The hard player: Eidur Gudjohnsen
Born on 15 September 1978 in Reykjavik, Eiður Guðjohnsen is the son of former Icelandic international Arnór Guðjohnsen. An attacker comfortable in midfield, he made his mark at Bolton Wanderers (65 appearances, 25 goals), a springboard to Europe’s elite clubs. His longest chapter was written at Chelsea: 263 appearances, 78 goals with the Blues, cementing his place in the club’s history.
After Chelsea, Barcelona came calling: 114 appearances and 19 goals at the Camp Nou. He then moved to Club Bruges (48 appearances, 7 goals) before a return to Bolton (24 appearances, 6 goals). With Iceland’s under-17 side, he scored 6 goals in 27 appearances. His family is a true football dynasty: son Sveinn Aron Guðjohnsen played in Barcelona’s youth academy and earned 7 caps with Iceland’s under-17s, while second son Andri has been at IFK Norrköping since 2022. Now a coach, Guðjohnsen remains a towering figure in Icelandic football.
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PlayThe medium player: Juan Sebastián Verón
Born on 9 March 1975 in La Plata, Juan Sebastián Verón carries a name with deep roots in Argentine football: his father, Juan Ramón Verón, was also a professional footballer. An elegant and technically gifted central midfielder, he cut his teeth at Estudiantes de La Plata (160 appearances, 14 goals) before heading to Europe. Spells at Parma AC (65 appearances, 11 goals) and SS Lazio (62 appearances, 8 goals) built him a formidable reputation on the continent.
Manchester United paid handsomely to bring him to Old Trafford: 82 appearances and 11 goals with the Red Devils, followed by a stint at Inter Milan (49 appearances, 6 goals). With Argentina, he earned 73 caps and scored 9 goals. In 2014, he took a surprising turn, becoming president of Estudiantes de La Plata – his boyhood club – before lacing up his boots again for them in 2017.
The easy player: Kevin De Bruyne
Born on 28 June 1991 in Tronchiennes, Belgium, Kevin De Bruyne – known as KDB – grew into one of the most devastating midfield engines in Europe. He came through KRC Genk (113 appearances, 17 goals) before making his way to England, with a notable detour via VfL Wolfsburg in Germany, where he was named German Bundesliga Player of the Year in 2015. His passing range and ability in tight spaces quickly set him apart at the highest level.
At Manchester City under Pep Guardiola, KDB became the driving force behind the club’s dominance: six Premier League titles between 2018 and 2024, twice named the division’s best player and four times its top assist provider. In 2023, he lifted the Champions League, having already reached the final in 2021. His record at City stands at 422 appearances and 108 goals. With Belgium – 117 caps, 36 goals – he helped secure third place at the 2018 World Cup in Russia. He has since moved to SSC Napoli, where he has clocked 18 appearances and 5 goals.