World Cup Part 1

All-time top goalscorers since World Cup 1930-2006

15 Goals

- Ronaldo (Brazil)

14 Goals

- Gerd Müller (West Germany)

13 Goals

- Juste Fontaine (France)

12 Goals

- Pelé (Brazil)

11 Goals

- Sandor Kocsis (Hungary)

- Jürgen Klinsmann (Germany)

10 Goals

- Helmut Rahn (Germany)

- Teofilio Cubillas (Peru)

- Gary Lineker (England)

- Grzegorz Lato (Poland)

- Gabriel Batistuta (Argentina)

- Miroslav Klose (Germany)

9 Goals

-Roberto Baggio (Italy)

-Paolo Rossi (Italy)

-Uwe Seeler (Germany)

-Jairzinho (Brazil)

-Eusebio (Portugal)

-Karl-Heinz Rummenigge (Germany)

-Vava (Brazil)

-Ademir (Brazil)

-Christian Vieri (Italy)

FIFA 100

FIFA 100

The "FIFA 100" is the list of 125 football players picked by classical Brazilian footballer Pele.

List of FIFA100

1. Abedi Pele - Ghana
2. Alan Shearer - England
3. Alessandro Del Piero - Italy
4. Alessandro Nesta - Italy
5. Alfredo Di Stefano - Argentina
6. Andriy Shevchenko - Ukraine
7. Bobby Charlton - England
8. Brian Laudrup - Denmark
9. Cafu - Brazil
10.Carlos Alberto - Brazil
11. Carlos Valderrama - Colombia
12. Christian Vieri - Italy
13. Clarence Seedorf - Holland
14. Daniel Passarella - Argentina
15. David Beckham - England
16. David Trezeguet - France
17. Davor Suker - Croatia
18. Dennis Bergkamp - Holland
19. Didier Deschamps - France
20. Diego Maradona - Argentina
21. Dino Zoff - Italy
22. Djalma Santos - Brazil
23. Edgar Davids - Holland
24. El Hadji Diouf - Senegal
25. Emilio Butragueno - Spain
26. Emre Belozoglu - Turkey
27. Enzo Francescoli - Uruguay
28. Eric Cantona - France
29. Eusebio - Portugal
30. Falcao - Brazil
31. Ferenc Puskas - Hungary
32. Francesco Totti - Italy
33. Franco Baresi - Italy
34. Frank Rijkaard - Holland
35. Franky van der Elst - Belgium
36. Franz Beckenbauer - Germany
37. Gabriel Batistuta - Argentina
38. Gary Lineker - England
39. George Best - Northern Ireland
40. George Weah - Liberia
41. Gerd Mueller - Germany
42. Gheorghe Hagi - Romania
43. Giacinto Fachetti - Italy
44. Giampiero Boniperti - Italy
45. Gianluca Buffon - Italy
46. Gianni Rivera - Italy
47. Giuseppe Bergomi - Italy
48. Gordon Banks - England
49. Hernan Crespo - Argentina
50. Hidetoshi Nakata - Japan
51. Hong Myung-Bo - South Korea
52. Hristo Stoichkov - Bulgaria
53. Hugo Sanchez - Mexico
54. Ivan Zamorano - Chile
55. Jan Cuelemans - Belgium
56. Javier Saviola - Argentina
57. Javier Zanetti - Argentina
58. Jay-Jay Okocha - Nigeria
59. Jean-Marie Pfaff - Belgium
60. Jean-Pierre Papin - France
61. Johan Cruyff - Holland
62. Johan Neeskens - Holland
63. Josef Masopust - Czech Repbublic
64. Juan Sebastian Veron - Argentina
65. Junior - Brazil
66. Jurgen Klinsmann - Germany
67. Just Fontaine - France
68. Karl-Heinz Rummenigge - Germany
69. Kenny Dalglish - Scotland
70. Kevin Keegan - England
71. Lilian Thuram - France
72. Lothar Matthaeus - Germany
73. Luis Enrique - Spain
74. Luis Figo - Portugal
75. Marcel Desailly - France
76. Marco van Basten - Holland
77. Mario Kempes - Argentina
78. Marius Tresor - France
79. Mia Hamm - United States (Woman Soccer Player)
80. Michael Ballack - Germany
81. Michael Laudrup - Denmark
82. Michael Owen - England
83. Michel Platini - France
84. Michelle Akers - United States
85. Nilton Santos - Brazil
86. Oliver Kahn - Germany
87. Omar Sivori - Argentina
88. Pablo Figueroa - Chile
89. Paolo Maldini - Italy
90. Paolo Rossi - Italy
91. Patrick Kluivert - Holland
92. Patrick Vieira - France
93. Paul Breitner - Germany
94. Pavel Nedved - Czech Repbublic
95. Pele - Brazil
96. Peter Schmeichel - Denmark
97. Raul - Spain
98. Raymond Kopa - France
99. Rene van de Kerkhof - Holland
100. Rinat Disayev - Russia
101. Rivaldo - Brazil
102. Rivelino - Brazil
103. Rob Rensenbrink - Holland
104. Robert Pires - France
105. Roberto Baggio - Italy
106. Roberto Carlos - Brazil
107. Roger Milla - Cameroon
108. Romario - Brazil
109. Romerito - Paraguay
110. Ronaldinho - Brazil
111. Ronaldo - Brazil
112. Roy Keane - Repubic of Ireland
113. Rui Costa - Portugal
114. Rustu Recber - Turkey
115. Ruud Gullit - Holland
116. Ruud van Nistelrooy - Holland
117. Sepp Maier - Germany
118. Socrates - Brazil
119. Teofilo Cubillas - Peru
120. Thierry Henry - France
121. Uwe Seeler - Germany
122. Willie van de Kerkhof - Holland
123. Zbigniew Boniek - Poland
124. Zico - Brazil
125. Zinedine Zidane France

Ibrahimović - Powerful Swedish Striker

Zlatan Ibrahimović

Last week (4 October 2008) I watched one match Inter beat Bologna 2-1, one of wonder goal from this match made by this Swedish Striker Ibrahimović. Zlatan Ibrahimović was born on October 3, 1981 in Malmö, Sweden. He curent plays for Internazionale in Calcio Serie A, Italy Football League. He began playing football at the age of eight. His decision to drop out of school after the 9th grade and pursue a professional career.

Ibrahimović signed his first contract with Malmö FF when his old is fifteen in 1996. He played in youth club of Malmö FF for four season before moved to senior squad in 1999. When he played for senior Malmö FF club many big club in Europe interest in him. He had opportunities to move to bigger. The Arsenal Boss Arsène Wenger wanted Ibrahimović to join Arsenal but Malmö did not allow the transfer. After that on March 22, 2001, a deal between Ajax and Malmö was completed and Zlatan's transfer to Amsterdam.

With Ajax, He be part of Ajax won the 2001-02 Eredivisie title. Ibrahimović first debuted for Sweden on January 31, 2001. He was part of Sweden's 2002 World Cup finals squad and were eliminated in the round of 16 teams by Senegal. His total career with Ajax is 74 games and 35 goals. In 2004 he moved to Italy joined with Juventus. He scored sixteen goals in his first season with Juve. Ibrahimović was voted for the fans' player of the season and the Guldbollen, a prize awarded to the best Swedish footballer of the year. in 2004-05. In following season he be the target player of team, a role that complemented his physical strength.

However, He went scoreless during the 2006 World Cup finals as Sweden were again snuffed out in the round of 16, this time by Germany. After a disappointing run in the 2006 World Cup. After the tournament Juventus were stripped of their last two Scudetti as part of the judgment from the Calciopoli scandal, and were relegated to Serie B. This event Zlatan decided to join with Internazionale in 2006 and won Scudetto with Inter in 2006-07 and 2007-08.

His Career

1999-2001 Malmö FF 40 games 16 goals

2001-2004 Ajax 74 games 35 goals

2004-2006 Juventus 70 games 25 goals

2006-2008 Internazionale 53 games 32 goals

His Honour

Eredivisie : 2001-02, 2003-04

KNVB Cup : 2001-02

Italian Serie A : 2006-07, 2007-08

Italian Super Cup : 2006, 2008

Serie A Foreign Footballer of the Year : 2005

Guldbollen : 2005, 2007

UEFA Team of the Year : 2007

Gazza

Paul Gascoigne Biography

Paul John Gascoigne was born on 27 May 1967 in Dunston, England. Gazza is one of famous English Midfielder who palyed for Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur, Middlesbrough, Everton, Lazio, Rangers, Everton, Burnley, Gansu Tianma, Boston United and England national team in his career. Gascoigne started playing football when he was 4 years old. When 8 years old he played for his school team. He attracted scouts while playing for Gateshead Boys, and was given a trial at Ipswich Town, Middlesbrough and Southampton but he failed to impress, afterward Newcastle United signed him as a schoolboy in 1980.

Gazza be captain Newcastle's youth team won FA Youth Cup in 1985. Soon after he signed his first professional contract with The Magpies and be first team player, Newcastle finished 11th in the First Division (English Premier League now) season 1985-86 an he was featured on the front cover of the Rothmans Football Yearbook. At the end of the 1987-88 season, he was named as the Barclays Young Player of the Year and Gascoigne had signed for Tottenham Hotspur, who paid Newcastle a fee of £2.3 million which was then a Engliah transfer record. in September 1988 Gascoigne was first called up to England squad.

In his first and second season with Spur helped Spurs to sixth and third in the First Division, he played total of 75 appearances in all competitions, scoring 14 goals. for international he played in most of matches in the 1990 World Cup Qualiflied with England finishing second in their group. In group stage World Cup held in Italy in 1990 he played all three games as England topped their group but England failed to reach the final. England was knocked by West Germany in semi-final round. However He was named in the tournament All-Star team.

In his third season, he scored 6 goals on the road to the Fa Cup final but fail to win the trophy as he got serious injury in the 1991 FA Cup Final. The injury took him from field in his fourth season. In 1992-93 season, he decided to join with Lazio in Calcio Serie A. First season at Rome, his form was inconsistent. he failed to fully settle in Italy. He played for Lazio 47 games in 3 years. In July 1995, he signed for Rangers F.C. in Scottish Premier League. Rangers won the Scottish Cup, and Gascoigne picked up both the Players' Player of the Year and Football Writers' Player of the Year awards. He became a key of England team in Euro '96, England lost to Germany in semi-final round on the resulting penalty shoot-out once again. Gazza was named to the tournament All-Star squad.

Rangers won the league title again in 1996-97 and also the League Cup. In March 1998 he joined Middlesbrough with £3.4 million in deal. He helped Boro into the Premiership as runners-up. and he joined Everton on 17 July 2000 he played at Goodison Park until 2002 decided to join with Burnley. In 2002, with his career coming to an end, Gascoigne went on trial with D.C. United, but failed to get a contract. In January 2003, he signed a nine-month contact with Gansu Tianma in China as playing and coaching role. In 2005 Gascoigne was signed Boston United. He played 5 games for Boston and that is te end of his career.

Paul Gascoigne Honour

FA Cup winner : 1991

Scottish League Championship winner : 1996 and 1997

Scottish Cup winner : 1996

Scottish League Cup winner : 1997

PFA Young Player of the Year : 1988

BBC Sports Personality of the Year : 1990

Scottish Players' Player of the Year : 1996

Scottish Football Writers' Player of the Year : 1996

Inducted into English Football Hall of Fame : 2002

Paul Gascoigne Career

1984-1988 Newcastle United 92 games 21 goals

1988-1992 Tottenham Hotspur 92 games 19 goals

1992-1995 Lazio 43 games 6 goals

1995-1998 Rangers 74 games 30 goals

1998-2000 Middlesbrough 41 games 4 goals

2000-2002 Everton 32 games 1 goal

2001-2002 Burnley 6 games

2002 - 2003 Gansu Tianma 4 games 2 goals

2004-2005 Boston United 4 games

Andrea Pirlo - The World Class Midfielder

Andrea Pirlo Biography

Andrea Pirlo was born on May 19, 1979 in Flero, Lombardy, Italy, an Italian Star who now plays for A.C Milan in Calcio Serie A, Italy. In his career he won many big title like UEFA Champion League, UEFA Super Cup and World Cup. He is now the best one of midfielder in Europe and World. His strength point is cross ball accuracy to everywhere in the field, his commanding and his freekick.

Pirlo began his professional career with his hometown Brescia from 1994-1998 soon he be the first team regular and his great technique bring him move to Internazionale in 1998 until 2001 he moved to A.C Milan.

At A.C Milan, He's most successful in his life, he got the Scudetto, Coppa Italia, UEFA Super Cup, Champions League titles. For International he got the bronze medal at the 2004 Olympics in Greece and the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany. He plays for Italy U-21 National Team 46 games and scored 16 goals, for senior Italy National Team he plays 52 games and 7 goals.

Andrea Pirlo Career (until 2008)

1994 - 1998 : Brescia 47 games 6 goals

1998 - 1999 : Internazionale 18 games

1999 - 2000 : Reggina ( loan ) 28 games 6 goals

2000 - 2001 : Internazionale 4 games

2000-2001 : Brescia ( loan ) 10 games

2001 - 2008 : A.C. Milan 207 games 30 goals

Andrea Pirlo Honors

Scudetto

winner : 2004

runner-up : 2005

Coppa Italia

winner : 2003

Supercoppa Italia

winner : 2004

UEFA Champions League

winner : 2003,2007
runner-up : 2005

UEFA Super Cup

winner : 2003, 2007

FIFA Club World Cup

winner : 2007

Intercontinental Cup

runner-up : 2003

FIFA World Cup

winner : 2006

UEFA Under-21 European Championship

winner : 2000

Olympic

Bronze Medal : 2004

2006 FIFA World Cup Team of the Tournament

2006 FIFA World Cup Bronze Ball Award

2006 FIFA World Cup Final Man of the Match

2000 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship Top Scorer

2006 FIFPro

Raúl the man of Real Madrid

Raúl González Biography

His Nickname: El Angel de Madrid (The Angel Of Madrid), El capitán, Raulito

Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. There are many football club in Madrid, the one of famous club in Madrid and Spain is Real Madrid. Raúl González Blanco (simply known as Raúl) was born on June 27, 1977 in Madrid. He was brought up in a modest quarter of the city, the colony of San Cristobal de los Angeles.

Raúl is a product of Atletico Madrid's youth system but was picked up by rivals Real Madrid. The Spanish football star who plays for Real Madrid and the Spanish national team. His honour is a three-time winner of the UEFA Champions League, as well as the competition's all-time leading scorer with 63 goals.

Raúl began 1994-95 season in Madrid's C-team. He scoring thirteen goals in seven games. He became the youngest player who ever to suit up for the senior side, scoring 6 goals in his first 11 games and winning the 1994-95 Spanish league championship in his first season.

He became the first player to score fifty goals in UEFA Champions League and is the all-time leader in UCL appearances with 116. He is currently highest scorer in the Spanish La Liga with 205 goals (1994-2009), and he havn't received a red card at the professional level.

In his international career, Raúl scored 44 goals in 102 caps for Spain. He got his first cap against the Czech Republic in October 1996, and be the team captaincy following the retirement of Fernando Hierro in 2002.

He participated in 3 World Cups competition from 1998 to 2006, along with Euro 2000 and Euro 2004, scoring at least one goal in each competition. Raúl became the eighteenth player ever to score in three different World Cup finals.

Raúl González Honors

Spanish La Liga

Winner : 1994-95, 1996-97, 2000-01, 2002-03, 2006-07, 2007–08

Runner-up : 1998-99, 2004-05, 2005-06

Copa del Rey

Runner-up : 2001-02, 2003-04

Spanish Super Cup

Winner : 1997, 2001, 2003, 2008

Runner-up : 1995, 2007

UEFA Champions League

Winner : 1997–98, 1999–00, 2001–02

UEFA Super Cup

Winner : 2002

Runner-up : 1998, 2000

Intercontinental Cup

Winner : 1998, 2002

Runner-up : 2000

Premio Don Balón (Young Player in La Liga) : 1994-95

IFFHS World Goalgetter : 1999

ESM Team of the Year : 1996-97, 1998-99, 1999-00

Pichichi Trophy : 1999, 2001

UEFA Champions League Top Scorer : 1999-00, 2000-01

FIFA World Player of the Year Bronze Award : 2001

European Footballer of the Year Silver Award : 2001

UEFA Club Football Awards, Best Forward : 2000, 2001, 2002

Best Spanish player in La Liga : 1996-97, 1998-99, 1999-00, 2000-01, 2001-02

Trofeo Alfredo Di Stéfano : 2008

Royal Order Gold Medal for Sports Merit : 2006

Name in FIFA 100

New Star Review - KUN AGUERO

SERGIO KUN AGUERO Biography

Sergio Leonel "Kun" Agüero del Castillo was born on June 2, 1988 in Quilmes, Buenos Aires, Argentina. The Argentine striker plays for Atlético Madrid in Spanish La Liga. His nickname was born when some classmates noted that his hairdo looked like that of Japanese anime character "Kum Kum".

His career Aguero started playing for Argentine First Division club with Independiente when he was only 15 years and 35 days in a match against San Lorenzo, which younger than Maradona who made his professional debut on October 20, 1976 ten days before his sixteenth birthday. Due to his performance, especially during the Torneo Apertura, young star attracted the interest of several top European clubs.

In May 2006, Kun Aguero was transferred to the Atletico Madrid of Spain, a transfer fee of 20 million euros . He signed a 6-year contract. At the end of the 2007-08 season he finished as the 3rd highest goalscorer in La Liga with 20 goals. He also won the Antonio Puerta Award for the best player in the league for the 2007-08 season. He played for the national youth team and they won the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Canada 2007. Aguero was considered won the Golden Boot for the tournament with his six goals, and the Golden Ball as the best player of the tournament. He also won the golden medal in Olympic 2008 in China, Agüero scored 2 goals in the semifinal match against Brazil.

SERGIO KUN AGUERO Honours (Start-2008)

Golden Ball: FIFA U-20 World Cup: 2007

Golden Boot: FIFA U-20 World Cup: 2007

Tuttosport Golden Boy: 2007

FIFA's Young Player of the Year: 2007

Trofeo Alfredo Di Stéfano - runner up (2007-2008)

Marco Van Basten - Biography

Marco Van Basten

Full name - Marcel van Basten

Date of birth - 31 October 1964

Place of birth - Utrecht, Netherlands

Marco van Basten was born on 31 October 1964 in Utrecht, Netherlands. He started his football career with a local team named EDO at the age of seven. Next year he went to UVV Utrecht but his profressional start in 1981 when he was seventeen-year-old. He was discovered by Ajax's scout. For a great striker, in his debut (3 April, 1982) Van Basten scored a goal victory over NEC Nijmegen.

In 1983 was his debut in the Netherlands national team. Van Basten scored his first goal for Dutch two weeks later in the match against Belgium.

He became top scorer in the following four seasons (1984 - 1987 ). He scored 117 goals from 112 matches in this 4 years. He is the winner of the European Golden Boot in 1985-1986. In 1987 Silvio Berlusconi brought Van Basten to Milan, In his first season Milan won scudetto (Italy league championship) but Van Basten played only eleven games cause an ankle injury. Van Basten scored five goals in Euro 88 (include a spectacular volley at an incredible angle in the final against the Soviet Union) as Netherlands national team won the title.

In 1988-89 season, Van Basten had an excellent season. He got European Footballer of the Year, World Soccer's World Player of the Year and scoring nineteen goals in Serie A as Milan win the European Cup. In World Cup 1990 The Dutch national side had a perform and going out to West Germany in the second round.

In 1990-91 season, Van Basten fell out with Milan's manager Arrigo Sacchi and Berlusconi sacked Sacchi next time. Following season (1991-92) Fabio Capello be new Milan's Manager, Van Basten scoring 25 goals and becoming Serie A top scorer again as Milan won the title whitout losing. In Euro 92' Netherlands reached the semi-final but lost Denmark in penalty shootout, van Basten having his penalty saved by Peter Schmeichel whose be hero in Euro 92'. In November 1992 he scored four goals against IFK Gothenburg, which is still a UEFA Champions League record for the most goals scored by a player in a single match.

In 1992-93 season, Milan still their unbeaten (going to 58 matches in total before they lost). Van Basten played well and was voted European Player of the Year for a third time (equal the record of Johan Cruyff and Michel Platini). He had troble with ankle injury recurred in a game against Ancona. Van Basten suffered another series of operations and returned to Milan for the final few domestic games before Champions League final that they lost Marseille. Marco tried fighting the injury another two years but eventually was forced to end his career on 18 August 1995, during a Trofeo Berlusconi match. Over 70 000 supporters, including crying Capello, gave him a standing ovation while Van Basten was doing his lap of honour.

After he retired from football he try to management. He took a course with the Royal Netherlands Football Association (KNVB). His first stint as a manager was as an assistant to his former teammate John van 't Schip with the second team of Ajax in 2003-04. On 29 July 2004, Van Basten was named the new manager of Netherlands national team.

Under his management, Dutch were unbeaten in their World Cup qualification group and through the group stages at Germany World Cup 2006 but they were knock by Portugal in last 16 teams round. Van Basten had a contact with the KNVB to be manager of Netherlands national team until 2008. The KNVB wished to extend his contract to include the World Cup qualification route to 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. On 22 February 2008 Van Basten signed a four-year contract with Ajax. His last tournament was Euro 2008, where the Netherlands team were beaten by Russia in the quarter finals. Van Basten became trainer of Ajax after Euro 2008.

Marco Van Basten Honours

With Ajax Amsterdam

1. UEFA Cup Winners Cup
Winnner 1 time in 1987
2. Dutch Championship
Winner 3 times in 1981–82, 1982–83, 1984–85
3. Dutch Cup
Winner 3 times in 1983, 1986, 1987

With A.C. Milan

4. European Cup
Winner 2 times in 1989, 1990
5. Intercontinental Cup
Winner 2 times in 1989, 1990
6. European Supercup
Winner 2 times in 1989, 1990
7. Serie A
Winner 3 times in 1987–88, 1991–92, 1992–93
8. Italian Super Cup
Winner 3 times in 1988, 1992, 1993

With Netherlands national team

9. UEFA European Championship
Winner 1 time in 1988

Personal honours

10. FIFA World Player of the Year in 1992
11. World Soccer Player of the Year in 1988, 1992
12. UEFA Best Player of the Year in 1989, 1990, 1992
13. IFFHS Best Player of the Year in 1988, 1989, 1990
14. Onze d'Or in 1988, 1989
15. Onze d'Argent in 1987, 1992
16. Bravo Award in 1987
17. UEFA European Championship 1988 Top Scorer and Best Player with 5 goals
18. European Footballer of the Year in 1988, 1989, 1992
19. Dutch Footballer of the Year in 1984–85
20. FIFA 100 (List of the greatest living footballers picked by Pelé) in 2004
21. European Golden Boot in 1985–86
22. European Silver Boot in 1983–84
23. European Cup Top Scorer in 1989
24. European Cup Silver Top Scorer in 1993
25. Dutch League Top Scorer in 1983–84, 1984–85, 1985–86, 1986–87
26. Serie A Top Scorer in 1989–90, 1991–92
27. Serie A Silver Top Scorer in 1988–89

Soccer Players Biography - Batigoal !!

Gabriel Batistuta (Batigoal ) - Biography

Gabriel Omar Batistuta is one of hero in Florence and Argentina. He was born on 1 February 1969 in Reconquista, province of Santa Fe, Argentina. He is also the all time highest scorer for Argentina's national team. The Argentine striker ended his career at Al-Arabi, retiring in March 2005

When he was child he playing with friends on the street in the Grupo Alegria club, he joined the local Platense junior team. While with Platense he was selected for the Reconquista team that won the provincial championship by beating Newell's Old Boys with his 2 goals that attracted attention Newell's Old Boys. He signed professional contact with Newell's Old Boys in 1988.

During his first year with Newell's Old Boys he had a weight problem that slowed him down. At the end of that year he was loaned to Deportivo Italiano, of Buenos Aires. In 1989 Batistuta with River Plate where he scored 17 goals but he was dropped from the squad in the middle of the season cause he had some problem with Daniel Passarella.

In 1990, Batistuta join with Boca Juniors which is River's arch-rivals club. In 1991 Batigoal become the league's top scorer that season and Boca won league championship.

In 1991, Batistuta was played for Argentina in the Copa América and become tournament's top scorer as Argentina won the title. During this competition vice-president of Fiorentina was impressed by his skills and signed him.

In 1994, FIFA World Cup, held in USA, Batistuta scored 4 goals include a hat-trick in Argentina game against Greece. On his way in Fiorentina, He's in best perform. He was the top scorer of the 1994-95 season with 26 goals. In 1995-96 season Fiorentina won the Italian Cup and Super Coppa.

In 1998, He scored 5 goals in France 98', before Argentina lost in the quarter-finals but he did second hat trick of his World Cup career, becoming the 4th player to achieve this and the first who score a hat trick in 2 World Cups.

After start to 1998-99 season, Batistuta suffered an injury that kept him out of action for more than a month. Fiorentina finished in third place, which gave them the chance to Champions League in the following season.

The 2000-01 season, he was transferred to A.S. Roma in a deal worth 35 million US dollars. He scored 20 goals for A.S. Roma in his first season as Roma winning Italian league title (Scudetto).

In 2002, Batistuta announced that he planned to quit the national team after World Cup in Korea and Japan. This tournament Argentina did poor results against Nigeria, England, and Sweden, the team was knocked out in first round. After tournament Batistuta failed to find good form with Roma and was loaned to Internazionale before he decided to departure to Qatari team Al-Arabi Sports Club. In Qatar, he made the record of most goals scored that was held by Qatari Legend Mansour Mouftah with by scoring 24 goals. He scored more than the number of games he played. He was awarded for being the top scorer in all Arab leagues in 2004 with a Golden Boot.

In 2005 Batistuta retired from profressional footballer and now lives Santa Fe, Argentina.

Gabriel Batistuta total career

1988-89 Newell's Old Boys 16 games 4 goals

1989-90 River Plate 7 games 4 goals

1989-91 Boca Juniors 29 games 13 goals

1991-00 Fiorentina 269 games 168 goals

2000-03 Roma 63 games 30 goals

2002-03 Inter Milan 12 games 2 goals

2003-05 Al-Arabi 21 games 25 goals

Gabriel Batistuta Honour

1. First Division Italian Championship (with Roma) 2000-2001.

2. Italian Supercup (with Fiorentina) 1996, (with Roma) 2001.

3. Argentine Football Writers' Footballer of the Year 1998.

4. Italian Cup (with Fiorentina) 1995-1996.

5. Second Division (Serie B) Italian Championship (with Fiorentina) 1993-1994.

6. First Division Top Scorer, 26 goals (with Fiorentina) 1994-1995.

7. Copa América (with Argentina) 1991, 1993.

8. Copa América Top Scorer, 6 goals (with Argentina) 1991

9. Top Scorer of The Qatari League with a record breaking 24 goals.

10. Top Scorer in all Arab leagues, awarded with a Golden Boot.