Football · Interesting Facts
Chapter 8: Players & Legends
10 parts · 10 tests · 100 facts · updated 23 October 2026 · markdown
The people behind the names: nicknames of the greats, Ballon d'Or stories, trailblazers abroad, goalkeepers' lives, careers after football, one-club men, footballing families, captains' moments, unusual paths to the top and the awards named after players.
8.81Nicknames of the Greats
Der Bomber, Der Kaiser, the Black Panther, the Divine Ponytail, the Galloping Major, Garrincha and Kaká.
Test 1Players' nicknamesTake a test
He scored 365 Bundesliga goals for Bayern.
Source: FC Bayern, 'Gerd Müller, der Bomber der Nation' and 'Franz Beckenbauer' (fcbayern.com) · recall
The nickname is often linked to a photo beside a bust of the Austrian emperor.
Source: FC Bayern, 'Gerd Müller, der Bomber der Nation' and 'Franz Beckenbauer' (fcbayern.com) · recall
He was born in Mozambique and scored nine goals at the 1966 World Cup.
Source: SL Benfica, 'Eusébio' (slbenfica.pt) · recall
The ponytail went with his Buddhist faith and his elegant play.
Source: FIGC, 'Roberto Baggio' (figc.it) · recall
Honvéd was the army club, and its players held military ranks.
Source: Hungarian Football Federation, 'Puskás Ferenc' (mlsz.hu) · recall
His sister is said to have given him the name as a boy.
Source: CBF, 'Garrincha' and 'Kaká' (cbf.com.br) · recall
The name stuck from childhood.
Source: CBF, 'Garrincha' and 'Kaká' (cbf.com.br) · recall
1927, 1929, 1942 and 1945.
Source: Club and federation heritage pages: fcbayern.com, slbenfica.pt, mlsz.hu, figc.it, cbf.com.br · recall
1963, 1965, 1970 and 1972.
Source: France Football, 'Ballon d'Or: the winners since 1956' (francefootball.fr) · recall
He played his whole club career for Dynamo Moscow.
Source: Russian Football Union, 'Lev Yashin' (rfs.ru); FIFA · recall
8.82Ballon d'Or Stories
Matthews first, Di Stéfano twice, Platini three in a row, Keegan at Hamburg, Best in 1968 and Modrić in 2018.
Test 1Ballon d'Or historyTake a test
He was 41 and playing for Blackpool.
Source: France Football, 'Ballon d'Or: the winners since 1956' (francefootball.fr) · recall
He won in 1957 and 1959 with Real Madrid.
Source: France Football, 'Ballon d'Or: the winners since 1956' (francefootball.fr) · recall
He won in 1983, 1984 and 1985 while at Juventus.
Source: France Football, 'Ballon d'Or: the winners since 1956' (francefootball.fr) · recall
He won in 1978 and 1979.
Source: Hamburger SV, 'Kevin Keegan' (hsv.de) · recall
He scored in the final, which Brazil won 3-1 in Santiago.
Source: France Football, 'Ballon d'Or: the winners since 1956' (francefootball.fr) · recall
He had captained West Germany to the 1990 World Cup.
Source: FIFA, 'FIFA World Player of the Year: winners' (inside.fifa.com) · recall
Messi or Ronaldo had won every award from 2008 to 2017.
Source: France Football, 'Ballon d'Or: the winners since 1956' (francefootball.fr) · recall
1956, 1962, 1978 and 1990.
Source: France Football, 'Ballon d'Or: the winners since 1956' (francefootball.fr) · recall
1959, 1985 and 2018.
Source: France Football, 'Ballon d'Or: the winners since 1956' (francefootball.fr) · recall
Its journalists, led by Gabriel Hanot, first voted on European players only.
Source: France Football, 'Ballon d'Or: the winners since 1956' (francefootball.fr) · recall
8.83Trailblazers Abroad
John Charles in Turin, Miura in Brazil, Nakata in Perugia, Park in a final, Son's Golden Boot and Lineker's hat-trick.
Test 1Players abroadTake a test
He later played for Torino, Atalanta and Cagliari.
Source: Inter, 'Gerry Hitchens' (inter.it); Aston Villa heritage pages (avfc.co.uk) · recall
He signed for Santos in 1986.
Source: Japan Football Association, 'Hidetoshi Nakata' and 'Kazuyoshi Miura' (jfa.jp) · recall
He later won Serie A with Roma in 2001.
Source: Japan Football Association, 'Hidetoshi Nakata' and 'Kazuyoshi Miura' (jfa.jp) · recall
He started for Manchester United against Barcelona in Rome.
Source: Manchester United, 'Park Ji-sung' (manutd.com); UEFA, 2009 final report · recall
He shared it with Mohamed Salah on 23 goals.
Source: Tottenham Hotspur, 'Son Heung-min shares the Golden Boot' (tottenhamhotspur.com, 2022) · recall
The Canadian-born England midfielder came through Bayern's academy.
Source: FC Bayern, '2001: Champions League winners' (fcbayern.com) · recall
Barcelona won the Clásico 3-2 at the Camp Nou.
Source: FC Barcelona, 'Gary Lineker's hat-trick in the Clásico, 1987' (fcbarcelona.com) · recall
1957, 1986, 1998 and 2009.
Source: Club histories: juventus.com, santosfc.com.br, perugiacalcio.com, manutd.com · recall
1987, 2001 and 2022.
Source: Club histories: juventus.com, santosfc.com.br, perugiacalcio.com, manutd.com · recall
John Charles scored 108 goals in 155 Serie A matches.
Source: Juventus, 'John Charles, il Gigante Buono' (juventus.com) · recall
8.84Goalkeepers' Lives
Trautmann's broken neck, Camus in goal, Banks' eye, Bonetti, Campos up front and Buffon's hero.
Test 1Goalkeepers' storiesTake a test
The former German prisoner of war played for Manchester City.
Source: Manchester City, 'Bert Trautmann' (mancity.com); FWA, Footballer of the Year winners · recall
Tuberculosis ended his playing days.
Source: Racing Universitaire d'Alger and Fondation Albert Camus records; FIFA · recall
He later played in the United States.
Source: Stoke City FC, 'Gordon Banks' (stokecityfc.com) · recall
He kept goal for England at the 1970 World Cup quarter-final against West Germany.
Source: Chelsea FC, 'Peter Bonetti, The Cat' (chelseafc.com) · recall
He scored dozens of goals as a forward for Pumas.
Source: Mexican Football Federation, 'Jorge Campos' (miseleccion.mx) · recall
Watching the Cameroon keeper at Italia 90 made Buffon want to play in goal.
Source: Juventus, 'Buffon and his hero Thomas N'Kono' (juventus.com); FIFA · recall
He stayed in England after the war and played for City for 15 years.
Source: Manchester City, 'Bert Trautmann' (mancity.com); FWA, Footballer of the Year winners · recall
1930, 1956, 1972 and 1990.
Source: FIFA World Cup archives (inside.fifa.com) and club heritage pages · recall
1966, 1982 and 1994.
Source: FIFA World Cup archives (inside.fifa.com) and club heritage pages · recall
City beat Birmingham 3-1; an X-ray days later showed the broken vertebra.
Source: Manchester City, 'Bert Trautmann' (mancity.com); FWA, Footballer of the Year winners · recall
8.85Life Beyond the Pitch
A senator, a never-booked striker, a singer and a pope in goal, an actor, a dentist and an anti-racism campaigner.
Test 1Players' lives off the pitchTake a test
He became a senator for Rio de Janeiro in 2014.
Source: Senado Federal do Brasil, 'Senador Romário' (senado.leg.br) · recall
Over a career of more than 500 matches.
Source: The FA, 'Gary Lineker' (englandfootball.com); BBC Sport · recall
He began singing while recovering.
Source: Real Madrid, 'Julio Iglesias, canterano' (realmadrid.com) · recall
Karol Wojtyła kept goal in Wadowice, Poland.
Source: Vatican News, 'John Paul II, the goalkeeper' (vaticannews.va) · recall
He played the debt collector Big Chris.
Source: BBC Sport, 'Vinnie Jones: from Wimbledon to Hollywood' · recall
He celebrated his goals with a somersault.
Source: Real Madrid, 'Hugo Sánchez' (realmadrid.com); Mexican Football Federation · recall
He also wrote books on black history.
Source: Fondation Lilian Thuram, 'Éducation contre le racisme' (thuram.org) · recall
1963, 1978, 1995 and 2014.
Source: Senado Federal do Brasil, Vatican News, BBC Sport and club histories · recall
1994, 1998 and 2008.
Source: Senado Federal do Brasil, Vatican News, BBC Sport and club histories · recall
He said it at a press conference after his court case, and then left.
Source: Manchester United, 'Eric Cantona's press conference, 1995' (manutd.com) · recall
8.86One-Club Men
Le Tissier's penalties, Totti's 25 seasons, Seeler's loyalty, Maier's run, Adams and Maldini's 902 games.
Test 1One-club playersTake a test
Nottingham Forest's Mark Crossley made the only save, in 1993.
Source: Southampton FC, 'Matt Le Tissier' (southamptonfc.com) · recall
He made his debut in 1993 and retired in 2017.
Source: AS Roma, 'Francesco Totti' (asroma.com) · recall
Hamburg fans called him 'Uns Uwe', 'our Uwe'.
Source: Hamburger SV, 'Uns Uwe: Uwe Seeler' (hsv.de) · recall
He played on despite the injury and captained the club.
Source: Tottenham Hotspur, 'Ledley King' (tottenhamhotspur.com) · recall
He captained Arsenal to league titles in three different decades.
Source: Arsenal FC, 'Tony Adams' (arsenal.com) · recall
He played 442 league matches in a row for Bayern.
Source: FC Bayern, 'Sepp Maier' (fcbayern.com); Bundesliga records · recall
He played for the club from 1985 to 2009.
Source: AC Milan, 'Paolo Maldini' and 'The retired number 3' (acmilan.com) · recall
1972, 1979, 2002, 2009 and 2017.
Source: Club histories: hsv.de, fcbayern.com, arsenal.com, acmilan.com, asroma.com · recall
1986, 1990 and 2001.
Source: Southampton FC, 'Matt Le Tissier' (southamptonfc.com) · recall
Number 6 was retired for Franco Baresi.
Source: AC Milan, 'Paolo Maldini' and 'The retired number 3' (acmilan.com) · recall
8.87Brothers, Fathers and Sons
The Charltons, the Maldinis, the Xhakas, the Forláns, the Weahs, the de Boers and the Laudrups.
Test 1Football familiesTake a test
Jack played at centre-half and Bobby in midfield.
Source: The FA, 'Jack and Bobby Charlton' (englandfootball.com) · recall
Cesare in 1963 and Paolo in 2003.
Source: AC Milan, 'Paolo Maldini' and 'The retired number 3' (acmilan.com) · recall
Their mother watched in a shirt split between the two.
Source: Swiss FA and Albanian FA reports, Euro 2016 (football.ch; fshf.org); UEFA · recall
His father Pablo played at two World Cups and his grandfather Juan Carlos Corazzo coached Uruguay.
Source: Asociación Uruguaya de Fútbol, 'Diego Forlán' (auf.org.uy); FIFA · recall
His father, the former Ballon d'Or winner, watched from the stands in Qatar.
Source: U.S. Soccer, 'Tim Weah scores at Qatar 2022' (ussoccer.com) · recall
Both later joined Barcelona.
Source: AFC Ajax, 'Frank en Ronald de Boer' (ajax.nl) · recall
Denmark reached the quarter-finals.
Source: Dansk Boldspil-Union, 'Michael og Brian Laudrup' (dbu.dk) · recall
1966, 1998, 2010 and 2016.
Source: Federation and club histories: englandfootball.com, dbu.dk, dfb.de, football.ch, auf.org.uy · recall
The 1950s and 1960s, 1966 and 2010.
Source: Asociación Uruguaya de Fútbol, 'Diego Forlán' (auf.org.uy); FIFA · recall
Jérôme played for Germany and Kevin-Prince for Ghana.
Source: DFB and Ghana FA reports, 2010 World Cup Germany v Ghana (dfb.de; ghanafa.org) · recall
8.88Captains' Moments
Beckenbauer and the new trophy, Passarella, Deschamps twice, Terry in kit, Casillas' three and Cafu's message.
Test 1Famous captainsTake a test
Brazil had kept the Jules Rimet Trophy after 1970.
Source: DFB, '1974: Beckenbauer lifts the new trophy' (dfb.de); FIFA · recall
Argentina won at home in 1978.
Source: AFA, 'Daniel Passarella, capitán campeón 1978' (afa.com.ar) · recall
Mário Zagallo and Franz Beckenbauer had also won as player and coach.
Source: Fédération Française de Football, 'Didier Deschamps' (fff.fr) · recall
He had been sent off in the semi-final against Barcelona.
Source: Chelsea FC, '2012: Munich' (chelseafc.com) · recall
No other captain has done it.
Source: RFEF, 'Iker Casillas, el capitán de los tres títulos' (rfef.es) · recall
It was unveiled when the new Wembley opened in 2007.
Source: Wembley Stadium, 'The Bobby Moore statue' (wembleystadium.com) · recall
He became the first man to play in three World Cup finals in a row.
Source: CBF, 'Cafu: 100% Jardim Irene' (cbf.com.br) · recall
1974, 1978, 1998, 2002 and 2010.
Source: FIFA (inside.fifa.com), UEFA (uefa.com) and federation records · recall
2008, 2010 and 2012.
Source: RFEF, 'Iker Casillas, el capitán de los tres títulos' (rfef.es) · recall
He wrote '100% Jardim Irene' for the São Paulo district.
Source: CBF, 'Cafu: 100% Jardim Irene' (cbf.com.br) · recall
8.89Unusual Paths to the Top
A carpenter, a bricklayer, a tyre fitter, a sausage-factory worker, an electrician and a beetroot packer.
Test 1Late startersTake a test
He turned professional with Kaiserslautern in his twenties.
Source: DFB, 'Miroslav Klose' (dfb.de) · recall
He was scoring for Poole Town before Swindon signed him.
Source: Queens Park Rangers, 'Charlie Austin' (qpr.co.uk) · recall
He later scored freely for Norwich in the Premier League.
Source: Norwich City, 'Grant Holt' (canaries.co.uk) · recall
He was in his early twenties.
Source: Olympique de Marseille, 'Didier Drogba' (om.fr); Chelsea FC · recall
He was playing for Tow Law Town at the time.
Source: Newcastle United, 'Chris Waddle' (nufc.co.uk) · recall
He kept the trade going while playing non-league football and later for Forest.
Source: Nottingham Forest, 'Stuart Pearce' (nottinghamforest.co.uk) · recall
Coventry paid about £25,000 in 1983.
Source: Nottingham Forest, 'Stuart Pearce' (nottinghamforest.co.uk) · recall
1980, 1983, 2003 and 2013.
Source: Club histories: nufc.co.uk, ccfc.co.uk, om.fr, englandfootball.com · recall
1998, 2002, 2003 and 2004.
Source: Olympique de Marseille, 'Didier Drogba' (om.fr); Chelsea FC · recall
He headed in with his first touch for England, against Scotland in 2013.
Source: Southampton FC, 'Rickie Lambert' (southamptonfc.com); The FA, England debut 2013 · recall
8.90Awards Named After Players
The Pichichi, the Zarra, the Kopa, Yashin and Gerd Müller trophies, the Cruijff Schaal and the Eusébio Cup.
Test 1Awards named after playersTake a test
He was 29.
Source: Athletic Club, 'Pichichi' (athletic-club.eus); Marca, 'El Trofeo Pichichi' · recall
Telmo Zarra scored 251 La Liga goals for Athletic.
Source: Marca, 'Trofeo Zarra' and 'Trofeo Di Stéfano' (marca.com) · recall
It is named after Raymond Kopa, the 1958 Ballon d'Or winner.
Source: France Football, 'Kopa Trophy', 'Yashin Trophy' and 'Gerd Müller Trophy' (francefootball.fr) · recall
It is named after the Brazil captain, a qualified doctor.
Source: France Football, 'Kopa Trophy', 'Yashin Trophy' and 'Gerd Müller Trophy' (francefootball.fr) · recall
France Football had introduced it as the striker of the year award in 2021, which he also won.
Source: France Football, 'Kopa Trophy', 'Yashin Trophy' and 'Gerd Müller Trophy' (francefootball.fr) · recall
It was renamed after Cruyff in 1996.
Source: KNVB, 'Johan Cruijff Schaal' (knvb.nl) · recall
Benfica invite a big club each summer.
Source: SL Benfica, 'Troféu Eusébio' (slbenfica.pt) · recall
2018, 2019 and 2021, the last renamed after Müller in 2022.
Source: France Football, 'Kopa Trophy', 'Yashin Trophy' and 'Gerd Müller Trophy' (francefootball.fr) · recall
1952-53, 2005-06 and 2008-09.
Source: Marca, 'Trofeo Zarra' and 'Trofeo Di Stéfano' (marca.com) · recall
Visiting captains leave flowers at the bust at San Mamés.
Source: Athletic Club, 'Pichichi' (athletic-club.eus); Marca, 'El Trofeo Pichichi' · recall
Sources
Primary/official sources only, no Wikipedia citations: clubs' and federations' own histories, France Football, FIFA, UEFA, Marca, Guinness World Records and named reputable media such as the BBC.
- France Football, 'Ballon d'Or: the winners since 1956' (francefootball.fr)9
- France Football, 'Kopa Trophy', 'Yashin Trophy' and 'Gerd Müller Trophy' (francefootball.fr)4
- Manchester City, 'Bert Trautmann' (mancity.com); FWA, Footballer of the Year winners3
- AC Milan, 'Paolo Maldini' and 'The retired number 3' (acmilan.com)3
- FC Bayern, 'Gerd Müller, der Bomber der Nation' and 'Franz Beckenbauer' (fcbayern.com)2
- CBF, 'Garrincha' and 'Kaká' (cbf.com.br)2
- Japan Football Association, 'Hidetoshi Nakata' and 'Kazuyoshi Miura' (jfa.jp)2
- Club histories: juventus.com, santosfc.com.br, perugiacalcio.com, manutd.com2
- FIFA World Cup archives (inside.fifa.com) and club heritage pages2
- Senado Federal do Brasil, Vatican News, BBC Sport and club histories2
- Southampton FC, 'Matt Le Tissier' (southamptonfc.com)2
- Asociación Uruguaya de Fútbol, 'Diego Forlán' (auf.org.uy); FIFA2
- RFEF, 'Iker Casillas, el capitán de los tres títulos' (rfef.es)2
- CBF, 'Cafu: 100% Jardim Irene' (cbf.com.br)2
- Olympique de Marseille, 'Didier Drogba' (om.fr); Chelsea FC2
- Nottingham Forest, 'Stuart Pearce' (nottinghamforest.co.uk)2
- Athletic Club, 'Pichichi' (athletic-club.eus); Marca, 'El Trofeo Pichichi'2
- Marca, 'Trofeo Zarra' and 'Trofeo Di Stéfano' (marca.com)2
- SL Benfica, 'Eusébio' (slbenfica.pt)1
- FIGC, 'Roberto Baggio' (figc.it)1
- Hungarian Football Federation, 'Puskás Ferenc' (mlsz.hu)1
- Club and federation heritage pages: fcbayern.com, slbenfica.pt, mlsz.hu, figc.it, cbf.com.br1
- Russian Football Union, 'Lev Yashin' (rfs.ru); FIFA1
- Hamburger SV, 'Kevin Keegan' (hsv.de)1
- FIFA, 'FIFA World Player of the Year: winners' (inside.fifa.com)1
- Inter, 'Gerry Hitchens' (inter.it); Aston Villa heritage pages (avfc.co.uk)1
- Manchester United, 'Park Ji-sung' (manutd.com); UEFA, 2009 final report1
- Tottenham Hotspur, 'Son Heung-min shares the Golden Boot' (tottenhamhotspur.com, 2022)1
- FC Bayern, '2001: Champions League winners' (fcbayern.com)1
- FC Barcelona, 'Gary Lineker's hat-trick in the Clásico, 1987' (fcbarcelona.com)1
- Juventus, 'John Charles, il Gigante Buono' (juventus.com)1
- Racing Universitaire d'Alger and Fondation Albert Camus records; FIFA1
- Stoke City FC, 'Gordon Banks' (stokecityfc.com)1
- Chelsea FC, 'Peter Bonetti, The Cat' (chelseafc.com)1
- Mexican Football Federation, 'Jorge Campos' (miseleccion.mx)1
- Juventus, 'Buffon and his hero Thomas N'Kono' (juventus.com); FIFA1
- Senado Federal do Brasil, 'Senador Romário' (senado.leg.br)1
- The FA, 'Gary Lineker' (englandfootball.com); BBC Sport1
- Real Madrid, 'Julio Iglesias, canterano' (realmadrid.com)1
- Vatican News, 'John Paul II, the goalkeeper' (vaticannews.va)1
- BBC Sport, 'Vinnie Jones: from Wimbledon to Hollywood'1
- Real Madrid, 'Hugo Sánchez' (realmadrid.com); Mexican Football Federation1
- Fondation Lilian Thuram, 'Éducation contre le racisme' (thuram.org)1
- Manchester United, 'Eric Cantona's press conference, 1995' (manutd.com)1
- AS Roma, 'Francesco Totti' (asroma.com)1
- Hamburger SV, 'Uns Uwe: Uwe Seeler' (hsv.de)1
- Tottenham Hotspur, 'Ledley King' (tottenhamhotspur.com)1
- Arsenal FC, 'Tony Adams' (arsenal.com)1
- FC Bayern, 'Sepp Maier' (fcbayern.com); Bundesliga records1
- Club histories: hsv.de, fcbayern.com, arsenal.com, acmilan.com, asroma.com1
- The FA, 'Jack and Bobby Charlton' (englandfootball.com)1
- Swiss FA and Albanian FA reports, Euro 2016 (football.ch; fshf.org); UEFA1
- U.S. Soccer, 'Tim Weah scores at Qatar 2022' (ussoccer.com)1
- AFC Ajax, 'Frank en Ronald de Boer' (ajax.nl)1
- Dansk Boldspil-Union, 'Michael og Brian Laudrup' (dbu.dk)1
- Federation and club histories: englandfootball.com, dbu.dk, dfb.de, football.ch, auf.org.uy1
- DFB and Ghana FA reports, 2010 World Cup Germany v Ghana (dfb.de; ghanafa.org)1
- DFB, '1974: Beckenbauer lifts the new trophy' (dfb.de); FIFA1
- AFA, 'Daniel Passarella, capitán campeón 1978' (afa.com.ar)1
- Fédération Française de Football, 'Didier Deschamps' (fff.fr)1
- Chelsea FC, '2012: Munich' (chelseafc.com)1
- Wembley Stadium, 'The Bobby Moore statue' (wembleystadium.com)1
- FIFA (inside.fifa.com), UEFA (uefa.com) and federation records1
- DFB, 'Miroslav Klose' (dfb.de)1
- Queens Park Rangers, 'Charlie Austin' (qpr.co.uk)1
- Norwich City, 'Grant Holt' (canaries.co.uk)1
- Newcastle United, 'Chris Waddle' (nufc.co.uk)1
- Club histories: nufc.co.uk, ccfc.co.uk, om.fr, englandfootball.com1
- Southampton FC, 'Rickie Lambert' (southamptonfc.com); The FA, England debut 20131
- KNVB, 'Johan Cruijff Schaal' (knvb.nl)1
- SL Benfica, 'Troféu Eusébio' (slbenfica.pt)1