The hard player: Pascal Cygan
Pascal Cygan was born on 29 April 1974 in Lens, and he built his entire career as a central defender. It was at Lille that he made a name for himself, racking up 200 appearances and 9 goals. His career took an unexpected turn with a move to Arsenal FC, where he played 100 games and scored 3 goals.
After England, he continued his journey in Spain, first with Villarreal CF (59 games, 2 goals), then at FC Cartagena (57 games). From Lille to Arsenal, then from Villarreal to Cartagena, a career shaped by travel and challenge, far from the spotlight but rich in miles and experience.
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PlayThe medium player: Pavel Nedvěd
Pavel Nedvěd was born on 30 August 1972 in Cheb, in Czechoslovakia. A natural attacking midfielder, he started out at Dukla Prague before making his mark at Sparta Prague, where he scored 28 goals in 116 games. His Italian adventure began at Lazio Rome, where he played 208 matches and scored 51 goals, before making the move to Juventus.
In Turin, he reached his peak: 65 goals in 327 appearances. With the Czech national side, he accumulated 91 caps and 18 goals, cementing his status as an essential figure in his country’s football. From the concrete pitches of Prague to the floodlights of Turin, Nedvěd carved out a straight and relentless path.
The easy player: Roberto Baggio
Born on 18 February 1967 in Caldogno, Roberto Baggio established himself as an attacking midfielder and forward on Italian pitches for more than two decades. His club career speaks for itself: 115 goals in 200 games at Juventus FC, 55 in 136 at Fiorentina, and another 46 in 101 appearances at Brescia.
He also wore the shirts of AC Milan and Inter Milan, two more stops in a career packed with goals and ambition. From the northern plains to the deep south of the Italian game, Baggio moved from giant to giant, always leaving the same signature: a player who could change a scoreline on his own.