Lionel Andrés "Leo" Messi[3] (Spanish pronunciation: [ljoˈnel anˈdɾes ˈmesi]; born 24 June 1987)

Lionel Andrés "Leo" Messi[3] (Spanish pronunciation: [ljoˈnel anˈdɾes ˈmesi]; born 24 June 1987) is an Argentine footballer who currently plays for FC Barcelona and the Argentina national team as a forward or winger. He also holds Spanish citizenship, which makes him eligible as a EU player. Considered one of the best football players of his generation[4][5][6] and frequently cited as the world's best contemporary player,[7] Messi received several Ballon d'Or and FIFA World Player of the Year nominations by the age of 21 and won both by the age of 22.[7][8][9][10] He also won the 2010 FIFA Ballon d'Or at the age of 23.[11] His playing style and ability have drawn comparisons to Diego Maradona, who himself declared Messi his "successor".[12][13]

Messi began playing football at a young age and his potential was quickly identified by Barcelona. He left Rosario-based Newell's Old Boys's youth team in 2000 and moved with his family to Europe, as Barcelona offered treatment for his growth hormone deficiency. Making his debut in the 2004–05 season, he broke his team record for the youngest footballer to score a league goal. Major honours soon followed as Barcelona won La Liga in Messi's debut season, and won a double of the league and Champions League in 2006. His breakthrough season was in the 2006–07 season; he became a first team regular, scoring a hat-trick in El Clásico and finishing with 14 goals in 26 league games. Perhaps his most successful season was the 2008–09 season, in which Messi scored 38 goals to play an integral part in a treble-winning campaign. In the following 2009–10 campaign, Messi scored 47 goals in all competitions, equalling Ronaldo's record total for Barcelona.

Messi was the top scorer of the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship with six goals, including two in the final game. Shortly thereafter, he became an established member of Argentina's senior international team. In 2006, he became the youngest Argentine to play in the FIFA World Cup and he won a runners-up medal at the Copa América tournament the following year. In 2008, in Beijing, he won his first international honour, an Olympic gold medal, with the Argentina Olympic football team.

Messi was born on 24 June 1987 at the Hospital Italiano Garibaldi in Rosario, Santa Fe, to parents Jorge Horacio Messi (born 1958), a factory worker, and Celia María Cuccittini, a part-time cleaner.[14][15][16][17] His paternal family originates from the Italian city of Ancona, from which his ancestor, Angelo Messi, emigrated to Argentina in 1883.[18][19] He has two older brothers named Rodrigo and Matías as well as a sister named María Sol.[20] At the age of five, Messi started playing football for Grandoli, a local club coached by his father Jorge.[21] In 1995, Messi switched to Newell's Old Boys who were based in his home city Rosario.[21] At the age of 11, he was diagnosed with a growth hormone deficiency.[22] Primera División club River Plate showed interest in Messi's progress, but did not have enough money to pay for treatment for his condition as it cost $900 a month.[17] Carles Rexach, the sporting director of FC Barcelona, had been made aware of his talent as Messi had relatives in Lleida, Catalonia, and Messi and his father were able to arrange a trial.[17] Barcelona signed him after watching him play,[23] offering to pay for the medical bills if he was willing to move to Spain.[21] His family moved to Europe and he started in the club's youth teams.[23] He has two cousins also involved in football; Maxi and Emanuel Biancucchi.[24][25]
Club career
Barcelona

Messi made his official debut for the first-team on 16 November 2003 aged 16 years and 145 days, in a friendly match against Porto.[26][27] Less than a year later, Frank Rijkaard let him make his league debut against RCD Espanyol on 16 October 2004 (at 17 years and 114 days), becoming the third-youngest player ever to play for Barcelona and youngest club player who played in La Liga. This record broken by Barca team mate Bojan Krkić in September 2007. When he scored his first senior goal for the club against Albacete Balompié on 1 May 2005, Messi was 17 years, ten months and seven days old, becoming the youngest to ever score in a La Liga game for Barcelona[28] until it was again broken by Bojan Krkić in 2007, scoring from a Messi assist.[29] Messi said about his ex-coach Frank Rijkaard: "I'll never forget the fact that he launched my career, that he had confidence in me while I was only sixteen or seventeen."[30]
2005–06 season

The Maradona and Pele polemics will end.
Diego Maradona, on the consequences if Messi won the 2010 World Cup[31]

On 16 September, for the second time in three months, Barcelona announced an update to Messi's contract; this time it was improved to pay him as a first team member and extended until June 2014.[21] Messi obtained Spanish citizenship on 26 September 2005[32] and was finally able to make his debut in the season's Spanish First Division. Messi's first home outing in the Champions League came on 27 September against Italian club Udinese.[26] Fans at Barcelona's stadium, the Camp Nou, gave Messi a standing ovation upon his substitution, as his composure on the ball and passing combinations with Ronaldinho had paid dividends for Barcelona.[33]

Messi netted six goals in 17 league appearances, and scored one Champions League goal in six. His season ended prematurely on 7 March 2006, however, when he suffered a muscle tear in his right thigh during the second leg of the second round Champions League tie against Chelsea.[34] Rijkaard's Barcelona ended the season as champions of Spain and Europe.[35][36]
2006–07 season
Messi in a match against Rangers in 2007

In the 2006–07 season, Messi established himself as a regular first team player, scoring 14 times in 26 matches.[37] On 12 November, in the game against Real Zaragoza, Messi suffered a broken metatarsal, ruling him out for three months.[38][39] Messi recuperated from his injury in Argentina, and his return to action came against Racing Santander on 11 February,[40] where he came on as a second-half substitute. On 11 March, El Clásico saw Messi in top form, scoring a hat-trick to earn 10-man Barcelona a 3–3 draw, equalising three times, with the final equaliser coming in injury time.[41] In doing so he became the first player since Iván Zamorano (for Real Madrid in the 1994–95 season) to score a hat-trick in El Clásico.[42] Messi is also the youngest player ever to have scored in this fixture. Towards the end of the season he began finding the net more often; 11 of his 14 league goals for the season came from the last 13 games.[43]
Messi shortly before scoring a goal against Getafe

Messi also proved the "new Maradona" tag was not all hype, by nearly replicating Maradona's most famous goals in the space of the single season.[44] On 18 April 2007, he scored two goals during a Copa del Rey semi-final against Getafe CF, one of which was very similar to Maradona's famous goal against England at the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, known as the Goal of the Century.[45] The world's sports press drew comparisons with Maradona, and the Spanish press labelled Messi as "Messidona".[46] He ran about the same distance, 62 metres (203 ft), beat the same number of players (six, including the goalkeeper), scored from a very similar position, and ran towards the corner flag just as Maradona did in Mexico 21 years before.[44] In a press conference after the game, Messi's team-mate Deco said: "It was the best goal I have ever seen in my life."[47] Against RCD Espanyol Messi also scored a goal which was remarkably similar to Maradona's 'Hand of God' goal against England in the World Cup quarter-finals. Messi launched himself at the ball and connected with his hand to guide the ball past the goalkeeper Carlos Kameni.[48] Despite protests by Espanyol players and replays showing it was clear handball, the goal stood.[48]
2007–08 season
Messi takes Barcelona to 2–0 against Sevilla at Camp Nou on 22 September 2007

During the 2007–08 season, Messi scored five goals in a week leading Barcelona to the top four in La Liga. On 19 September he scored once as Barcelona defeated Lyon 3–0 at home in a Champions League match.[49] He scored two goals against Sevilla FC on 22 September[50] and then on 26 September, Messi scored another two goals in a 4–1 victory over Real Zaragoza.[51] On 27 February, Messi played in his 100th official match for Barcelona against Valencia.[52]

Messi was nominated for a FIFPro World XI Player Award under the category of Forward.[53] A poll conducted in the online edition of the Spanish newspaper Marca had him as the best player in the world with 77 percent of the vote.[54] Columnists from Barcelona-based newspapers El Mundo Deportivo and Sport stated that the Ballon d'Or should be given to Messi, a view supported by Franz Beckenbauer.[55] Football personalities such as Francesco Totti have declared that they consider Messi to be one of the current best footballers in the world.[56]

Messi was sidelined for six weeks following an injury on 4 March when he suffered a muscle tear in his left thigh during a Champions League match against Celtic. It was the fourth time in three seasons that Messi suffered this type of injury.[57]
2008–09 season
Messi in a match against Deportivo La Coruña

Upon Ronaldinho's departure from the club, Messi inherited his number 10 jersey.[58] On 1 October 2008, during a Champions League match against Shakhtar Donetsk, Messi scored two goals during the last seven minutes, after coming on as a substitute for Thierry Henry, to turn a 1–0 deficit to a 2–1 victory for Barcelona.[59] The next league game was versus Atlético Madrid, a match billed as a friendly battle between Messi and his good friend Sergio Agüero.[60] Messi scored a goal from a free kick and assisted another as Barça went on to win the match 6–1.[61] Messi netted another impressive brace against Sevilla scoring a volley from 23 metres (25 yd) and then dribbling round the goalkeeper and scoring from a tight angle for the other.[62] On 13 December 2008, during the first Clásico of the season, Messi scored the second goal in Barcelona's 2–0 win over Real Madrid.[63] He was also named second in the 2008 FIFA World Player of the Year awards with 678 points.[9]

Messi scored his first hat-trick of 2009 in a Copa del Rey tie against Atlético Madrid which Barcelona won 3–1.[64] Messi scored another important double on 1 February 2009, coming on as a second half substitute to help Barcelona defeat Racing Santander 1–2 after being 1–0 down. The second of the two strikes was Barcelona's 5000th league goal.[65] In the 28th round of La Liga, Messi scored his 30th goal of the season in all competitions, helping his team to a 6–0 victory over Málaga CF in the process.[66] On 8 April 2009, he scored twice against Bayern Munich in the Champions League, setting a personal record of eight goals in the competition.[67] On 18 April, Messi notched his 20th league goal of the season in a 1–0 win at Getafe, allowing Barcelona to maintain their six-point advantage at the top of the league table over Real Madrid.[68]

As Barcelona's season was drawing to a close, Messi scored twice (his 35th and 36th goals in all competitions) to cap a 6–2 win over Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabéu[69] in what was Real's heaviest defeat since 1930.[70] After scoring each goal, he ran towards the fans and the cameras lifting up his Barcelona jersey and showing another T-shirt that read Síndrome X Fràgil, Catalan for Fragile X Syndrome, to show his support for children who suffer from the affliction.[71] Messi was involved in the build-up to Andrés Iniesta's injury time goal against Chelsea in the Champions League semi-final to send Barcelona through to face Manchester United in the final. He won his first Copa del Rey on 13 May, scoring one goal and assisting another two, in a 4–1 victory over Athletic Bilbao.[72] He helped his team win the double by winning La Liga. On 27 May he helped Barcelona win the Champions League by scoring a second goal in the 70th minute giving Barcelona a two goal lead; he also became the top scorer in the Champions League, the youngest in the tournament's history, with nine goals.[73] Messi also won the UEFA Club Forward of the Year: and the UEFA Club Footballer of the Year rounding off a spectacular year in Europe.[74] This victory meant Barcelona had won the Copa del Rey, La Liga and Champions League in the one season,[75] and was the first time a Spanish club had ever won the treble.[76]
2009–10 season
"Once he's on the run, Messi is unstoppable. He's the only player who can change direction at such a pace."

"He is the best player in the world by some distance. He's (like) a PlayStation. He can take advantage of every mistake we make."
Arsène Wenger after Barcelona won 4–1 against Arsenal.[77][78]
Messi in action during the Joan Gamper Trophy match between Barcelona and Manchester City at Camp Nou

After winning the 2009 UEFA Super Cup, Barcelona manager Josep Guardiola asserted that Messi was probably the best player he had ever seen.[79] On 18 September, Messi signed a new contract with Barcelona, running until 2016 and with a buy-out clause of €250 million included, making Messi, along with Zlatan Ibrahimović, the highest paid players in La Liga, with earnings of around €9.5 million yearly.[80][81] Four days later, on 22 September, Messi scored two goals and assisted another in Barça's 4–1 win over Racing Santander in La Liga.[82] He scored his first European goal of the season on 29 September in a 2–0 win over Dynamo Kyiv,[83] and then took his goal tally to six goals in seven games in La Liga with a strike during a 6–1 routing of Real Zaragoza at Camp Nou.[84][85]

Messi was named winner of the 2009 Ballon d'Or on 1 December 2009, beating runner-up Cristiano Ronaldo by largest ever margin of 473 to 233.[86][87][88] Afterwards, France Football magazine quoted Messi as saying: "I dedicate it to my family. They were always present when I needed them and sometimes felt even stronger emotions than me."[89]
Messi during 2009 FIFA Club World Cup.

On 19 December, Messi scored the winner in the final of the 2009 Club World Cup against Estudiantes in Abu Dhabi, giving the club their sixth title of the year.[90] Two days later, he was given the FIFA World Player of the Year award; beating Cristiano Ronaldo, Xavi, Kaká and Andrés Iniesta to the award. This was the first time he had won the award, and he became the first Argentinean to ever receive this honour.[91] On 10 January 2010, Messi scored his first hat-trick in 2010 and his first hat-trick of the season against CD Tenerife in the 0–5 victory,[92] and on 17 January he scored his 100th goal for the club in the 4–0 victory over Sevilla.[93]

Messi then started an impressive run scoring 11 goals in five games. First he scored on the 84th minute against Málaga for a 2–1 win,[94] then he scored two goals against UD Almería in a 2–2 tie.[95] He continued his spree with an impressive week where he scored eight goals; he started by scoring a hat-trick against Valencia CF in a 3–0 home win,[96] then he scored two goals against Stuttgart, in a 4–0 win that secured Barcelona's qualification to the quarterfinals of the Champions League,[97] and finally he scored another hat-trick against Zaragoza in a 4–2 away win,[98] becoming the first Barcelona player to score back-to-back hat-tricks in La Liga.[99] He played his 200th official match for Barcelona against Osasuna on 24 March 2010.[100]

On 6 April 2010, for the first time in Messi's career he scored four goals in a single match, netting the lot in a 4–1 home win over Arsenal in the Champions League quarter-final second leg.[101][102][103] This also saw him overtake Rivaldo as Barcelona's all time greatest scorer in the competition.[104] On 10 April, Messi scored his 40th goal of the season when he netted the first goal in a 2–0 away win against title-rivals Real Madrid in El Clásico.[105] On 1 May, Messi played his 50th game of the season and scored two goals on a 4–1 away win against Villarreal.[106] Just three days later, on 4 May, Messi scored two goals in another 4–1 win at home against Tenerife.[107] Messi scored his 32nd goal of the La Liga season on 8 May, during an away win against Sevilla,[108] and in the final match against Valladolid, he scored two goals in the second half to tie Ronaldo's club record of 34 goals in a single league season, set in 1996–97,[109][110] and to finish four goals behind the all-time record held by Telmo Zarra.[111] He was named La Liga player of the year for the second year in a row on 3 June 2010.[112]
2010–11 season

On 21 August 2010, Messi scored a hat-trick in his first start of the season in a 4–0 victory over Sevilla FC in the Supercopa de España, helping Barcelona secure their first trophy of the season after a 1–3 first leg loss.[113] He also began his league season with a goal, scoring after just three minutes against Racing Santander on 29 August 2010. He then continued his excellent form into the UEFA Champions League group stage match against Panathinaikos where he scored two goals, assisted another two and also hit the goal-frame on 2 separate occasions. He also missed a penalty, though. Barcelona won the match 5–1.

On 19 September 2010, Messi suffered an ankle injury due to an ill-advised tackle by Atlético Madrid defender Tomáš Ujfaluši in the 92nd minute of their Round 3 match at the Vicente Calderón Stadium. At first sight it was feared that Messi suffered a broken ankle that could have kept the star player away from the pitch for a minimum of six months but MRI performed the next day in Barcelona showed he suffered a sprain in the internal and external ligaments of his right ankle.[114] Team-mate David Villa stated "the tackle on Messi was brutal" after watching the video of the play and also added that he believed the Atlético defender "didn't go into the tackle to hurt".[115] The incident caused widespread media attention and brought up the debate of equality in protecting all players in the game.

When he recovered he scored in a 1–1 tie against RCD Mallorca. He then scored another brace on the UEFA Champions League against København and helped the team to a 2–0 home win.[116] He continued his impressive scoring run with braces against Zaragoza and Sevilla. After a prolific October, he started November scoring on an away 1–1 tie against København and an away 3–1 win against Getafe where he also assisted team-mates David Villa and Pedro Rodríguez.[117] In the next fixture against Villarreal CF, he scored an amazing goal combining with Pedro, which gave Barcelona a 2–1 lead. He scored another goal and Barcelona won 3–1. This was the 7th consecutive match in which Messi scored, breaking his own previous record of 6. He also achieved the feat of scoring 50 goals in the calender year of 2010 with the 1st goal, while with the second goal, he achieved the same feat again, this time considering the goals he scored wearing a Barcelona shirt in the year 2010. Against Almería he scored his second hat-trick of the season in an impressive 8–0 away win, the second goal was his 100th La Liga goal.[118] He scored on his ninth game in a row (10th including a friendly against Brazil) on a 3–0 away win against Panathinaikos.[119]

His goalscoring run ended on 29 November at El Clásico but Barcelona still managed to win 5–0 with Messi assisting Villa twice.[120] The next match day he scored a brace and gave an assist against Osasuna.[121] He followed with another brace against Real Sociedad.[122] In El Derbi, a match Barcelona won 1-5, he assisted teammates Pedro and Villa to score one goal each.[123] His first goal in 2011 came against Deportivo La Coruña with a free kick on a 4-0 away win, where he once again assisted both Pedro and Villa.[124]

He won the 2010 FIFA Ballon d'Or, beating his Barcelona teammates Xavi and Iniesta.[125] Messi had been nominated for the awards for the fourth consecutive year.[126] Only two days after he won the award he scored his first hat-trick of the year and third of the season against Real Betis.[127] He began the second round of the league with a goal, scoring his second penalty against Racing Santander.[128] After scoring the penalty kick, Messi revealed a message on his undershirt that said, "Happy birthday, mami.".[129] He continued his goalscoring form with a brace against Almería in the Copa del Rey semifinal,[130] and followed it up with another brace less than a week later against Hércules CF.[131] On 5 February, Barcelona broke the record for most consecutive league wins with 16 victories after they defeated Atlético Madrid 3–0 at the Camp Nou.[132] Lionel Messi scored a hat-trick to ensure the victory for his side and after the match he stated, "it's an honor to be able to pass a record set by a great like Di Stéfano" and "if the record has been around for so long is because it's very complicated to achieve and we have reached it by defeating a very difficult team who's going through a bad situation, which makes it even more difficult."[133]
International career

In June 2004, he debuted for Argentina, playing in an under-20 friendly match against Paraguay.[134] In 2005 he was part of a team that won the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship in the Netherlands. There, he won the Golden Ball and the Golden Shoe,[135] scoring in the last four of Argentina's matches and netting a total of six for the tournament.

He made his full international debut on 17 August 2005 against Hungary at the age of 18. He was substituted on during the 63rd minute, but was sent off on the 65th minute because the referee, Markus Merk, found he had headbutted defender Vilmos Vanczák, who was tugging Messi's shirt. The decision was contentious and Maradona even claimed the decision was pre-meditated.[136][137] Messi returned to the team on 3 September in Argentina's 1–0 World Cup qualifier away defeat to Paraguay. Ahead of the match he had said "This is a re-debut. The first one was a bit short."[138] He then started his first game for Argentina against Peru; after the match Pekerman described Messi as "a jewel".[139]

On 28 March 2009, in a World Cup Qualifier against Venezuela, Messi wore the number 10 jersey for the first time with Argentina. This match was the first official match for Diego Maradona as the Argentina manager. Argentina won the match 4–0 with Messi opening the scoring.[140]

On 17 November 2010, Messi scored a last-minute goal against South American rivals Brazil after an individual effort to help his team to a 1–0 win in the friendly match, which was held in Doha. This was the first time that he had scored against Brazil at senior level. [141]
2006 World Cup

The injury that kept Messi from playing for two months at the end of the 2005–06 season jeopardised his presence in the 2006 World Cup. Nevertheless, Messi was selected in the Argentina squad for the tournament on 15 May 2006. He also played in the final match before the World Cup against the Argentine U-20 team for 15 minutes and a friendly match against Angola from the 64th minute.[142][143] He witnessed Argentina's opening match victory against Ivory Coast from the substitute's bench.[144] In the next match against Serbia and Montenegro, Messi became the youngest player to represent Argentina at a World Cup when he came on as a substitute for Maxi Rodríguez in the 74th minute. He assisted Hernán Crespo's goal within minutes of entering the game and also scored the final goal in the 6–0 victory, making him the youngest scorer in the tournament and the sixth youngest goalscorer in the history of the World Cup.[145] Messi started in Argentina's following 0–0 draw against the Netherlands.[146] In the following game against Mexico, Messi came on as a substitute in the 84th minute, with the score tied at 1–1. He appeared to score a goal, but it was ruled offside with Argentina needing a late goal in extra time to proceed.[147][148] Coach José Pekerman left Messi on the bench during the quarter-final match against Germany, which they lost 4–2 on a penalty shootout.[149]
2007 Copa América
Messi at the 2007 Copa América

Messi played his first game in the 2007 Copa América on 29 June 2007, when Argentina defeated United States 4–1 in the first game. In this game, he showed his capabilities as a playmaker. He set up a goal for fellow striker Hernán Crespo and had numerous shots on target. Tevez came on as a substitute for Messi in the 79th minute and scored minutes later.[150]

His second game was against Colombia, in which he won a penalty that Crespo converted to tie the game at 1–1. He also played a part in Argentina's second goal as he was fouled outside the box, which allowed Juan Roman Riquelme to score from a freekick, and increase Argentina's lead to 3–1. The final score of the game was 4–2 in Argentina's favor and guaranteed them a spot in the tournament's quarterfinals.[151]

In the third game, against Paraguay the coach rested Messi having already qualified for the quarter-finals. He came off the bench in place of Esteban Cambiasso in the 64th minute, with the score at 0–0. In the 79th minute, he assisted a goal for Javier Mascherano.[152] In the quarter-finals, as Argentina faced Peru, Messi scored the second goal of the game, from a Riquelme pass in a 4–0 win.[153] During the semi-final match against Mexico, Messi scored a lob over Oswaldo Sánchez to see Argentina through to the final with a 3–0 win.[154] Argentina went on to lose 3–0 to Brazil in the final.[155]
2008 Summer Olympics
Messi in the semi-final against Brazil at the 2008 Olympics

Having barred Messi from playing for Argentina in the 2008 Olympics,[156] Barcelona agreed to release him after he held talks with newly appointed coach Josep Guardiola.[157] He joined the Argentina squad and scored the first goal in a 2–1 victory over Ivory Coast.[157] He then scored the opening goal and assisted Ángel di María in the second to help his side to a 2–1 extra-time win against the Netherlands.[158] He also featured in Argentina's match against rivals Brazil, in which Argentina took a 3–0 victory, thus advancing to the final.[159] In the gold medal match, Messi again assisted Di María for the only goal in a 1–0 victory over Nigeria.[160]
2010 World Cup

Messi played the entire game on Argentina's opening match 1–0 victory against Nigeria. He had several opportunities to score but was repeatedly denied by Vincent Enyeama.[161] Messi started in Argentina's following 4–1 win against Korea Republic; he participated in all of the goals of his team and helped Gonzalo Higuaín score a hat-trick.[162] On the third and last group stage match Messi captained during Argentina's 2–0 win over Greece, again being the centrepoint of Argentina's play and was voted man of the match.[163]

At the Round of 16 he assisted Carlos Tévez for the first goal in a 3–1 win against Mexico. The referee awarded that goal even though it was a clear offside.[164] The World Cup ended for Argentina with a 4–0 loss against Germany.[165]
Outside football
Personal life

Messi was at one stage romantically linked to Macarena Lemos, also from his hometown of Rosario. He is said to have been introduced to her by the girl's father when he returned to Rosario to recover from his injury a few days before the start of the 2006 World Cup.[166][167] He has in the past also been linked to the Argentine glamour model Luciana Salazar.[168][169] In January 2009 he told "Hat Trick Barça", a programme on Canal 33: "I have a girlfriend and she is living in Argentina, I am relaxed and happy".[169] He was seen with the girl, Antonella Roccuzzo,[170] at a carnival in Sitges after the Barcelona-Espanyol derby. Roccuzzo is a fellow native of Rosario.[171]
Charity

In 2007 Messi established the Leo Messi Foundation

, a charity supporting access to education and health care for vulnerable children.[172][173] In an fansite interview, Messi said: “Being a bit famous now gives me the opportunity to help people who really need it, especially children."[174]

In response to Messi’s own childhood medical difficulties, the Leo Messi Foundation supports Argentine children diagnosed with medical conditions by offering treatment in Spain and covering the transport, hospital and recuperation costs.[175] Messi’s foundation is supported by his own fundraising activity with additional assistance from Herbalife

.

On 11 March 2010 Messi was announced as a goodwill ambassador for UNICEF.[176] Messi’s UNICEF ambassador activities are aimed at supporting children’s rights. Messi is supported in this by FC Barcelona, who also have a strong association with UNICEF.[177]
Media

He is featured on the front cover of the video game Pro Evolution Soccer 2009 and is also involved in promotional campaigns for the game.[178][179] Messi, along with Fernando Torres,[180] is the face of Pro Evolution Soccer 2010, and was also involved in the motion capturing and the trailer.[181][182][183] Messi is sponsored by the German sportswear company Adidas and features in their television advertisements.[184] In June 2010, Messi also signed a three–year contract with Herbalife[185] which further supports the Leo Messi Foundation.
Career statistics
Club Season League Cup Supercup Champions League UEFA Super Cup Club World Cup Total
Apps Goals Assis Apps Goals Assis Apps Goals Assis Apps Goals Assis Apps Goals Assis Apps Goals Assis Apps Goals Assis
Barcelona 2004–05 7 1 0 1 0 0 — 1 0 0 — — 9 1 0
2005–06 17 6 3 2 1 0 0 0 0 6 1 1 — — 25 8 4
2006–07 26 14 2 2 2 1 2 0 0 5 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 36 17 3
2007–08 28 10 12 3 0 0 — 9 6 1 — — 40 16 13
2008–09 31 23 11 8 6 2 — 12 9 5 — — 51 38 18
2009–10 35 34 10 3 1 0 1 2 0 11 8 0 1 0 1 2 2 0 53 47 11
2010–11 19 24 14 6 7 3 2 3 0 6 6 1 — — 33 40 18
Career totals 163 112 52 25 17 6 5 5 0 50 31 8 2 0 1 2 2 0 247 167 67

Statistics accurate as of match played 5 February 2011[186][187]
International
National team Year Apps Goals Assists
Argentina 2005 5 0 0
2006 7 2 1
2007 13 6 3
2008 8 2 1
2009 10 3 2
2010 10 2 2
2011 1 1 1
Total 54 16 10
International goals
Under–20

Scores and results list Argentina's goal tally first.[188][189]

Goal Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 14 June 2005 Arke Stadion, Enschede, Netherlands Egypt 1–0 2–0 2005 World Youth Championship
2 22 June 2005 Univé Stadion, Emmen, Netherlands Colombia 1–1 2–1 2005 World Youth Championship
3 24 June 2005 Arke Stadion, Enschede, Netherlands Spain 3–1 3–1 2005 World Youth Championship
4 28 June 2005 Galgenwaard Stadion, Utrecht, Netherlands Brazil 1–0 2–1 2005 World Youth Championship
5 2 July 2005 Galgenwaard Stadion, Utrecht, Netherlands Nigeria 1–0 2–1 2005 World Youth Championship
6 2 July 2005 Galgenwaard Stadion, Utrecht, Netherlands Nigeria Nigeria 2–1 2–1 2005 World Youth Championship
Under–23
Goal Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 7 August 2008 Shanghai Stadium, Shanghai, China Côte d'Ivoire 1–0 2–1 2008 Summer Olympics
2 16 August 2008 Shanghai Stadium, Shanghai, China Netherlands 1–0 2–1 2008 Summer Olympics
Senior team
Goal Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 1 March 2006 St. Jakob-Park, Basel, Switzerland Croatia 2–1 2–3 Friendly
2 16 June 2006 WM-Stadion Gelsenkirchen, Gelsenkirchen, Germany Serbia and Montenegro 6–0 6–0 2006 World Cup
3 5 June 2007 Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain Algeria 2–2 4–3 Friendly
4 5 June 2007 Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain Algeria Algeria 4–2 4–3 Friendly
5 8 July 2007 Metropolitano de Fútbol de Lara, Barquisimeto, Venezuela Peru 2–0 4–0 2007 Copa América
6 11 July 2007 Polideportivo Cachamay, Puerto Ordaz, Venezuela Mexico 2–0 3–0 2007 Copa América
7 16 October 2007 José Pachencho Romero, Maracaibo, Venezuela Venezuela 2–0 2–0 2010 World Cup qualification
8 20 November 2007 Estadio El Campín, Bogotá, Colombia Colombia Colombia 1–0 1–2 2010 World Cup qualification
9 4 June 2008 Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego, United States Mexico Mexico 2–0 4–1 Friendly
10 11 October 2008 Estadio Monumental, Buenos Aires, Argentina Uruguay 1–0 2–1 2010 World Cup qualification
11 11 February 2009 Stade Vélodrome, Marseille, France France 2–0 2–0 Friendly
12 28 March 2009 Estadio Monumental, Buenos Aires, Argentina Venezuela Venezuela 1–0 4–0 2010 World Cup qualification
13 14 November 2009 Vicente Calderón Stadium, Madrid, Spain Spain 1–1 1–2 Friendly
14 7 September 2010 Estadio Monumental, Buenos Aires, Argentina Spain Spain 1–0 4–1 Friendly
15 17 November 2010 Khalifa International Stadium, Doha, Qatar Brazil Brazil 1–0 1–0 Friendly
16 9 February 2011 Stade de Genève, Geneva, Switzerland Portugal Portugal 2–1 2–1 Friendly
Awards and honours
Club

Barcelona

* La Liga: 4

2005, 2006, 2009, 2010

* Copa del Rey: 1

2009

* Supercopa de España: 4

2005, 2006, 2009, 2010

* UEFA Champions League: 2

2006, 2009

* UEFA Super Cup: 1

2009

* FIFA Club World Cup: 1

2009

Argentina

* FIFA U-20 World Cup: 1

2005

* Olympic Gold Medal: 1

2008

Individual

* Ballon d'Or: 2

2009, 2010

* FIFA World Player of the Year: 2

2009, 2010

* FIFA Team of the Year: 3

2008, 2009, 2010

* U-21 European Footballer of the Year: 1

2007

* Onze d'Or: 1

2009

* La Liga Player of the Year: 1

2009

* La Liga Forward of the Year: 1

2009

* La Liga Foreign Player of the Year: 3

2007, 2009, 2010

* La Liga Ibero-American Player of the Year: 3

2007, 2009, 2010

* Marca La Liga Player of the Year: 2

2009, 2010

* La Liga top goalscorer: 1

2010

* FC Barcelona all competitions top goalscorer: 2

2009, 2010

* FC Barcelona League top goalscorer: 1

2010

* European Golden Shoe: 1

2010

* UEFA Champions League Player of the Year: 1

2009

* UEFA Champions League Forward of the Year: 1

2009

* UEFA Champions League top goalscorer: 2

2009, 2010

* UEFA Champions League Final Fan's Man of the Match: 1

2009

* UEFA Team of the Year: 3

2008, 2009, 2010

* Footballer of the Year of Argentina: 5

2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010

* FIFPro World Player of the Year: 2

2009, 2010

* FIFPro World XI: 4

2007, 2008, 2009, 2010

* FIFPro World Young Player of the Year: 3

2006, 2007, 2008

* FIFPro Special Young Player of the Year: 2

2007, 2008

* FIFA U-20 World Cup Player of the Tournament: 1

2005

* FIFA U-20 World Cup top goalscorer: 1

2005

* Copa América Young Player of the Tournament: 1

2007

* World Soccer Player of the Year: 1

2009

* World Soccer Young Player of the Year: 3

2006, 2007, 2008

* FIFA Club World Cup Golden Ball: 1

2009

* ESM Team of the Year: 4

2005-06, 2007-08, 2008-09, 2009-10

Sunil Chhetri (born 3 August 1984 in Secundrabad)[1] is an Indian footballer who currently plays for Chirag United SC of the I-League

Sunil Chhetri (born 3 August 1984 in Secundrabad)[1] is an Indian footballer who currently plays for Chirag United SC of the I-League.

Chhetri started his football career playing for school teams and then for his local club, City Club. Since then, he has represented I-League clubs Mohun Bagan, East Bengal Club and JCT FC. At Mohun Bagan, he scored eight goals over three seasons where the club finished in the bottom half of the league table every time. The next three seasons were spent at JCT where he scored a total of twenty goals including twelve goals in a single season where JCT finished second in the league. This earned him the league's "Player of the Year" award. Afterwards he played for East Bengal and scored seven goals in a season where they finished sixth. For the 2009–10 season, he signed with Dempo SC on a two-year contract.

At international level, Chhetri has represented India in the Nehru Cup, the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Championship and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Challenge Cup. He received much media attention after scoring a hat-trick in the final of the 2008 AFC Challenge Cup, which led to an unsuccessful trial at English club Coventry City and speculation linking him with many European and North American clubs. In addition, Chhetri has received awards such as the 2007 All India Football Federation (AIFF) Player of the Year.

Sunil Chhetri was born in Secundrabad[1] to parents of Nepali origin;[2] KB Chhetri, a retired army officer, and Sushila Chhetri, a former member of the Nepal women's football team.[3] He played football for Indian schools and was offered trials by clubs such as Mohun Bagan during this time.[2] While attending the Army Public School in Delhi, Chhetri played in the Hindkishore and the Deorani Mamta Sub Junior Inter-School football tournaments.[4][5] Chhetri stated that he never intended to become a professional footballer: "I had no plans of becoming a footballer. The only reason I took it up was to get into a good college,"[6] as he believed gaining an 'India team' certificate would help boost his chances of achieving this goal.[6]
[edit] Club career

After starting his career for the Delhi-based City Club,[7] Chhetri transferred to Mohun Bagan and remained there for three seasons. In his first season, the 2002–03 season, Chhetri scored four goals[8] in a season where Mohun Bagan finished in seventh place.[9] In the next season, Chhetri scored two goals and these came against SC Goa and bottom-placed Indian Bank as Mohun Bagan once again finished in the bottom half of the table, in ninth place.[10] Chhetri once again scored two goals in the 2004–05 season; this time Mohun Bagan finished eighth in the league and remained in the National Football League (NFL) on goal difference.[11] In the Santosh Trophy, where he played for Delhi, Chhetri managed to score seven goals in the whole tournament including four in a match against Gujarat.[11]
[edit] JCT

Subsequently, he moved to JCT FC (then known as JCT Mills) for the 2005–06 season.[12] That season, Chhetri scored two goals in all competitions, one against Salgaocar and the other against SC Goa, with JCT finishing sixth in the league.[13] After his game against the Brazilian club Sao Paulo FC in the Super Soccer Series in 2007, comparisons were drawn with fellow Indian striker Baichung Bhutia.[14] He also scored two hat-tricks for Delhi in the group stages of the 61st Santosh Trophy against Orissa and Railways.[15] Delhi were eliminated in the pre-quarter-final playoffs, however, after losing 1–0 to Tamil Nadu in extra time.[15]

"I have played so much in Delhi. It’s a great feeling to be clubbed with some of the legends."
Sunil Chhetri, upon winning the AIFF Player of the Year.[7]

At the end of the 2006–07 season (the last NFL before it became the I-League), Chhetri was awarded the league's "Player of the Year" award as well as the best forward award.[16] He scored a total of twelve goals in the league as JCT finished second behind Dempo SC.[17] His twelve goals included two which came in a 2–0 win against Mohun Bagan and another double in a 3–2 win against Dempo SC.[18][19] In the first I–League season, Chhetri scored seven goals as JCT finished in third place.[20] That season, his solitary double was against Salgaocar in the last game of the season.[21] He was selected as the AIFF Player of the Year 2007 for his excellent performances for his club and country.[7] In October 2008 he sparked interest overseas from clubs Estoril Praia of the Portuguese second division, Liga de Honra,[22] and Leeds United of the English League One.[23] Although there had been no deal agreed with Leeds, Chhetri spoke in an interview saying, "Nothing has been confirmed as yet but yes, I think I am close to getting there,"[22] however a deal never materialised and he instead moved to East Bengal Club.
[edit] East Bengal

"Of course, I would love to play in Europe like [David] Villa and it all depends where I get an offer from. England would certainly be fine and I have had talks but the stumbling blocks are the work permit restrictions."
Sunil Chhetri, stating his desire to move abroad to play alongside Spanish striker David Villa.[24]

For the 2008–09 season, he signed with East Bengal Club.[12] He scored on his debut against Chirag United on 26 September 2008 with a goal in the 28th minute to win the man of the match award.[25][26] Chhetri scored a crucial goal in the 30th Federation Cup in a 1–0 win against his former club JCT, which almost assured East Bengal of a place in the semi-finals.[27] In the semi-final against arch rivals Mohun Bagan, things were much different for Chhetri as he missed the decisive penalty in the penalty shootout as East Bengal were knocked out of the competition.[28] Newspaper reports suggested that a few Major League Soccer (MLS) clubs, rumoured to be Los Angeles Galaxy and DC United, were interested in the Indian striker along with his team mate Steven Dias.[29][30] On 25 January 2009, he arrived in England to start a trial with Coventry City,[31] rejecting the contract from the MLS.[32] Coventry City manager Chris Coleman announced four days later that they would not be following their interest in the Indian international.[33] Roughly four months later, on 20 May 2009, Chhetri said that he would again be going to Coventry City on an extended trial of 15 days in June 2009.[34] He finished the season with seven goals helping East Bengal finish sixth place in the league.[35]
[edit] Dempo SC

After being released by East Bengal, Chhetri signed a two-year contract for Dempo SC on 22 May 2009, with a clause stating he could attend trials abroad in the future if he wished to.[36][37]

On 7 August, the Scottish club Celtic were linked with a move to sign Chhetri. Celtic had him watched during the pre-season friendly with Santboià, a third division Spanish club. The player's agent, Yogesh Joshee was quoted as saying, "I'm waiting to get feedback from Celtic, who saw him on Monday by head scout and then another scout came to watch game, I'll let you know the outcome when I know."[38] The Hindustan Times stated in an article on 30 August that Chhetri had signed a three-year contract with English club Queens Park Rangers, but the British government denied him a work permit. According to an article on the Football Players’ Association of India's official website, Chhetri was denied a work permit because India were not in the top 70 of the FIFA World Rankings.[39] Chhetri remained positive: "But it's not the end of the world. I will still continue to work hard for my country and my club Dempo, who have been very supportive."[40]
[edit] Major League Soccer

Chhetri trialled with Major League Soccer club Kansas City Wizards throughout March 2010, competing during their pre-season games.[41] He became the first Indian to represent a Major League Soccer club when he formally signed for the team on 24 March 2010.[42] Peter Vermes, the manager, was quoted saying "One thing we really like about Sunil is that he's a crafty player. Technically he's very sharp, and he's a guy that has good attacking tendencies."[43] His first game was in a Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup qualification play-in game against Colorado Rapids, which ended on a sad note as his team was knocked out and he ended up with a yellow card and was substituted at half time. He did not make any appearances in any league matches in the 2010 Major League Soccer season.[44] It was announced that Chhetri would make his second appearance for the club in a friendly versus Manchester United[45] which caused controversy as he had yet to appear with the club in league play.[46] He was substituted into the game in the 69th minute, which the Wizards won despite being down to 10 men. The next day Chettri was released for the rest of the season to the Indian national team until the end of the 2011 AFC Asian Cup. On February 5th Sporting Kansas reported that Chhetri has officially left the team.[47]
[edit] 2011 Asian Cup Speculation

The word came out that many Arab and Australian scouts were present during the India-Australia & India-Bahrain tie to try and grab up the versatile striker amidst reports that Chhetri is 'frustrated' at Sporting Kansas City, due to lack of playing time.
[edit] Chirag United SC

It was announced on February 10th 2011 that Chhetri has signed for Chirag United SC of the I-League and is now waiting for approval on his International transfer certificate.
[edit] International career

Chhetri has represented India at international level.[2] He made his debut for the India national team in the 2004 SAF Games in Pakistan.[48] He scored his first international goal against Pakistan on 12 June 2005.[49]
Chhetri celebrating after scoring

Chhetri's first international tournament was the 2007 Nehru Cup. In the opening game, India defeated Cambodia 6–0 with Chhetri scoring two goals.[50] He also scored a goal in the 2–3 defeat to Syria[51] and another in the 3–0 win over Kyrgyzstan[52] to take his goal tally to four. Chhetri was involved in the build-up to N.P. Pradeep's decisive goal as India beat Syria 1–0 in the final to become the first champions of the tournament since 1997.[53] Later in 2007, India began their 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification campaign. They were knocked out in the first round by Lebanon with Chhetri scoring once in the away leg (a 4–1 defeat)[54] and once in the home leg (a 2–2 draw)[55] resulting in a 6–3 aggregate defeat.[56]

The 2008 SAFF Championship started with three victories out of a possible three in the group stages. In the opening game, Chhetri scored a goal in a 4–0 victory over Nepal.[57] He scored once more in the championship—in the 2–1 semi-final victory over Bhutan; this was an equaliser before Gouramangi Singh scored India's second goal to send India through to the final.[58] India lost 1–0 to the Maldives in the final and Chhetri played for the full 90 minutes.[59] Later that year, in the 2008 AFC Challenge Cup, Chhetri played in all of the matches and scored four goals. In the 1–0 win over Afghanistan, he was involved in the build-up to Climax Lawrence's goal.[60] He also played for the full 90 minutes against Tajikistan (a 1–1 draw)[61] and Turkmenistan (a 2–1 win).[62] In the semi-final against Myanmar, Chhetri scored the only goal in a 1–0 victory after being assisted by Baichung Bhutia to see India through to the final.[63] In the final against Tajikistan, Chhetri scored a hat-trick which enabled India to win the Cup. This automatically qualified India for the 2011 Asian Cup, the first time they had qualified for the tournament in 24 years.[64] His first goal was originally disallowed for offside by Uzbek referee Valentin Kovalenko, who changed his mind after consulting his assistant.[65] Hundreds of fans waited outside the stadium to greet India's new "poster boy" and India manager Bob Houghton stated, "He is remarkable, brave and honest. He never gives up."[64]

Initially, Goal.com stated that Chhetri would miss the 2009 Nehru Cup through injury.[66] He played in the tournament, however, and he scored in the second match of the Nehru Cup, a penalty in a 2–1 win over Kyrgyzstan,[67] this being first time he had completed a full match since getting injured before the pre-season tour of Spain with his club.[68] He featured in the other three games in the round robin stage of the tournament, including the "dress rehearsal" for the final against Syria, but did not score.[69][70][71] Chhetri was one of India's scorers in the penalty shootout victory over Syria in the final after the match had ended in a 1–1 draw. He showed flashes of brilliance and scored the second goal in a 5-2 defeat at the hands of Bahrain in the 2011 Asian Cup.He also scored a goal against Asian powerhouse South Korea at the 2011 AFC Asian Cup.[72]
# Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 12 June 2005 Ayub Stadium, Quetta, Pakistan Pakistan 1–0 1–1 Friendly
2 17 August 2007 Ambedkar Stadium, Delhi, India Cambodia 4–0 6–0 2007 Nehru Cup
3 17 August 2007 Ambedkar Stadium, Delhi, India Cambodia Cambodia 5–0 6–0 2007 Nehru Cup
4 23 August 2007 Ambedkar Stadium, Delhi, India Syria 1–0 2–3 2007 Nehru Cup
5 26 August 2007 Ambedkar Stadium, Delhi, India Kyrgyzstan 2–0 3–0 2007 Nehru Cup
6 8 October 2007 Saida International Stadium, Saida, Lebanon Lebanon 1–0 1–4 2010 World Cup qualification
7 30 October 2007 Fatorda Stadium, Goa, India Lebanon Lebanon 1–0 2–2 2010 World Cup qualification
8 24 May 2008 Fatorda Stadium, Goa, India Chinese Taipei 2–0 3–0 Friendly
9 24 May 2008 Fatorda Stadium, Goa, India Chinese Taipei Chinese Taipei 3–0 3–0 Friendly
10 3 June 2008 Rasmee Dhandu Stadium, Malé, Maldives Nepal 3–0 4–0 2008 SAFF Cup
11 11 June 2008 Rasmee Dhandu Stadium, Malé, Maldives Bhutan 1–1 2–1 2008 SAFF Cup
12 7 August 2008 Gachibowli Athletic Stadium, Hyderabad, India Myanmar 1–0 1–0 2008 AFC Challenge Cup
13 13 August 2008 Ambedkar Stadium, Delhi, India Tajikistan 1–0 4–1 2008 AFC Challenge Cup
14 13 August 2008 Ambedkar Stadium, Delhi, India Tajikistan Tajikistan 3–0 4–1 2008 AFC Challenge Cup
15 13 August 2008 Ambedkar Stadium, Delhi, India Tajikistan Tajikistan 4–1 4–1 2008 AFC Challenge Cup
16 23 August 2009 Ambedkar Stadium, Delhi, India Kyrgyzstan Kyrgyzstan 2–0 2–1 2009 Nehru Cup
17 8 October 2010 Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex, Pune, India Vietnam 1–0 3–1 Friendly
18 8 October 2010 Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex, Pune, India Vietnam Vietnam 2–0 3–1 Friendly
19 8 October 2010 Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex, Pune, India Vietnam Vietnam 3–1 3–1 Friendly
20 14 January 2011 Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium, Doha, Qatar Bahrain Bahrain 2–4 2–5 2011 AFC Asian Cup
21 18 January 2011 Al Gharafa Stadium, Doha, Qatar South Korea Korea Republic 1–2 1–4 2011 AFC Asian Cup
[edit] Honours
[edit] International

* AFC Challenge Cup Most Valuable Player (1): 2008

[edit] Individual

* AIFF Player of the Year (1): 2007

Vijender Singh Beniwal (Hindi: विजेन्द्र सिंह बेनीवाल) (born October 29, 1985)

Vijender Singh Beniwal (Hindi: विजेन्द्र सिंह बेनीवाल) (born October 29, 1985) (also known as Vijender Singh or Vijender Beniwal) is an Olympic Medalist Indian boxer from Kalwas, Bhiwani district in Haryana. He belongs to a Haryanvi family of Jat ethnicity. Vijender’s early days were spent in his village where he did his schooling, after which he received a bachelor’s degree from a local college in Bhiwani. He practiced boxing at the Bhiwani Boxing Club where coach Jagdish Singh recognized his talent and encouraged him to take to professional boxing.

Vijender went on to compete at the sub-junior nationals where he won a silver medal for two years in succession. Having won medals in different competitions at the national level, Vijender was picked to train and compete at several international level competitions such as the 2004 Athens Summer Olympics and the 2006 Commonwealth Games. At the 2006 Asian Games in Doha, he won the bronze medal after losing the semifinal bout against Kazakhstan's Bakhtiyar Artayev. At the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics, he defeated Carlos Góngora of Ecuador 9–4 in the quarterfinals which guaranteed him a bronze medal—the first ever Olympic medal for an Indian boxer.

After this historic win, Vijender was felicitated with a number of awards, including the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award—India's highest sporting honour. In 2009, he participated at the World Amateur Boxing Championships where he won the bronze medal. In the same year, the International Boxing Association (AIBA) announced Vijender as the top-ranked boxer in its annual middleweight category list with 2800 points. He is credited for bringing back the sport of boxing into the limelight in India.
* 5 External links

[edit] Biography
[edit] 1985–2003: Early life and foray into boxing
Medal record
Competitor for India
Men's Boxing
Olympic Games
Bronze 2008 Beijing Middleweight
World Amateur Boxing Championships
Bronze 2009 Milan Middleweight
Commonwealth Games
Silver 2006 Melbourne Welterweight
Bronze 2010 Delhi Middleweight
Asian Games
Bronze 2006 Doha Middleweight
Gold 2010 Guangzhou Middleweight

Vijender was born on October 29, 1985 in an Indian family in Kalwas village, 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) from Bhiwani, Haryana. His father, Mahipal Singh Beniwal, is a bus driver with the Haryana Roadways, while his mother is a homemaker. His father drove buses overtime so as to pay for Vijender and his elder brother Manoj's education.[1][2] Vijender did his primary schooling from Kalwas, secondary school from Bhiwani and finally a Bachelor's degree from Vaish College.[3] In 1990, boxer Raj Kumar Sangwan got the Arjuna Award; as a craze for boxing in India increased. The sport became one of the main job avenues in India.[4] In order to ensure a better life for their poor family, Vijender and his elder brother Manoj decided to learn boxing. Vijender was inspired by his elder brother Manoj, a former boxer himself, to join the sport of boxing.[5] After Manoj succeeded to enter into the Indian Army in 1998 with his boxing credentials, he decided to support Vijender financially so he could continue his boxing training.[4] Vijender's parents decided to not pressurise him to continue his studies, as they felt that he had a talent and passion for boxing. For Vijender, boxing quickly grew from an interest and passion to a career choice.[6]

He practiced at the Bhiwani Boxing Club, where former national-level boxer and coach Jagdish Singh recognised his talent. Working part-time, he even tried his hand at modelling to financially support his coaching.[3] The first recognition for Vijender came when he won a bout in the state level competition. Vijender won a silver medal in his first sub-junior nationals in 1997 and went on to bag his first gold medal at the 2000 Nationals.[4] In 2003, he became the all-India youth boxing champion. After beating a good boxer at that time, he said in an interview that he got confidence and belief in himself as a boxer. The turning point, however, came in the 2003 Afro-Asian Games. Despite being a junior boxer, Vijender took part in the selection trials and was picked for the meet where he fought valiantly to win a silver medal.[4]

His boxing style, hooks and uppercut are compared by the media with style of actor Sylvester Stallone as the character Rocky Balboa in the Rocky film series. Vijender cites him as one his primary influences, along with boxers Mike Tyson and Muhammad Ali, and boxing promoter Don King.[6]
[edit] 2004–07: Athens Olympics and Commonwealth Games
An young Indian male and a female standing side-by-side. The man is on the right and wears a blue-grey shirt and navy-blue trousers. He is smiling looking down to the right of the camera and holds a glass, triangular shaped trophy in his hands. The female also looks towards the bottom right and wears a shiny dress whose top portion is light green in color and the skirt area being silvery. Her long black hair falls on her shoulders.
Vijender with actress Amrita Rao during a ramp walk on a modelling show.

Vijender went to compete at the 2004 Athens Summer Olympics, in the welterweight division, but lost to Mustafa Karagollu of Turkey by a score of 20–25.[3] At the 2006 Commonwealth Games, he defeated England's Neil Perkins in the semifinal but lost to South Africa's Bongani Mwelase in the final.[7] This win led a movement up the competing division. Vijender took part in the middleweight (75 kg) division at the 2006 Asian Games in Doha, where he won the bronze medal in a lost semifinal bout against Kazakhstan's Bakhtiyar Artayev with the final score of 24–29. Initially Vijender was not supposed to compete because of a back injury, but he recovered in time to win the tournament and qualify for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.[8]

Vijender started preparations for the 2008 Beijing Olympics and underwent training with boxers from Germany. Top boxers from around Europe participated in a tournament held in the country in early 2008. Vijender won gold in one of the events, beating a German boxer.[8] At The President's Cup boxing tournament, which is touted as a dress rehearsal for the Olympic games, Vijender defeated Artayev in a quarterfinal bout. Speaking after this, Vijender sounded confident of his physical shape.[9] Talking about his preparation for the Beijing Olympics, Vijender said:

"I did not do well the last time because then I was young and did not have the experience. I have just made it to the senior level and qualified for the Olympics. Now I have the experience. I have won medals at major tournaments like the Asian Games and Commonwealth Games. Recently, I also beat the 2004 Olympic Games gold medallist [Bakhtiyar] Artayev [in the AIBA President's Cup], so I have done quite well at the international level. So, definitely, everyone can expect a good showing from me in Beijing."[8]
"Now I have quite a lot of experience after competing at the international level regularly. I just want to say that Indian boxers are no longer a weak lot; all are doing well at the international level. Our boxing graph is going up all the time and the rest of the world is now scared to face Indian boxers."[8]

[edit] 2008–09: The Beijing Olympics and AIBA top rank
Picture of an young Indian male up to the waist. He has sharp features, short cropped black hair and is clad in a pink striped shirt and khaki pants with a black belt. The man appears to look a little to the right of the camera, smiling and making a gesture with his left hand as if he is punching.
Vijender at the opening of a gymnasium in Mumbai.

After the wins in Germany, Vijender's training for the Olympics continued in Patiala where Indian boxers going to the Olympics held a camp.[8] Vijender was accompanied by boxers Dinesh Kumar, Akhil Kumar, Jitender Kumar and Antharish Lakra. The Indian Amateur Boxing Federation (IABF) sent a videographer to shoot extensively the bouts involving the likely opponents of the five Indian boxers. A team of coaches went through the video footage shot by videographer Sambhu of the National Institute of Sports, Patiala, and studied the technique of the boxers from various countries in detail, so as to prepare Vijender and the others regarding the opponent's maneuvers and fighting techniques.[10]

At the 2008 Summer Olympics, he defeated Badou Jack of Gambia 13–2 in the round of 32. In the round of 16, he defeated Angkhan Chomphuphuang of Thailand 13–3 to reach the Middleweight Boxing Quarterfinals.[11] He beat southpaw Carlos Góngora of Ecuador 9–4 in the quarterfinals on 20 August 2008 which guaranteed him a medal, the first ever Olympic medal for an Indian boxer. He lost 5–8 to Cuba's Emilio Correa in the semi-finals on 22 August 2008 and shared a bronze medal.[12] Vijender, and Indian wrestler Sushil Kumar—who won a bronze at the men's wrestling competitions—were welcomed grandly to India after their victory.[13]

In July 2009, Vijender accompanied by Sushil and boxer Mary Kom were felicitated with the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award—India's highest sporting honour. It was the first time that three sportspeople were picked for the award; the award selection committee decided to felicitate all of them, taking into consideration their performance for the cycle of 2008–09. Kom and Vijender were the first boxers to get the award which carried prize money of Rs 7.5 lakh and a citation.[14] Both Sushil and Vijender were recommended to the Padma Shri awards committee, by the Indian Sports and Home Ministries; however, they were denied the awards after recommendations were not fruitful by the Padma Awards Committee for 2009 winners. The denial of Padma Shri for them created a furore among masses with allegations of promoting only a few games.[15] Vijender later took up a job with the Haryana Police department which paid him Rs 14,000 per month.[16]

Vijender participated at the 2009 World Amateur Boxing Championships. He was beaten by Abbos Atoev of Uzbekistan in the semi-final of the 75 kg Middleweight category, by 7 points to 3 and was thus awarded the bronze medal. Vijender won the first round of the bout 1–0, only for Atoev to run rampant in the second, landing five unanswered blows. The third round was evenly contested with both fighters scoring on a couple of occasions, but Vijender had already lost the match.[17] In September 2009, the International Boxing Association (AIBA) announced Vijender as the top-ranked boxer in its annual middle-weight (75 kg) category list. He topped the list with 2800 points.[18][19]
[edit] 2010–present: Padma Shri and Commonwealth Games

In January 2010, Vijender was awarded the Padma Shri award, for outstanding contribution to Indian sports.[20] Later, he participated in the invitational Champions of Champions boxing tournament in China, and won a silver medal, losing 0-6 to Zhang Jin Ting in the 75 kg middleweight final.[21] At the 2010 Commonwealth Boxing Championship held in New Delhi March 18, 2010, he along with five other fellow Indians won gold medal. Vijender defeated England's Frank Buglioni 13–3.[22]

At the 2010 Commonwealth Games, Vijender Singh was beaten by England's Anthony Ogogo in the semi-finals. Leading 3–0 on points going into the final round, Singh was twice given a two point penalty by Canadian referee Michael Summers, the second for coming just 20 seconds before the end of the bout, leading Ogogo to win by 4 points to 3. The Indian Boxing Federation (IBF)launched an unsuccessful appeal, leaving Singh with a bronze medal.[23] IBF Secretary General P K Muralidharan Raja said, "The jury reviewed the bout and came to the conclusion that Vijender was holding his opponent and the referee was right in warning him. When the Indian team pointed out that even Ogogo was holding Vijender, the jury felt it was not the case." Singh lashed out saying that the penalties were "harsh and unfair. The warnings were unfair and harsh. If the referee thought I was holding Ogogo then he should have penalised this guy as well. He was also holding me. It's a joke that somebody has won by scoring points just out of warnings."[24] Vijender won gold medal in the 2010 Asian games in Guangzhou ,china.He thrashed the defending World champion Abbos Atoev of Uzbekistan 7-0 ,thus taking revenge for the earlier loss suffered to him .
[edit] In media
Four men standing. Middle of them is a young Indian male who wears a shiny orange dressing gown with blue border. His hands are behind his head. The other three men are all dressed in black and appear to be waiting around the man.
Vijender prepairing for a boxing match on a television show.

After his Olympic win, Vijender emerged into mainstream media prominence in India and became the latest pin-up boy.[3] Apart from boxing, Vijender took part in ramp shows also. However he commented that with partaking modelling, he wished to "bring the game [boxing] in the limelight, make it as popular as possible and catapult it to its deserving place at the top."[25] He has regularly spoken against the bias that Indian media has promoted only cricket as the sole game in India. In an interview with The Kolkata Telegraph, he commented:

Thanks to the media, people have started taking boxing seriously over the past two years. Everyone knows my name now because my achievements have been highlighted. Lekin boxing ka toh kuch promotion hi nahin hota India mein. (But boxing is still not promoted in India!) We don’t have boxing academies, we don’t even have proper boxing rings. I have lost count of the times I have approached the government and the sporting authorities for support, but nothing has happened. [...] In this country, everyone is hung up on cricket. Forget about boxing, India is doing so well in other sports too. Saina Nehwal is a great badminton player, the Indian tennis team has just won a Davis Cup tie, lekin hamare liye support kahan hai? (where is the support for us boxers?)[6]

Vijender was approached by Percept Picture Company to take part in the Indian version of the boxing reality show The Contender, as a guide and counsellor to the participants. The Contender is a reality show that follows a group of boxers competing with each other in a single elimination style-competition. The show was adapted into Indian format by international content and production firm, Bulldog Media and Entertainment along with media conglomerate Percept Picture Company.[26] However, Vijender signed the deal with Percept when he was still contractually obligated with Infinity Optimal Solutions (IOS), a celebrity management firm who dealt with Vijender's media appearances and ramp walks as a male model. Hence the Delhi High Court barred Vijender from entering into any deal with Percept, after IOS applied a petition to the court.[27]

Vijender appeared on Bollywood actor Salman Khan's game show 10 Ka Dum. He was accompanied by Bollywood actor Mallika Sherawat. Other appearances includes the fourth season of the Indian dance reality show Nach Baliye with actor Bipasha Basu.[28] Although previously denied by him, Hindustan Times reported that the boxer took up a role in the part real part fictional Bollywood thriller tentatively titled One, to be directed by South Indian director Anand.[29] The film was later reveated to be named Patiala Express, which is produced by Percept Limited. Shooting for the film will begin early 2011.[30]

Vijender is credited by the critics and the media for bringing the sport of boxing back into the limelight in India. His rise to the top rank of the boxing world has been an inspiration for the younger generation and has brought more aspirants and followers, to the sport.[31]
[edit] See also

Shane Keith Warne (born 13 September 1969)

Shane Keith Warne (born 13 September 1969) is a former Australian international cricketer widely regarded as one of the greatest bowlers in the history of the game.[1] In 2000, he was selected by a panel of cricket experts as one of the five Wisden Cricketers of the Century, the only specialist bowler selected in the quintet and the only one still playing at the time. He is also a cricket commentator and a professional poker player.

Warne played his first Test match in 1992, and his 708 wickets was the record for the most wickets taken by any bowler in Test cricket, until it was broken by Sri Lanka's Muttiah Muralitharan on 3 December 2007. He took over 1000 international wickets (in Tests and One-Day Internationals)—he was the second bowler to reach this milestone after Muttiah Muralitharan.[2] A useful lower-order batsman, Warne also scored over 3000 Test runs, and he holds the record for most Test runs without a century. His career was plagued by scandals off the field; these included a ban from cricket for testing positive for a prohibited substance, and charges of bringing the game into disrepute through accepting money from bookmakers and marital infidelities.

As well as Australia, he also played Australian domestic cricket for his home state of Victoria, and English domestic cricket for Hampshire. He was captain of Hampshire for three seasons, from 2005 to 2007.

He retired from international cricket in January 2007, at the end of Australia's 5-0 Ashes series victory over England. Three other players integral to the Australian team at the time, Glenn McGrath, Damien Martyn and Justin Langer, also retired from Tests at the same time which led some, including the Australian captain, Ricky Ponting, to declare it the "end of an era".[3]

Following his retirement from international cricket, Warne played a full season at Hampshire in 2007. He had been scheduled to appear in the 2008 English cricket season, but in late March 2008 he announced his retirement from playing first-class cricket in order to be able to spend more time pursuing interests outside of cricket.[4] In March 2008, Warne signed to play in the Indian Premier League for the Jaipur team, Rajasthan Royals in the first edition of the tournament, where he played the roles of both captain and coach. He led his team to victory against the Chennai Super Kings in a cliffhanger of a final match on 1 June 2008. After the innings defeat of Australia in Adelaide in Ashes 2010, a website was launched by fans calling for his comeback. The website has also created a fund for the sole purpose of bringing Warne back into international cricket.[

Youth and early cricket career

Warne's first representative honours came when in 1983/84 season he represented University of Melbourne Cricket Club in the then Victorian Cricket Association under 16 Dowling Shield competition. He bowled a mixture of leg-spin and off-spin and was also handy lower order batsman. The following season he joined the St Kilda Cricket Club near his home town of Black Rock. He started in the lower elevens and over a number of seasons progressed to the first eleven. He was later chosen to train at the Australian Cricket Academy in Adelaide.

Warne joined English team Accrington Cricket Club in 1991. He enjoyed a good season with the ball, taking 73 wickets at 15.4 each, but scored only 330 runs at an average of 15.0. The committee at Accrington Cricket Club decided not to re-engage him for the 1992 Lancashire League season as he was seen not to be good enough.[citation needed]
[edit] First-class debut

Warne made his first-class cricket debut on 15 February 1991, taking 0/61 and 1/41 for Victoria against Western Australia at the Junction Oval in Melbourne. He was then selected for the Australia B team which toured Zimbabwe in September 1991. His best performance was 7/52 in a four-day match. Upon returning to Australia, Warne took 3/14 and 4/42 for Australia A against India in December 1991. The incumbent spinner in the Australian Test Team, Peter Taylor, had taken only one wicket in the first two tests, so Warne was brought into the team for the Third Test against India at the Sydney Cricket Ground a week later.
[edit] International career
[edit] Early international career
Wiki letter w cropped.svg This section requires expansion with:
examples and descriptions covering the period 1993-2003.

Warne had an undistinguished Test debut, taking 1/150 (Ravi Shastri caught by Dean Jones for 206) off 45 overs, and recorded figures of 1/228 in his first Test series; he took 0/78 in the Fourth Test in Adelaide and was dropped for the Fifth Test on the pace-friendly WACA Ground in Perth. His poor form continued in the first innings against Sri Lanka at Colombo, in which he recorded 0/107. However, a spell of 3/11 in the second innings precipitated the hosts' second innings collapse and contributed to a remarkable Australian win.

However, Warne's performances in the last two Tests in Sri Lanka were not to the satisfaction of the selectors, and he was dropped for the First Test against the West Indies in the 1992–93 Australian season. Greg Matthews played in Warne's place and despite Australia being in a strong position on the final day, was unable to dismiss the tourists on a turning surface. Warne was thus recalled for the Second Test in Melbourne, where he took 7/52 in a match-winning performance in the second innings.
[edit] Ban from cricket

In February 2003, just prior to the start of the 2003 Cricket World Cup, Warne was sent home after a drug test during the recent one-day series in Australia returned a positive result for a banned diuretic.

Warne initially claimed that he took only one of what he called a "fluid tablet" – the prescription drug Moduretic – in an attempt to improve his appearance.[6]

In the end, the panel found Warne guilty of breaching the ACB's drug code, and imposed a one-year ban.[7] It was further revealed, and confirmed by Warne in a subsequent television interview, that he had actually taken two of the pills.[citation needed] The substance he took is banned because it can be used to mask the presence of other drugs. The Judge in the case found both Shane Warne and his mother's testimony to be "unreliable".[citation needed]

At the time, Warne took the view that the ban imposed would lengthen his Test playing career.[8] That Warne was allowed to play in charity matches while serving his one year ban was criticised by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA)[9] although WADA, in turn, was criticised by Warne for interfering in the matter.[10]

During his suspension, he considered working for the St Kilda Australian rules football club as an assistant coach, before the Australian Football League told the club that it would be inappropriate to have somebody suspended for a drug offense advising its players.[citation needed] He also received invitations to play in various celebrity "park cricket" teams, and the newly renamed Cricket Australia reversed its decision on whether Warne, as a contracted player, should be allowed to play in such matches. He also became a TV commentator for Channel 9 in Australia during this time.
[edit] Return to cricket
Wiki letter w cropped.svg This section requires expansion with:
examples and descriptions covering the period 2005-2006.

Warne returned to competitive cricket following his ban in February 2004.[11]

In March 2004, Warne became the second cricketer after Courtney Walsh of the West Indies to take 500 Test wickets. He broke the record for most career wickets in Test cricket on 15 October 2004 during the Second Test against India at Chennai, overtaking his great spin bowling rival, Muttiah Muralitharan of Sri Lanka. On 11 August 2005 at Old Trafford, in the Third Ashes Test, he became the first bowler in history to take 600 Test wickets. In 2005, Warne also broke the record for the number of wickets in a calendar year, with 96 wickets. His ferocious competitiveness was a feature of the 2005 Ashes series, when he took 40 wickets at an average of 19.92 and scored 249 runs.
[edit] International retirement
Warne (right) bowling to Ian Bell at Brisbane Cricket Ground in 2006.

Warne began his 2006/07 Ashes campaign with an indifferent Test in Brisbane and a poor first innings showing in Adelaide. However, his second innings heroics, including bowling Kevin Pietersen around the legs, triggered England's fifth-day collapse and Australia's historic victory. Warne again bowled well in the second innings in the third Test, and took the final wicket of Monty Panesar as Australia regained the Ashes.

On 21 December 2006 Warne announced his retirement, which came into effect after the fifth Ashes Test match at the SCG. He became the first cricketer to reach the 700-wicket milestone in his second last Test, on Boxing Day 2006. Warne said that it was his intention to "go out on top", adding that he might have retired after the 2005 Ashes series, had Australia won. Warne achieved his 700th test wicket at 3.18 pm on 26 December 2006[12] (AEST) by bowling English batsman Andrew Strauss out at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, in what was almost certainly his final appearance at the ground. This was the first occasion that a player had taken 700 career wickets. The wicket was described as a "classic Warne dismissal" to which the crowd of 89,155 gave a standing ovation.[13]

In the last match of the 2006 Ashes Series at the SCG, Sydney spectators bade him farewell in his very last Test match, just as they witnessed his Test debut on 2 January 1992. Thus, a career spanning exactly 15 years ended where it all began.

In this final Test, Warne ended England's first innings by trapping Monty Panesar lbw for a duck and his 1000th total international wicket. His final Test wicket was the wicket of English all-rounder Andrew Flintoff, stumped by Adam Gilchrist near the end of Day 3.[14]

In 2007, Cricket Australia and Sri Lanka Cricket decided to name the Australia- Sri Lanka Test cricket series, Warne-Muralidaran Trophy in honor of Warne and Muttiah Muralitharan[15]
[edit] Indian Premier League

After his retirement from international cricket, Warne was signed as the captain for Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League 2008, leading them to victory in the first season of the competition. Warne is to continue as captain of the Royals in the 2011 season.[16]
[edit] Playing style and influence

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After an inauspicious start to his Test career, Warne revolutionised cricket thinking with his mastery of leg spin, which many cricket followers had come to regard as a dying art due to its immense difficulty of execution. For all his on-pitch and off-pitch controversies, Warne's place in cricketing posterity has been assured by the fact that he has overturned the domination of cricket by fast bowling that had prevailed for two decades before his debut. Despite the presence of high quality spin bowlers such as the Indian spin quartet of the 1970s or Abdul Qadir on the Test scene, Australia's fast bowlers Dennis Lillee and Jeff Thomson had dominated cricket in the early 1970s. Furthermore, from 1976 until the early 1990s, the West Indies had lost only one (ill-tempered and controversial) Test series with a bowling attack almost exclusively comprising fast bowlers. In the early 1990s, with the West Indies on the wane, Waqar Younis and Wasim Akram of Pakistan were assuming the mantle of the world's most feared bowling combination. It was in that context that Warne's tormenting of batsmen became so significant rather than his actual statistics. His humiliation of Mike Gatting and subsequent dominance, in particular, of English and South African batsmen, provided a welcome sight for cricket watchers weary of the relentless intimidation by West Indian bowlers of the 1980s and 1990s. His treatment of South African batsman Daryl Cullinan was such that Cullinan was said to have sought the help of a therapist to overcome Warne's psychological hold.[17]

Warne combined the ability to turn the ball prodigiously, even on unhelpful pitches, with unerring accuracy and a variation of deliveries (notable among these being the flipper) In the latter stages of his career, variation was less evident, despite regular press conferences announcing a "new" delivery for each series he participated in. Gideon Haigh, the Australian journalist, said of Warne upon his retirement: "It was said of Augustus that he found Rome brick and left it marble: the same is true of Warne and spin bowling."[18]

Where my ability to spin a cricket ball came from, I honestly don't know. I can only think that I was born with it. I have a skill as cricketer and fortunately cricket found me.[19]
– Shane Warne

Many of his most spectacular performances have occurred in Ashes series against England In particular, the famous "Gatting Ball", otherwise known as the "Ball of the Century" which spun sharply and bowled a bemused Mike Gatting in the 1993 Ashes series. Conversely, he has struggled against India, particularly against Sachin Tendulkar: his bowling average against India is 47.18 runs per wicket, compared with his overall average of less than 26.[20] In fairness to Warne, other foreign spinners have also struggled against India in recent years; Warne's contemporary off-spinner rival, Muttiah Muralitharan, for instance, has a much higher bowling average (39.58 as at 2009) in Tests played in India than his overall Test figures.[21]

As well as his Test career Warne has been highly effective bowling in one-day cricket, something few other leg spin bowlers have managed. He also captained Australia on several occasions in One Day Internationals, winning ten matches and losing only one. Warne was instrumental in helping Australia win the 1999 Cricket World Cup in England. His performances in the semifinal against South Africa and in the final against Pakistan helped him get Man of the Match Awards. Warne had intended to retire from ODI cricket at the end of the 2003 World Cup: as it transpired, his last game for Australia was in January 2003. However, he did appear for the ICC World XI for the Tsunami benefit match in 2005.

Warne is also noted for his exuberant (and sometimes effective) lower-order batting, once famously being dismissed for 99 with a reckless shot on what was later shown to be a no ball. In fact, of all Test cricketers Warne has scored the most Test runs without having scored a century, with two scores in the nineties being his best efforts (99 and 91). Warne is also third overall in the most international test ducks. In 2006 Warne and Glenn McGrath reportedly lost a bet of which bowler would be the first to get a Test century with fellow Australian bowler Jason Gillespie after Gillespie scored a record double-century as a nightwatchman against Bangladesh.

Warne has also been a successful slip fielder, and is currently seventh in the list of most catches as a fielder in test cricket.
[edit] Controversies

Despite nearly universal recognition of Warne's talents, his reputation with fans and cricket authorities is mixed, owing to a succession of intemperate actions in both his professional and his private life.
[edit] Bookmakers
Main article: John the bookmaker controversy

"John" or "John the bookmaker" is the name given to an Indian bookmaker who in 1994–95 gave money to Australian cricketers Mark Waugh and Shane Warne, in return for pitch and weather information. However, the players claim to have refused to divulge more strategic material, such as team tactics and player selection policies. One of the most publicised of a series of betting controversies in cricket in the 1990s, the matter was initially covered-up by the Australian Cricket Board (ACB), who decided that it was sufficient to privately fine the players. The ACB concluded that, since Waugh and Warne had previously accused Pakistani cricket captain Saleem Malik of attempting to bribe them to lose matches, their credibility as witnesses would be damaged if their own involvement with John was publicised. The ACB reported the matter to the International Cricket Council, and there the matter ended.

When the issue was uncovered by the media in late-1998, the two players were widely condemned by the press and public, as was the ACB for their cover-up. Waugh received a hostile reaction from the Australian public when he walked out to bat during a Test match immediately after the news broke. On the other hand, the sports community was generally supportive of the players. The ACB appointed Rob O'Regan QC to conduct an independent inquiry into the matter. O'Regan concluded that the fines were inadequate and wrote that a suspension for a "significant time" would have been a more appropriate penalty. He strongly condemned the players' behaviour and their failure as role models for young fans. O'Regan further added that players needed to be better informed about the dangers of gambling and unauthorised bookmakers.

The controversy prompted Pakistan to ask the two Australian players to appear in front of their own judicial inquiry into corruption; Australia responded by granting the Pakistanis permission to hold hearings in Australia with full privileges. The players were questioned about their accusations against Malik, and whether their dealings with John detracted from their credibility. Both Waugh and Warne denied any suggestions they played with less determination in the matches in question, pointing to the fact that they were among the leading players in the matches that they claimed were subjected to offers of bribery.[22]
[edit] Newspaper column

Warne was charged with bringing the game into disrepute in 1999 following his comments about the Sri Lankan captain Arjuna Ranatunga in a British newspaper column, when he was quoted as saying "There is plenty of animosity between Arjuna and myself. I don't like him and I'm not in a club of one."[23] After this incident, the Australian Cricket Board ruled that newspaper columns by players had to be cleared by the team management before going to print.
[edit] Outside cricket
[edit] Media

On 13 July 2005, Australia's Nine Network announced it would not renew Warne's commentating contract, worth around AU$300,000 annually.[24] Warne had previously been seen as a future member of the Nine cricket commentary team, and had done commentary work during his one-year ban from cricket in 2003. He later rejoined Nine in 2008, and was signed by Sky Sports in 2009.[25]

Warne took over from Ally McCoist as a team captain on the BBC television sports quiz A Question of Sport in September 2007.

In 2010, the Nine Network commissioned a chat show hosted by Warne, entitled Warnie. The program debuted on 24 November 2010, with Warne interviewing James Packer.[26] Celebrities interviewed on the programme included the current captain of the Australian cricket team Ricky Ponting, and the singers Chris Martin and Susan Boyle.[27][28] The program experienced spiralling audience figures and was axed before its final scheduled episode, although the network denied that it had been cancelled due to poor ratings.[29]
[edit] Endorsements

In 2005, Shane Warne signed a lucrative multi-year sponsorship deal[30][31] with Asia-Pacific’s largest telephone audio production company, Messages On Hold. The irony of Warne promoting On Hold phone messages after weathering the ignominy of several SMS/text messaging scandals was not lost on the spin bowler.[32] Several media sources, and even Messages On Hold’s own promotional materials quote him as saying, “Trust me with this recommendation—I know a thing or two about spin."[33]

Warne also does promotional work for hair-loss-recovery company Advanced Hair. This matter was investigated by the British Advertising Standards Authority in relation to an illegal celebrity endorsement of medical services.[34] In response to the investigation Warne stated "There's only one thing that worries me, and that's hair loss."[citation needed]

Warne has also endorsed the Codemaster video games Shane Warne Cricket and Shane Warne Cricket '99. Outside Australia these were known as Brian Lara Cricket and Brian Lara Cricket '99.

For the 2007/08 Australian cricket series, Warne took over as Victoria Bitter spokesperson from David Boon in the Boonanza promotion.[35] Warne had a talking figurine as part of the promotion, which continued from the "Talking Boony" doll.[36]

In January 2008, Warne signed a two year agreement with 888 Poker (owned by 888 Holdings PLC, a public listed company in London) to represent them at poker events around the world including the Aussie Millions, World Series of Poker and the 888 UK Poker Open.
[edit] Personal life

Warne was born in Upper Ferntree Gully, Victoria to parents Keith and Bridgette, and grew up in Black Rock, Victoria. Shane Warne went to Oakleigh South Primary School for 1 year as well as being Captain of Cricket at Mentone Grammar where he attended High School on a sporting scholarship. He has three children – Brooke, Summer and Jackson with his ex-wife Simone Callahan.

Since retirement, Warne has been doing "work for the Shane Warne Foundation... [which] assists seriously ill and underprivileged children."[37] Since launching in 2004, the charity has distributed £400,000; Warne is organising a poker tournament and a breakfast and "by the end of our summer, we hope to have raised £1.5million."[37]
[edit] Marital infidelities

Warne's private life has been beset by scandals and subjected to scrutiny by British tabloid newspapers. He came under criticism for text messaging a woman whilst on tour in South Africa, accused of sending lewd and harassing messages. However, the woman who made the claims (Helen Cohen Alon) was subsequently charged with extortion in her own country.[38]

In 2000, he had been stripped of the Australian vice-captaincy after bombarding a British nurse with erotic text messages. He was also involved in an altercation with some teenage boys who took a photo of him smoking; Warne had accepted a sponsorship of a nicotine patch company in return for quitting smoking.[39]

Further allegations of Warne having extramarital affairs broke in 2005 as Australia began its tour of England in preparation for The Ashes. On 25 June 2005, Warne and his wife Simone Callahan announced that they had decided to separate.

On 7 May 2006, the News of the World tabloid newspaper published pictures of Warne standing in his underwear with a pair of 25-year-old models, as well as explicit text messages allegedly from Warne.[40]

On 1 April 2007, Warne and his wife were reported to be getting back together.[41] However, in September 2007, Simone returned to Australia from England after her husband had accidentally sent a text message meant for another woman to her phone.[42][43]

Warne's history of high-profile marital infidelities inspired Australian singer-songwriter Kevin Bloody Wilson's 2003 music video entitled "The Shane Warne Song" as well as lines in Tim Minchin's "Some People Have It Worse Than Me" and "The JLA Song".

On 12 December 2010, following press reports and footage of him and English actress Liz Hurley kissing, Warne announced via his twitter account that he and Simone had sadly separated a couple of months ago, but only his close friends and family had been informed of this,[44][45][46] although the relationship with Hurley was shortlived following the disclosure of Warne texting salacious messages to a married Melbourne businesswoman.[47][48]
[edit] Recognition

* He was chosen as one of the five Wisden Cricketers of the Year for 1994.
* In 2000, Warne was named by a 100-member panel of experts as the fourth of five Wisden Cricketers of the Century Warne received 27 votes, behind Sir Donald Bradman (100 votes), Sir Garfield Sobers (90 votes), and Sir Jack Hobbs (30 votes). Sir Viv Richards took the fifth place, with 25 votes. Warne was the only active cricketer to be placed in the top 10.
* Warne is one of the four Australian cricketers to have been named in "Richie Benaud's Greatest XI" in 2004. (Don Bradman, Dennis Lillee and Adam Gilchrist are the others)
* In 2005 he was named as winner of the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Overseas Personality for his performance in the 2005 Ashes.
* Warne appeared on 6 and 7 July episode of the popular Australian soap Neighbours on behalf of his charitable foundation.
* In 2006 he was awarded an honorary doctorate from Southampton Solent University for services to cricket.
* He is a huge fan of the St Kilda Football Club and played in their 2nds side
* Former Australian Test Cricket captain Kim Hughes described Warne as the "Donald Bradman of bowling" following the announcement of Warne's intention to retire.[49]
* He is one of four Australian cricketers to have his portrait hang in the Long Room at Lord's Cricket Ground, London; the ground is known as the "home of cricket". The others were Victor Trumper, Sir Donald Bradman and Keith Miller. He is also the only one to have it hanging while he was still playing.
* A musical comedy was based on his life: Shane Warne: The Musical.
* The Melbourne Cricket Club has decided to honour Warne, by inaugurating a statue of him outside the Melbourne Cricket Ground. It is expected that Warne's statue will be unveiled by the end of 2011.[50][51]


[edit] Test wicket milestones
Milestone Batsman Country Method Venue Year
1 Ravi Shastri India Caught DM Jones Sydney 1991/92
50 Nasser Hussain England Caught DC Boon Nottingham 1993
100 Brian McMillan South Africa LBW Adelaide 1993/94
150 Alec Stewart England Caught and Bowled Melbourne 1994/95
200 Chaminda Vaas Sri Lanka Caught IA Healy Perth 1995/96
250 Alec Stewart England Bowled Manchester 1997
300 Jacques Kallis South Africa Bowled Sydney 1997/98
350 Hrishikesh Kanitkar India LBW Melbourne 1999/2000
400 Alec Stewart England Caught AC Gilchrist The Oval 2001
450 Ashwell Prince South Africa Caught ME Waugh Durban 2002
500 Hashan Tillakaratne Sri Lanka Caught A Symonds Galle 2004
550 James Franklin New Zealand LBW Adelaide 2004/05
600 Marcus Trescothick England Caught AC Gilchrist Manchester 2005
650 Ashwell Prince South Africa LBW Perth 2005/06
700 Andrew Strauss England Bowled Melbourne 2006/07
708 Andrew Flintoff England Stumped AC Gilchrist Sydney 2006/07