Cancer Football Players

Considered one of the best football players in the world and a prolific goal scorer, Lionel Messi has shattered and created numerous records in his playing career. Regarded by another soccer legend, Diego Maradona, as his successor, the Argentinian superstar is also one of the world’s highest paid athletes.

Amongst the greatest footballers of all time, Zinedine Zidane led France to victories in the FIFA World Cup in 1998 and the European Championship in 2000. Later, the three-time FIFA World Player of the Year took up the position of Real Madrid manager and carved yet another success story by winning major titles like Champions League and UEFA Super Cups.

The charismatic Welsh footballer player, Gareth Frank Bale played for Southampton football club and Tottenham Hotspur extensively before joining Real Madrid in 2013 for a fees that exceeded Christiano Ronaldo’s earlier record fee. Known for his speed and accuracy, Gareth Bales is also the captain of Wales national team and plays for Tottenham Hotspur, on loan from Real Madrid.

Patrick Vieira is a football manager and former footballer. Vieira, who was an important member of the France national team, is currently serving as the manager of Crystal Palace Football Club which competes in the Premier League. Widely regarded as one of the best players of his time, Vieira helped his team win its first FIFA World Cup in 1998.

Alfredo Di Stéfano was an Argentine-born Spanish football player and coach. Counted among the greatest football players of all time, Di Stéfano is remembered for his association with Real Madrid, where he played a major role in the club's domination of La Liga and the European Cup during the 1950s. In 2004, he was included in Pele’s FIFA 100 list.

Paolo Maldini is an Italian former professional footballer widely regarded as one of the greatest ever defenders. He played primarily as a left-back and central defender and was affiliated with Milan and the Italian national team. Currently, he is serving as the technical director for Milan. He is also the co-owner of the USL Championship club Miami FC.  

James Rodríguez is a versatile football player adept at playing as a central midfielder, playmaker, and winger. At the initial stages of his career, he was counted among the best young international players. He made a major impact during the 2014 FIFA World Cup where he won the Golden Boot for scoring the most number of goals.

Alex Morgan is an American soccer player who helped her national team win the 2015 and 2019 FIFA Women's World Cups. Thanks to her popularity, Morgan has appeared in several magazines and TV shows. Her numerous endorsement deals have made her one of the highest-paid American sportswomen. In 2019, she was named in Time magazine's 100 Most Influential People list.

Patrick Kluivert was one of the star Dutch footballers of his time who played as a striker for clubs such as Ajax, Barcelona, and AC Milan. The UEFA Euro 2000 Golden Boot winner has also managed teams such as Netherlands and Cameroon. He later held administrative positions at Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona.

David Alaba is an Austrian football player who currently plays for the Real Madrid Club de Fútbol and the Austria national football team. Best known for his versatility, Alaba can play as a midfielder and defender. Counted among the greatest defenders of his generation, David Alaba is a two-time Austrian Sports Personality of the Year recipient.  

Guillermo Ochoa is a Mexican professional footballer. He currently plays as a goalkeeper for Liga MX club América and the Mexico national team. He made his senior-level professional debut in 2004 and won his first league title in 2005. He has been a part of many FIFA World Cup squads. He is married to Mexican model Karla Mora. 

Often described as a complete football player, Kevin De Bruyne is also widely regarded as one of the best players of his generation. Over the years, he has had a major impact on the Manchester City Football Club, helping his team win several games. He is also a key player for the Belgian national football team.

Dutch footballer Virgil van Dijk plays as a defender for Liverpool and has won several titles, such as a Premier League, with them. Starting his senior career with Groningen, he later played for teams such as Celtic and Southampton. He is the only defender to be named the UEFA Men's Player of the Year.

Mario Gómez is a German former footballer who played for the Germany national football team between 2007 and 2018, during which he represented Germany in two FIFA World Cups and three UEFA European Championships. He was also an important member of the popular club Bayern Munich as he helped the team secure several trophies, such as the UEFA Champions League.

German footballer Serge Gnabry was scouted by VfB at age 12. Though he also excelled in track and field, too, he later chose football. At the 2016 Olympics, he helped Germany win the silver and was also the joint top-scorer. He is part of the philanthropic initiative Common Goal.

Ruud van Nistelrooy is a Dutch former football player who is widely regarded as one of the best strikers in the history of football. In 2004, he was included in Pele's FIFA 100 list. Ruud van Nistelrooy played for the Netherlands national football team from 1998 to 2011, during which he represented the team in several important tournaments.

Dirk Kuyt is a Dutch retired football player who played for the Netherlands national football team from 2004 to 2014. He represented his country at important tournaments, including the 2006, 2010, and 2014 World Cups. In 2006, he was named Dutch Footballer of the Year. Dirk Kuyt was also an important player for popular clubs like Liverpool and Fenerbahçe. 

Lucas Digne is a French professional footballer. He plays as a left-back for Premier League club Everton and the France national team. He was part of the France under-20 team that won the 2013 World Cup. He made his senior international debut in March 2014. He took part in the UEFA Euro 2016 and UEFA Euro 2020. 

Retired Belgian footballer Mousa Dembélé was best known as a central midfielder for clubs such as Fulham, AZ, and Tottenham Hotspur. He has also played for the Chinese club Guangzhou City and been part of the FIFA World Cup third-place-winning Belgian team in 2018.

Dutch football coach and retired footballer Jaap Stam is regarded as one of the greatest defenders of his time. Starting his senior career with FC Zwolle, he later had successful stints with clubs such as Manchester United, Ajax, and PSV. Post-retirement, he has also coached teams such as Reading and PEC Zwolle.

The most capped footballer of the Irish national team, Robbie Keane is also Ireland’s top goal-scorer, with 68 international goals. Starting his career at 17, he was initially part of the English league system and played for teams such as Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur. He later also represented LA Galaxy.

An ace footballer and goalkeeper, Fabien Barthez played club football for reputed clubs like Toulouse, Marseille, Monaco and Manchester United. Equally active in international football, he represented his country in all major international events, winning the 1998 FIFA World Cup, UEFA Euro 2000, and the 2003 FIFA Confederations Cup for France. Currently a racing driver, he competes in selected events

Juan Román Riquelme is an Argentine former football player best known for his association with Boca Juniors, winning 10 titles for the club. Counted among the greatest Argentine players ever, Riquelme led his team at the 2008 Olympics where they won the gold medal. Juan Román Riquelme is also widely regarded as one of the best midfielders of his generation.

Gianluca Vialli is an Italian former football player who played as a striker. He scored 286 goals in more than 500 appearances and is the  tenth-highest scoring Italian footballer in all competitions. After his retirement, he became manager of the English football club Chelsea and was one of the club's most successful managers.

Samir Nasri is a French retired professional footballer. He primarily played in the attacking midfielder position, although he also played in central midfield sometimes. He began playing as a child and made his professional debut in 2004 at the age of 17. He was named the French Player of the Year in 2010. He retired in 2020. 

Hugo Sánchez is a Mexican former professional footballer. He used to play as a forward and was a prolific goal scorer. He is widely regarded as the greatest Mexican footballer of all time and was named on the FIFA 100 list of the world's greatest living players in 2004. He became a manager after retirement. 

German footballer Loris Karius was initially encouraged to become a motocross rider by his father, but he chose football instead. A promising goalkeeper, he has played for Liverpool, and was part of the club squad that managed to reach the runner-up spot at the 2017-18 UEFA Champions League.

Samir Handanović is a Slovenian football player who plays as a goalkeeper. The current captain of the popular Italian club, Inter Milan, Handanović has been playing for the team since 2012, winning tournaments like Coppa Italia, Supercoppa Italiana, and Serie A. Counted among the best goalkeepers of his generation, Samir Handanović was named Slovenian Footballer of the Year thrice.