Happy Birthday to you!
In our regular Sunday feature, FIFA.com presents you with some of the biggest names in football who will be celebrating their birthdays over the coming week.
29. Carlos Pena (25) made one appearance for Mexico at the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™, having previously starred in the qualifying campaign for the prestigious tournament and at the 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup. The astute midfielder began his career with Pachuca, with whom he competed at the 2010 FIFA Club World Cup, before joining Leon, where he has since won one Liga de Ascenso title and two Liga MX crowns.
30. Sergio Ramos (29) has had a rollercoaster year, lifting the Copa del Rey and the UEFA Champions League trophy with Real Madrid but failing to advance past the group stage with Spain at Brazil 2014. He had previously experienced much better days with La Roja, reaching the Round of 16 at Germany 2006 and hoisting the iconic trophy at South Africa 2010. In addition, the confident defender, who generally captains his international side when Iker Casillas is absent, clinched back-to-back UEFA European Championship titles in 2008 and 2012, and took part in the last two FIFA Confederations Cup contests, having previously emerged victorious from the 2004 UEFA European U-19 Championship. In the early stages of this current season, the commanding centre-back overcame his World Cup disappointment by brandishing the UEFA Super Cup and the Club World Cup. Ramos rose to prominence at Sevilla, where his performances piqued the interest of Real, who secured his signature in 2005. Aside from the aforementioned honours, he also claimed the 2011 Spanish Cup, two Spanish Super Cups (2008 and 2012) and three Liga titles (2007, 2008 and 2012) with Los Blancos.
31. Tommy Smith (25) participated in New Zealand’s unbeaten 2010 World Cup campaign in South Africa, the first time his nation had qualified for the tournament since 1982. He played in three group matches, which all concluded in draws. The hard-working left-back also appeared at the 2007 FIFA U-17 World Cup and at the 2012 Men’s Olympic Football Tournament in London. Born in England, Smith is a product of Ipswich Town’s youth academy. Prior to establishing a place in the Tractor Boys’ starting XI, he embarked on several loan spells with modest English clubs such as Brentford.
1. Giancarlo Antognoni (61) donned the blue of Italy at Argentina 1978, where La Nazionale finished fourth, and at Spain 1982, where he and his team-mates prevailed in style. In total, the skilful attacking midfielder amassed eleven appearances at those two World Cups. He was also part of the Italian side that finished fourth on home soil at EURO 1980. Antognoni spent the majority of his career with Fiorentina, notably lifting the Coppa Italia in 1975. After 15 seasons in Florence, the talented Italian saw out the remainder of his playing days with Swiss outfit Lausanne.
2. Badou Zaki (56) is a living legend of Moroccan football, having acted as the Atlas Lions’ last line of defence at Mexico 1986, where a golden generation of footballers broke new ground by becoming the first African team to reach the Round of 16. The imposing goalkeeper also appeared at four CAF Africa Cup of Nations tournaments, finishing third in 1980, and at the 1984 Olympic Football Tournament. After starting out at in his homeland with AS Sale, he went on to bag two Moroccan League titles and two Moroccan Cups with Wydad Casablanca. In the wake of the World Cup, he exported his goalkeeping skills to Mallorca, later winning the 1989 Ricardo Zamora Trophy for the lowest goals-to-games ratio and helping the island side to attain the 1991 Copa del Rey final, a match they lost to Atletico Madrid. Upon returning to Morocco, the 1986 African Footballer of the Year brought his career to a close at FUS Rabat. After hanging up his gloves, Zaki moved into coaching, taking the reins of numerous clubs such as Wydad, where his charges hoisted the Moroccan Cup. He currently fulfils the role of Moroccan national coach, his second stint in that particular post. First time around, he guided the North Africans to a runners-up spot at the 2004 Cup of Nations.
3. Jose Maria Basanta (31) was part of the Argentina squad that reached the final of Brazil 2014. The defender turned professional at Estudiantes, but after finding playing time hard to come by, he signed for Club Olimpo, where he won two second division championships. A return to Estudiantes followed, as did a move to Mexico, where he put pen to paper with Monterrey. The Argentinian would go on to enjoy considerable success with Los Rayados, scooping two Mexican League titles and three CONCACAF Champions League crowns, and finishing third at the 2012 Club World Cup. At the beginning of season 2014/15, Basanta committed himself to Fiorentina.
4. Nadine Kessler (27) recently had the 2014 FIFA World Player of the Year award bestowed upon her, an accolade that her performances and achievements have certainly merited. The dynamic attacking midfielder gained her first taste of global football competition at the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cups of 2006 and 2008. She also triumphed at two UEFA Women’s U-19 Championships and at the senior UEFA Women’s Championship in 2013. This coming summer, she hopes to take part in her first FIFA Women’s World Cup™ in Canada, but injury may mean she misses out. Kessler started off at Sarrebrucken, where she earned a German second division winners’ medal, but subsequently decided to try her luck with Turbine Postdam, where she captured the Frauen-Bundesliga title and the UEFA Women’s Champions League trophy. A transfer to Wolfsburg saw the highly regarded German pick up two further Bundesliga crowns, a German Cup and two additional Women’s Champions League titles. In 2014, she added the UEFA Best Women's Player in Europe Award to her impressive CV.