUERO

SERGIO AGUERO
Credit: Chris McGrath/Getty

If You Like: A man with family ties
The Argentine player, 22, has some heavy-hitters behind him – his father-in-law is international superstar Diego Maradona, who now manages Argentina's national team.

6 of 12

Advertisement
Advertisement
Continued on next slide.
Advertisement

7 of 12

FB Tweet
Pinterest Email Send Text Message

OGUCHI ONYEWU

OGUCHI ONYEWU
Credit: Shaun Botterill/FIFA/Getty

If You Like: A man of principal
The American defender, 28, sued Belgian player Jelle Van Damme after he called him a derogatory name on the field. "I don't feel amongst the players on the field there should be room for such negativity or narrow-minded ways of thinking," the Nigerian native told the New York Times.

7 of 12

Advertisement
Advertisement

8 of 12

FB Tweet
Pinterest Email Send Text Message

IKER CASILLAS

IKER CASILLAS
Credit: LLuis Gene/AFP/Getty

If You Like: The next big thing
Agile and quick-thinking, the Spanish goalkeeper, 29, is being hailed as the best goalie in the world – no wonder he wears Real Madrid's prestigious No. 1 jersey.

8 of 12

Advertisement

9 of 12

FB Tweet
Pinterest Email Send Text Message

LUKAS PODOLSKI

LUKAS PODOLSKI
Credit: Joern Pollex/Getty

If You Like: Funny men
The German footballer, 25, and teammate Franck Ribery were known for playing pranks on each other during training camp (toothpaste under doorknobs!), earning him the nickname, "The Joker with a Hammer for a Left Foot" – which probably sounds better in German.

9 of 12

Advertisement
Advertisement
Continued on next slide.
Advertisement

10 of 12

FB Tweet
Pinterest Email Send Text Message

TIM HOWARD

TIM HOWARD
Credit: Bob Thomas/Getty

If You Like: A fighter
The U.S. star, 31, was diagnosed with Tourette syndrome when he was 9, and has since become an spokesperson for the illness."It's just a battle of the will, your willpower versus what your mind is telling your body to do," he has said.

10 of 12

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

11 of 12

FB Tweet
Pinterest Email Send Text Message

JOE COLE

JOE COLE
Credit: Michael Regan/The FA/Getty

If You Like: An overachiever
Long touted as the hottest young player in England, the 28-year-old Brit was a child prodigy, scoring 7 out of 8 goals against Spain as a member of England's youth team.

11 of 12

Advertisement
Advertisement

12 of 12

FB Tweet
Pinterest Email Send Text Message

CRISTIANO RONALDO

CRISTIANO RONALDO
Credit: INF

If You Like: The total package
Like David Beckham, he's an international superstar who already has his own wax figure at Madame Tussauds. The Portuguese team captain, 25, even took over for Becks as the face – and, er, package – of Emporio Armani's underwear line.

12 of 12

Advertisement
Advertisement
Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook

Up Next

By Cara Lynn Shultz

    Share the Gallery

    Pinterest Facebook
    Trending Videos
    Advertisement
    Skip slide summaries

    Everything in This Slideshow

    Advertisement

    View All

    1 of 12 LANDON DONOVAN
    2 of 12 CARLOS BOCANEGRA
    3 of 12 GIANLUCA ZAMBROTTA
    4 of 12 JERMAIN DEFOE
    5 of 12 GREGORY VAN DER WIEL
    6 of 12 SERGIO AGUERO
    7 of 12 OGUCHI ONYEWU
    8 of 12 IKER CASILLAS
    9 of 12 LUKAS PODOLSKI
    10 of 12 TIM HOWARD
    11 of 12 JOE COLE
    12 of 12 CRISTIANO RONALDO

    Share & More

    Pinterest Email Send Text Message
    PEOPLE.com

    Magazines & More

    Learn More

    • Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
    • Advertise this link opens in a new tab
    • Content Licensing
    • Accolades this link opens in a new tab

    Connect

    Subscribe to Our Newsletter
    Meredith© Copyright 2022 Meredith Corporationthis link opens in a new tab. People is a registered trademark of Meredith Corporation All Rights Reserved. People may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice. Privacy Policythis link opens in a new tab Terms of Servicethis link opens in a new tab Ad Choicesthis link opens in a new tab Manage Push Notificationsthis link opens in a new tab California Do Not Sellthis link opens a modal window Web Accessibilitythis link opens in a new tab

    Manage Push Notifications

    If you would like to opt out of browser push notifications, please refer to the following instructions specific to your device and browser: Google Chrome and Android, Firefox, Safari, or Microsoft Edge.
    © Copyright PEOPLE.com. All rights reserved. Printed from https://people.com

    Sign in

    View image

    World Cup's Finest!
    this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines.