One of the most technically gifted and popular players throughout the 1990's and early 2000's, Roberto Baggio will live long in the history of football for his magical ability, sheer entertainment and at times mind blowing trickery. Born in Caldogno on 18 February, 1967, Roberto's interest in football set him up for a long and fruitful career which started in a local junior club. After some years and a notable 6 goals in one game, he was finally persuaded by a scout to join his local Vincenza in 1982.

Fiorentina were the first big club for which he played. At this time he won a call up to the national team and appeared for Italy in the 1990 World Cup finals though largely as a substitute. He rose to cult hero status with the Fiorentina crowd and on his backhanded sale to Juventus in 1990 for a world record £7.7m, fans of the tuscan club ran riot with 50 being injured for there troubles. It later transpired that he was all along heading to Milan but his agent had secretly planned his move to Juventus without his knowing for which Roberto replied to his faithful florentine fans "I was compelled to accept the transfer". He didn´t waste time however with Juventus with whom he eventually amassed a Scudetto (league) winner's medal along with a UEFA Cup and honours as both European Footballer of the Year and Fifa World player of the year. Add to this his 115 goals from 201 appearances, he firmly established himself as one of the best world players at this stage of his career.

After links with both Manchester United and Blackburn Rovers, pressure gave way to his departure from Juventus to join their close rivals, A.C. Milan in 1995. After a 2 year spell at the Milan giants, which saw him collect his second Scudetto win, he moved on to Bologna to reignite his somewhat stagnated career, successfully it seems as he scored 22 goals, a personal best which gained him a recall to the nation team. He took part in the 1998 World Cup finals in France which turned out to be his third and final World Cup. Controversy mounted as Baggio was prefered to the younger Alessandro Del Piero, though it turned out that his subsititute appearances seemed to lift Italy. After a close game and a near "golden goal" for Baggio, Italy just missed out to eventual champions France.

On the move again, after the 1998 finals, Baggio was set for a return to Milan but this time with A.C. Milans long time home town opponents, Inter (Internazionale). It turned out a bad move for Roberto as the then coach, Marcello Lippi did not favour him culminating in his failure to make the national team. A short 2 year spell at Inter saw him move on again to unfashionable Brescia where he remained until his retirement. Baggio was also left out of the national team for the 2002 Korea/Japan finals which produced heavy criticism for the powers that be. Inspite of a long term serious injury, he still amounted a credible 46 goals from 100 appearances. His final game came on 16th May 2004 against his former team A.C. Milan at the San Siro where he received a huge standing ovation for the delight he had brought so much to so many over his career. In honour of his achievements at Brescia, his favoured number 10 shirt was retired from the squad.

Baggio, a true great of his time, though not finding fortune with the national side and falling foul of bad relations with certain of his managers, he will be best remembered for his jinking little runs, his turns of pace and magic skills and also for some of his most amazing goals he produced over his long and successful career. Indeed, in the name of sporting entertainment, he really was one of the best. A little peak of some of his skills can be seen in this collection of his best moments.



Baggio did not return to football after his career ended, opting for other routes though he plays a role as an ambassador to the game as well as maintaining his own website to keep up with his fans. The soccer player known for his trademark ponytail is also the father of two girls, Valentina and Mattia, with his wife of more than 10 years, Andreina Fabbri. He lists hunting as one of his favorite hobbies, and namesake Roberto Benigni of Life Is Beautiful fame as his favorite actor.

The Editor

Edison Arantes do Nascimento (Pele),was born in Três Corações, Brazil on October 23rd, 1940. He gained his name in his early days at school because he missed pronounced his favourite player from Vasco de Gama, a goalkeeper called Bile as Pele called him "Pile" and the name stuck. Growing up in poverty, with the help of his professional footballing father, Pele learnt to kick around a ball made up of newspaper stuffed into a sock. 

Upon creating his first team he and his friends entered and won a local competition with Pele ending up as top goal soccer. Pele together with a few of his co-players in his original team, the "shoeless ones", were invited to play for the Baquinho boy's team which was managed by former Brazilian international Waldemar de Brito. For the first time in his career, Pele was being paid for his soon to be realised ability as a supreme genius in the football world.

In 1956 and at the age of 15, de Brito took Pele to Santos FC, claiming him the "greatest football player in the world". This statement was soon to be realised as in 1957, at the age of 16, Pele went on to be the highest scorer in the league. Just 10 months later he was drafted into the Brazilian National Team and played on the world stage in both the 1958 and 1962 World Cup Finals. To stop him being snapped up by the lure of big wages from top European teams, the government called him a "national treasure" which ensured his stay as a local player in his native Brazil. By 1969, Pele amounted a truly amazing 1000 goals in all competitions.

At the end of the 1972 season, Pele officially retired from Brazilian football, though still turning out for official matches for Santos every now and again. After two years of semi-retirement he went on to join the New York Cosmos. Though past his best, his role was more personal relations as his presence in the United States football scene raised its profile considerably. After amassing 10 Campeonato Paulista (the most prestigious tournament in Brazil) wins plus numerous other club competitions, the curtain fell on his professional playing career on 1st October 1977 in a historic tribute match between the Cosmos and Santos, with Pele representing both teams for a half.

Pele rose to world prominence and esteemed status with his performances for his country. Involved in both World Cup triumphs for Brazil in the 1958 and 1962 finals, he dazzled the world with his sheer brilliance in his final world cup for Brazil in 1970 in Mexico. Arguably the best World Cup finals in history, Brazil went on to beat the then current champions, England in an enthralling game with Pele playing his role in one of the greatest ever saves made in a World Cup finals, by English goalkeeper, Gordon Banks. He later aided Jairzinho to score the only goal of the game, followed by other memorable matches up until they would meet Italy in the final. The final, a sheer spectacle of footballing marvel from one, if not the best football teams ever to have appeared on the world stage, including Rivelino, Jairzinho, Gerson, Tostão and Clodoaldo tore Italy apart in arguably the world´s most memorable game. Pele scored the first and created two more, the later culminating in the right back, Carlos Alberto smashing home Pele's perfectly weighted pass. With Pelé on the field, the Brazilian team's record was 67 wins, 14 draws, and 11 losses. With Pele and Garrincha, Brazil never lost a game.



Still widely known and recognised, Pele became one of the world´s greatest and most prominent football ambassadors which later resulted in his position as Brazil's Minister for Sport. He even aided the rise of Pepsi Cola, appearing in their advertising campaigns from time to time. Opinion remains a little divided as to whether he was the greatest ever player because most of the money and power in the football world never saw him at club level, having never played in Europe. However, through his achievements for his clubs, he will remain the focal part of their respective histories. Indeed the world has been entertained to the highest level with his performances in the World Cup Finals, especially Mexico '70.

To defy the odds and through his brilliance, rise to such a pedestal from such poverty is only a testament to his resolve and courage. As he himself says "I was born for soccer just as Beethoven was born for music". All who remember him as a football wonder can bear witness to this fact. Those who haven´t... well....Youtube will have to do.

The Editor