Summer just isn't quite the same without the World Cup to watch, which is why I'm so excited for the upcoming one. The whole world comes together to watch the purest world championship in all of sports, and the passion of the countries involved is inspiring. So without further ado, I give you five players to watch this June and July in South Africa (assuming they get their stadiums built on time).
Lionel Messi
Standing at 5-foot-7 and 147 pounds, Messi is what ESPN calls ""the best pound-for-pound soccer player in the world, and perhaps of all time."" What Messi lacks in size he makes up with unpredictability, tantalizing runs downfield, and sheer grit and determination. Although he has accomplished basically everything there is to achieve at the club and individual level (Champions League winner, 2009 FIFA World Player of the Year), Messi must prove himself on the world stage soon if he is to cement himself as one of greatest to ever play the game.
At 22, the young Argentinean forward has, at minimum, two more World Cups in him, so there is plenty of time for him to impress in front of a worldwide audience.
Keep an eye on Messi this summer because you never know what magic he will create next.
Cristiano Ronaldo
Along with Messi, Ronaldo is arguably the best player on the planet right now. But there is no denying that he is the most exciting to watch. Ronaldo is like the Barry Sanders of soccer: all finesse, all technical skill, and beautiful to witness. Yes, Ronaldo goes down too easily at times, but it's worth grimacing at the few flops to see the 25-year-old Portuguese star provide the jaw-dropping moments he's known for.
There isn't another player who has the all-around game quite like he does. Free kicks that embarrass the world's best goalies; feet that move so fast you can't tell which one is which; and, despite being somewhat of a diver, fierce headers in the box. These are all elements of Ronaldo's game, but just like Messi, they must be done on a world stage to elevate him to the all-time elite.
Wayne Rooney
Since the young English forward went down with an ankle injury almost a month ago, much of the world has been on Rooney-watch, anxiously awaiting news about his World Cup status. It's generally assumed Rooney will return to full form by June 11, but it's a matter of rehabbing and getting fit enough to handle 90-minute matches.
When he is healthy, Rooney is unlike any other striker. There is truly no other forward who covers as much ground as he does, so fans will see him as far back as their own penalty box to finishing off a goal inside the penalty mark on the other end. His light touch on the ball and stocky build combine to make him hard to match up against.
Look for this lad from across the pond to make a big impact in South Africa.
Clint Dempsey
Obviously, Dempsey doesn't belong among the likes of the previous three players, but he is the U.S. player who can make the biggest impact in the World Cup.
After recent success in the English Premier League at Fulham, Dempsey showed he can play with the best. He has a knack for creating scoring chances and has been one of the club's top playmakers since his arrival. And it's not just his play at the club level that has caught people's attention. Dempsey scored in three straight games against Egypt, then-No. 1 Spain and international powerhouse Brazil in the United States' remarkable run in the 2009 Confederations Cup.
Gianluigi Buffon
What's so exciting about watching a goalie play, you ask? Given that Buffon is one of the all-time greats at the position, a lot. Having watched the Italian keeper thrive in the past few World Cups, I am thoroughly convinced he is the best I have ever seen, and may ever see. During the 2006 World Cup, Buffon only allowed two goals in seven games en route to capturing Italy's fourth La Copa de Mundial trophy. Those two goals he conceded? One penalty kick and one own goal. Buffon rarely makes mistakes and makes difficult stops look easy, in addition to conjuring up some how-did-he-do-that? saves.
With another stellar performance in South Africa, Buffon will forever be acknowledged as one of the best goalkeepers to play the game.
Think somebody else deserves a spot on the list? Ronaldinho or Drogba? E-mail Jack at jpdoyle2@wisc.edu.
