The hard player: Yohan Cabaye
Born on 14 January 1986 in Tourcoing, Yohan Cabaye built his name as a composed and technical midfielder at LOSC Lille, making 253 appearances and scoring 38 goals – the platform that launched him onto the European stage. He then moved to Newcastle United, where he established himself in the Premier League with 18 goals in 93 matches, before joining Paris Saint-Germain for a 57-match stint that yielded 3 goals.
His career then took him to Crystal Palace, where he featured in 109 matches and scored 10 goals, before a return to France with AS Saint-Étienne. A French international who came through the youth ranks, Cabaye went on to become sporting director of the Paris Saint-Germain academy after retiring as a player.
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PlayThe medium player: Diego Forlán
Born on 19 May 1979 in Montevideo, Diego Forlán took time to make his mark in Europe – 17 goals in 98 appearances at Manchester United wasn’t the most convincing start. It was at Villarreal CF, with 59 goals in 127 matches, that he truly announced himself, before confirming his class at Atlético de Madrid with 96 goals in 198 games. He claimed the European Golden Shoe in 2005 and again in 2009, a double achievement that spoke for itself.
His finest hour came at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, where he was named the tournament’s best player and finished fifth in the Ballon d’Or that year. For Uruguay, he earned 112 caps and scored 36 goals, won the 2011 Copa América, and ranks as the third all-time scorer in Uruguayan football history, behind only Luis Suárez and Edinson Cavani.
The easy player: Zlatan Ibrahimović
Born on 3 October 1981 in Malmö, Zlatan Ibrahimović built an extraordinary career across Europe’s biggest clubs. He started at Ajax Amsterdam, scoring 48 goals in 110 appearances, before moving through Juventus, Inter Milan, Barcelona, AC Milan and finally Paris Saint-Germain, where he hit 156 goals in 180 matches. His unique achievement: winning the league title in four different countries – the Netherlands with Ajax, Italy with Inter and AC Milan, Spain with Barcelona, and France with PSG.
For Sweden, Ibrahimović is simply the all-time top scorer with 62 goals in 122 caps, representing his country from 2001 to 2023. His powerful build, flexibility honed through a black belt in taekwondo, and relentless media presence turned him into a cultural icon well beyond football. He retired at 41, leaving behind a verb coined in his honour: “zlataner”.