Written By: Nirmalya Dutta | Updated : June 12, 2014 12:07 PM IST
The World Cup 2014 in Brazil is going to start today and the entire world is waiting to see the greatest show on earth get started. Even Google celebrated the momentous occasion with a doodle.
Considered the greatest show on earth, more than a billion people will tune in to watch as the greatest footballers on the planet go head to head to win the ultimate prize. What's even more amazing is that some of these footballers who will compete at the World Cup will have done it after completing a strenuous 60-game season, but the modern day footballer is an extremely fit creature. But who's the fittest of them all? Here's our top 10 list:
Cristiano Ronaldo
When you think of the modern day footballer with everything in his locker, no one epitomises it better than Cristiano Ronaldo who just led his Real Madrid to their 10th European Cup win. The Portuguese has a body that looks like it has been sculpted from stone. His former power development coach Mike Clegg described him as the perfect specimen. 'From his height to his natural body type, muscular structure, how much fat he's got in his system, his endurance capacity, flexibility, power and strength they are in perfect balance,' he said. A documentary by Castrol actually found that he could sprint like an Olympic sprinter, jump like a basketball player and was in essence the perfect athlete.
Lionel Messi
Ronaldo's great rival Lionel Messi might not have his sculpted physique but there's no denying that he's fit beyond measure, though he has suffered from some injury setbacks this year. His speed, acceleration, agility, balance and composure on the field is downright frightening and his personal battle with Ronaldo for the greatest player ever tag has defined football for this generation. And to think this is a lad who had a growth hormone deficiency as a child!
Mario Balotelli
Italian football's bad boy Mario Balotelli is quite a handful but the player has had quite a rough upbringing suffering racial abuse in his native Italy. But there's no denying the fact that Mario Balotelli is one of the fittest footballers around, just remember his strongman goal celebration after scoring with an unstoppable shot against Germany in the Euro 2012 semi-final. And Italians will be hoping that their temperamental forward brings his A game to the World Cup, with the nation's hopes resting on a player's shoulders who they refused to claim as their own because he was black.
Dani Alves
The Barcelona right-back is one of the fittest players in the Barcelona squad that has dominated football for so long and his marauding runs down the right have brought them many goals over the years. His productivity stems for the fact that he can cover so much ground in fact, in the Champions League group stages he made more crosses in the final third than any other player!
Romelu Lukaka
The Belgian Chelsea striker who spent the season on loan at Everton reminds everyone of a young Didier Drogba and he is an absolute beast on the field and is arguably one of the strongest forwards in world football right now. Part of a very talented Belgian squad which includes Eden Hazard, Thibaut Courtois and Adnan Januzaj and he has gained a Chuck Norris/Rajnikanth like fan following for his strength. As one joke goes, 'When Bruce Banner gets angry he turns into the Hulk and when the Hulk gets angry, he turns into Lukaku!'
Philip Lahm
Considered one of the greatest fullbacks to ever play the game, he was part of the German national squad from a young age. He possesses amazing pace, dribbling skills and is quite a tackler to boot which has earned him the nickname Magic Dwarf. Now the captain of the German national team, there will be a lot of expectations on him to lead his talented team to the World Cup.
Wayne Rooney
The temperamental Scouser has been in the limelight ever since he was 16 and burst on the scene with a wonder goal against Arsenal. Since then he has moved to Manchester United and has established himself as one of the elite players in world football. Despite being a centre-forward, Wayne Rooney can often be found on every part of the pitch thanks to his amazing stamina and never-say-die attitude. All eyes will be on Rooney to come good at the World Cup and finally give English fans something to cheer about.
Yaya Toure
If there is one player who drives forward the expensively assembled Manchester City squad, it's Yaya Toure who has all the qualities of a fearsome warrior. The box-to-box midfielder is equally adept at defending as he is at attacking and combines that with unbelievable lung bursting runs from midfield to score important goals. He has actually been called a colossus and human train and was instrumental in Manchester City winning the 2013-14 Barclays Premier League Title.
Sergio Ramos
The Real Madrid defender has graced the cover of the Spanish edition of Men's Health and has one of the most enviable bodies in world football. Integral to Spain's astounding trophy haul in the international game, the defender is an integral part of the Spanish national team and just led Real Madrid to their 10th European Cup.
Didier Drogba
In football, one of the archetypal players is the centre forward. He has to be strong enough to hold up the ball on his own, outmuscle defenders and win headers and no one has done this better in football in the past few years than Didier Drogba. The Ivory Coast forward is a monster of a player who dominated the Barclays Premier League for a long time with his strength and despite his advancing years, remains one of the fittest on the field.
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