<font color=\"#800080\"><strong>16。科尔隆(Kerlon Moura Souza,1988年1月27日,进攻型中场、前锋,克鲁塞罗队)——头顶足球的小海豹<br/>HE OF THE SEAL DRIBBLE<br/>Roberto Rivelino did it. Johan Cruyff did it. Diego Maradona did it. That \'it\' is, of course, invented or pioneered an outrageous piece of trickery. But now there\'s a new kid on the block, who has added himself to this celebrated list.<br/>His name is Kerlon, and he is the latest in a long line of incredibly gifted Brazilians, to stun the world of football with a magical piece of skill. His party piece - the aptly named \'seal dribble\' - is, perhaps, even more flamboyant than those distinguished moves trademarked by the aforementioned legends.<br/>Swiftly flicking the ball up from the turf onto his head, Kerlon then proceeds to glide past opponents, whilst bouncing the ball on top of his forehead. The speed, at which he travels when doing this, is mind-blowing, and the delicacy with which Kerlon connects with the ball, means that it stays remarkably close to his head as he advances forward.<br/>Couple this with his unique ability to change direction as he runs with the ball above his nut, evading bewildered opponents, and it\'s easy to tell why stopping him is nigh-on impossible. In fact, disillusioned opponents\' only response to the seal dribble has been, to resort to fouling its young exponent.<br/>Kerlon\'s piece of skill came to the fore, during the recent South American under-17 Championships in Venezuela - a competition in which he won both the top goalscorer and best player awards - creating a media frenzy in the process.<br/>But it was years ago, that the unlikely trick was invented. The emerging teenager was enjoying an impromptu kickabout with his father Silvino, when his instant control and subsequent ability to keep the ball aloft using only his head, prompted his impressed old man, to encourage the development of a dribble using only his head to touch the ball.<br/>Before long, Kerlon had astounded Silvino by perfecting this move, whilst running at pace and changing direction. And so it was. From then on, Kerlon began to use the seal dribble, with success, during training sessions at Ipatinga - the club he was then associated with.<br/>Although established as his trademark, the player always intended to save use of the dazzling invention, until he made the breakthrough at professional level. However, he was unable to refrain from exhibiting his innovation during the youth event in Venezuela. \"I couldn抰 wait,\" he conceded with a smile.<br/>\"It\'s just a skill I have, though it\'s not meant to be a mark of disrespect for my opponents.<br/>The trick is beautiful and efficient. Sooner or later, defenders will find a way to stop me without conceding a free-kick. But until then, I can keep using the play to my advantage.<br/>\"Opponents say they will snap me. But this doesn抰 scare me it just motivates me even more.\"<br/>But the seal dribble is not the sole reason why Kerlon is being tipped to go on to great things - one doesn\'t inherit the number 10 shirt for Brazil, at any level, unless you\'re a fine player.<br/>Able to operate in an advanced midfield position, or as a forward, the 17-year-old is an expert dribbler and possesses wonderful ability to slip weighted passes in behind defences.<br/>He is also a free-kick expert, and given the amount of fouls the seal dribble draws, this trait is made all the more beneficial.<br/>Kerlon\'s next objective is to convince Cruzeiro coach Levir Culpi, that he is ready to make the progression into the Raposa first team;<br/>\"This South American Championships came to change my life, my destiny. I am more mature and I want to be used in the Brazilian Championship. I抦 just waiting for the call from Levir.\"<br/></strong></font><span style=\"DISPLAY: none;\"><br/><br/></span><br/><font color=\"#800080\"><strong>17。内玛尔(Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior,1992年2月5日,前锋,桑托斯队)——媲美于罗比尼奥的小足球狂<br/>FUTEBOL ADDICT DRAWING COMPARISONS TO ROBINHO<br/>Neymar is a child prodigy who lives and breathes football. \"All he does is play football. In the street, in the backyard, in any place possible and impossible\" advises his father, Neymar Senior.<br/>It\'s this addiction to the game that prompted his old man, to persuade Santos to take a look at him. From then on, it was the youngster\'s breathtaking talent that did the talking. It took Santos coaches just one, solitary look at Neymar to become convinced of his class. He subsequently joined the youth ranks of the 2004 Brazilian Champions, where his qualities have been allowed to flourish.<br/>Neymar\'s idol is Santos\' current first team attraction Robinho - himself only 21 years old. Comparisons between the two have been frequent given that the 13-year-old is an instinctive dribbler, with electric pace and constant desire of the ball. For now, he must be content to follow the continual progression of Robinho but those who know him, remain in no doubt, that one day he will be in a collateral position to his hero. \"He\'s only a child but he has everything to become a star of the future,\" concluded his proud father.<br/></strong></font><span style=\"DISPLAY: none;\"><br/><br/></span><br/><font color=\"#800080\"><strong>18。尼考(Maicon Vinicius da Silva,1993年,进攻型中场或前锋,埃茵霍温队)——黑马拉多纳<br/>THE BLACK MARADONA<br/>Maicon Vinicius da Silva, or Nicão as he is better known, was an international headliner by the age of twelve. Now, still only thirteen, he is the property of PSV Eindhoven. The ambitious Dutch club struck a unique agreement with Nicão\'s existing employers, Mirassol (a modest club from the state of São Paulo, currently languishing in the regional championships\' second division), to contract the player in June of last year. Nicão\'s list of admirers had been elongating rapidly, since word spread of his precocious talent. Amongst them was Corinthians, Barcelona of Spain and Russian outfit CSKA Moscow. All parties had been left flabbergasted by video footage of Nicão\'s extraordinary talent. Vanderlei Luxemburgo, the then-coach of Santos, himself enthused about the teenager with the world at his feet.<br/>The agreement will see the player ? who by law is unable to sign a professional contract until he reaches sixteen - commute between Brazil and Holland. This will allow the kid nicknamed \'The Black Maradona\' to continue his progression through the youth ranks at the Mirassol club, and make quarterly trips to the Netherlands, where he will stay for periods of time. Whilst doing so, he will be in receipt of a $500 monthly salary (courtesy of PSV, of course) and has already gained a plush apartment in Holland (where he will reside with his Grandmother and his personal coach) and an apartment in his native Brazil.<br/>Having been orphaned, he had spent the entrieity of his life living with his grandmother in a Brazilian shanty. As a very young child, Nicão had survived on a diet of fubá (a maize product almost exclusive to the Americas) and water, and even by the time he was discovered by a Mirassol associate, he was suffering from malnutrition. However, this did not discourage interest in the kid, who club president described as a \"phenomenal talent, the best player I have seen in thirty years of football.\"<br/>Granted, Nicão still has a long way to go before he makes his professional debut, but that won抰 stop dreamy PSV fans reminiscing about the impact young Brazilians have made at the club, in previous years. A decade ago, a Brazilian teenager by the name of Ronaldinho graced the club with his presence. Today, that same player is known simply as Ronaldo, has been thrice named F.I.F.A World Footballer of the Year and won a catalogue of honours at both club and international level. Fans at the Philips Stadion, will be hoping that this latest phenomenon can go on to fulfill his enormous potential.<br/></strong></font><span style=\"DISPLAY: none;\"><br/><br/></span><br/><font color=\"#800080\"><strong>19。拉蒙——最受瞩目的巴西希望之星之一,Ramon,1989年出生,进攻型中场,米内罗竞技队<br/>GALO\'S ANSWER TO KERLON<br/>When a club the size of Atlético Mineiro is experiencing hard times, it\'s imperative that they boast a player of great potential within their ranks. The expected emergence of such a prospect will, in some way, appease the demanding supporters. Thankfully for Galo, they are lucky enough to have one - and what a prospect he is.<br/></strong></font><span style=\"DISPLAY: none;\"><br/><br/></span><br/><font color=\"#800080\"><strong>Despite having only just turned seventeen, Ramón has shown the maturity of somebody years his senior. After starring for the Atlético youth sides, the teenager has also established himself as an integral part of the Selecão youth sides, and gave a glowing account of himself during the South American under-17 Championships in Venezuela. Recently, with the Atlético side struggling, he was handed a first team debut and on his professional bow, made a positive impression.<br/></strong></font><span style=\"DISPLAY: none;\"><br/><br/></span><br/><font color=\"#800080\"><strong>In doing so, he may have created huge expectations for himself but Ramón looks the type of character, to handle such pressure. Current Galo coach Tite, and the two men who occupied the hot-seat before him, Jair Picerni and Paulo Bonamigo, have all predicted that he will one day play for the full Brazilian national team.<br/></strong></font><span style=\"DISPLAY: none;\"><br/></span><br/><font color=\"#800080\"><strong>Add a comment or Ask a question about this player<br/></strong></font><span style=\"DISPLAY: none;\"><br/><br/></span><br/><br/><font color=\"#800080\"><strong>20。林肯(Carlos Eduardo de Castro Lourenço,1987年5月31日,左后卫,竞技里斯本租于曼联)——罗伯特。卡洛斯的接班人<br/>The ex-captain of the Brazilian U-17 side was the maiden product, of the partnership agreement etched between Manchester United and São Paulo. The Red Devils sealed the move in 2003, much to the teenager\'s surprise; \"I was on the beach when I was asked to report to the club, because Manchester United wanted me,\" he revealed. \"I thought it was a joke but I\'m accustomed to the idea now,\" added the powerfully built youngster.<br/>The English giants initially agreed to allow Rincón, to continue his development at the renowned São Paulo youth academy, for three years. Twelve months short of this expiration period, United retracted on its decision, in order to accelerate the player\'s switch to Sporting Lion - one of the its principal feeder clubs. \"It is best to give him the push in his career,\" commented United\'s academy chief, Les Kershaw, after São Paulo was instructed to release him.<br/>Rincón ? whose contract with the Old Trafford outfit is due to expire in 2010 (a two-year extension option was included) ? will be registered as a Sporting Lion player for the start of the 2005/06 season, and is keen on making a swift first-team breakthrough at the José Alvalade Stadium. Although he is capable of operating in a number of positions, including central defence and midfield, the position that he has occupied with most frequency during his amateur career, is the left wing-back one.<br/>Although he is keen to make an impact in the Portuguese SuperLiga, it\'s in Northern England that Rincón sees his long-term future. \"I really like the English language and have been learning it for some time now. I have watched Manchester United on television many times and have seen Silvestre, Ferdinand, Van Nistelrooy and others. It\'s a good team but I want to make the first team there as soon as possible.\"<br/>Rincó was so nicknamed, because of a physical resemblance to Colombian legend Freddy Rincón ? ironically, a former star of São Paulo\'s state rivals, Corinthians. Tall and muscular, the youngster\'s brawn serves him well, but equally eye-catching, is his explosive speed and unflagging raids down the left flank. His position as captain of the Seleção\'s under-17 side, was reflective of his inspirational personality and the respect that he commands amongst his team-mates.<br/>There is no doubt that Rincó is one of Brazilian football\'s best regarded emerging talents, and many experts believe he will go all the way. If his own expectancies are anything to go by, then he has a big future in football. In a testament to his incredible self-belief, the 18-year-old already has designs on Roberto Carlos\' place in the full Brazilian National Team! \"I want to defend Brazil in the World Cup in Germany. If I don\'t go in 2006, I will make the squad in one of the next ones,\" he confidently predicted.<br/></strong></font><span style=\"DISPLAY: none;\"><br/><br/></span><br/><strong><font color=\"#800080\">21。泽。马里奥(José Mário de Bona,1992年2月20日,前锋,克里蒂巴队)——梦想到欧洲踢球的巴西小子<br/>THE SPEED DRIBBLER<br/>Zé Mário is a youth whose abounding confidence is backed up by superlative talent. Despite being only 13-years-old, the kid who honed his skills by practicing the tried and trusted formula of Futebol de Salão, appears destined to play in Europe. Although some way off making his professional debut, Zé Mário has been quick to spell out his intention; \"I want to play football and I want to play it in Europe\" he recently declared.<br/>Witnesses of his ability to dribble at incredible speed, and execute opponent-humiliating brilliance with his left foot, remain in no doubt that he will fulfill this ambition. Zé Mário was discovered in 2003 by the same coach who noticed current Fenerbahçe ace Alex, and was duly taken to grateful beneficiaries, Coritiba<br/></font></strong><span style=\"DISPLAY: none;\"><br/><br/></span> |