The hard player: Nikos Dabizas
Born on 3 August 1973 in Ptolemaida, Western Macedonia, Nikos Dabizas is a Greek central defender who built most of his reputation in England. He made 176 appearances for Newcastle United, chipping in with 14 goals along the way – a solid return for a centre-back. He rounded out his Premier League days with 57 matches at Leicester City and 2 goals.
Before England, he had laid his foundations in Greece at AEL Larissa (159 matches, 3 goals). With the Greek national team, he racked up 71 caps without ever finding the net. A sturdy but under-the-radar profile outside the English game, which probably explains why only 33% of players managed to identify him today.
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PlayThe medium player: Ludovic Giuly
Born in Lyon, Ludovic Giuly made his professional debut with Olympique Lyonnais – 130 appearances, 32 goals – before moving to Monaco, where he won the French league title in 2000 and reached the Champions League final in 2004. That amounts to 239 matches and 61 goals in the red and white shirt, his heaviest statistical stint.
It was at FC Barcelona that his career hit another gear: 124 matches, 26 goals and a Champions League title lifted in 2006. But the rise of Lionel Messi showed him the door. He headed to AS Roma (48 matches, 8 goals) before returning to France, where he won the Coupe de France in 2010 with Paris Saint-Germain (125 matches, 19 goals). On the international front, his 17 caps for France still earned him a Confederations Cup in 2003, but World Cups slipped through his fingers – injuries and coaches’ decisions keeping him out. After his playing days, he moved into TV punditry.
The easy player: Garrincha
Manoel Francisco dos Santos, known as Garrincha, was born on 28 October 1933 in Magé, Brazil. A right winger with a devastating dribble, he spent the bulk of his career at Botafogo, making 612 appearances and scoring 245 goals. He later had spells at Flamengo, Corinthians and Olaria before hanging up his boots.
With the Seleção, he reached legendary status: a two-time World Cup winner in 1958 and 1962, he carried Brazil to that second title after Pelé was injured in the second match of the tournament. He was named the best player of that seventh World Cup edition. In 1998, FIFA included him in the World Team of the 20th Century. His popularity earned him the nickname “Alegria do Povo” – “Joy of the People” in English. A life ended by alcoholism, he passed away on 20 January 1983.