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.

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.  

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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. 

Following his 6-year stint with Liverpool, Croatian footballer Dejan Lovren has now moved to Russia to captain Zenit Saint Petersburg. He spent his early childhood in the war-torn Bosnia and Herzegovina and then escaped to Germany and eventually to Croatia. He led Croatia to the 2018 FIFA World Cup final.

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. 

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.