Stuart Taylor The second choice goalkeeper collected a winners’ medal at Arsenal during their 2001/02 league winning season when manager Arsene Wenger brought him on for Richard Wright on the final day of the season
Lothar Matthaus (Ballon d’Or 1990; FIFA World Player of the Year 1991) The Germany legend was the first recipient of the FIFA World player of the Year award which came into existence in 1991. The
Sir Stanley Matthews The Blackpool and Stoke City legend earned his knighthood in 1965 and became the first footballer to be knighted. He remains the only footballer to be knighted while still playing. Matthews had
Juventus When the Italian outfit began their football journey, they originally wore pink shirts but the colour could hardly bear the burden of repeated washing and would ultimately fade away. Juventus wanted a solution for
History of the Ballon d’Or The concept of awarding the best European player each year was started by the French magazine France Football, which first came up with the idea in 1956. The idea conceived
Thiago Motta (Inter Milan vs. Barcelona, semi-final second leg, 2009/10) In one of the most infamous instances of a red card being dished out, Thiago Motta was sent off for a hand in the face
Chelsea 1-1 (4-3 on penalties) Bayern Munich (final, 2011/12) Heading in to the 2012 Champions League final, Bayern Munich were the overwhelming favourites. The Bavarian giants were playing at home and Chelsea had barely survived
Gianluigi Buffon One of the greatest goalkeepers of his generation, Buffon is still searching for his first Champions League win. The 2006 World Cup and a seven-time Serie A winner, has finished twice as runners-up
Wigan Athletic beat Manchester City (1-0), 2013 Heading into the final at Wembley, Wigan Athletic had already been relegated from the Premier League after flirting with demotion to the Championship in the seasons prior before
Germany and the Netherlands (7) The two rival nations have been the most dominant at the Ballon d’Or awards with their players collecting seven gongs each. For Germany the first win came from Gerd Muller,
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