The Absolute Best Legends of Soccer
by HD
The Sport of Football is the most popular & wide-spread in the world. Played in almost every country, the Football or Soccer can easily be called the king of modern sports, the sport of the nobles. The FIFA World Cup 2014 is currently on the air has already produced some exhilarating and surprising moments as the nations of the world collide for glory, would this world cup produce new heroes of football, would Lionel Messi rise & claim glory at the grandest stage of them all, or is it the young 
Benzema of France, is it Van Persie or Robben of the Netherlands, maybe the young poster-boy of the host Brazil itself Neymar, could Christiano Ronaldo shine at the grandest stage of them all this time or is it that he just dont have it for the big time, only time will tell.
The sport of Soccer has over many decades produced great superstars & incredible players, players like David Beckham & Wayne Rooney of England, Luis Figo & Christiano Ronaldo of Portugal, they have acquired celebrity status but yet failed to prove themselves on the grandest stage of the World Cup where legends of soccer are solidified & the skill, passion, true dedication, integrity & strength of a player is tested on a whole different level than on any.
Over the decades some players have solidied their legends and status as the greatest of them all through their magic moments in the sport and performance at every level including the World Cups. And so the countdown begins....
10. RIVALDO
The highly skilled brazilian attacking mid-fielder was greatly responsible for the elite Brazilian team victory at the FIFA World Cup 2002, the best playmaker amongst the three "Rs" of Brazil which also included Ronaldo & Ronaldinho, it was Rivaldo's incredible coordination & passes that enabled Ronaldo to be the top goal scorer. At his top-form in 2002 Rivaldo displayed incredible distant passes, accurate over-head & free kicks and beautiful close-ball control & dribbling tactics. Rivaldo has also been a key player in the FIFA World Cup 1998 for Brazil and helped his team reach the finals.
9. RONALDO
The baldish fat striker of Brazil is considered by many the best striker ever in the sport of football. Lurking always around the competitor's goal area in high hopes of scoring at any chance he get, Ronaldo was obsessed with goaling and became the goaling machine for Brazil with much credit due to the incredible team coordination of Brazil all Ronaldo has to do is to touch the ball to make the goal and snatch all the glory for Brazil. Ronaldo was the man who alongwith Rivaldo helped Brazil reach finals of the 1998 World Cup where his dreams of becoming champions were shattered by Zidane but still he won the Golden ball award. In 2002, Ronaldo was part of one of the most formidable Brazilian team ever assembled and scored goal after goal which led his team to become champions of the world.
8. ROMARIO
Before Ronaldo Brazil had Romario, he was a formidable striker and technicaly the most gifted one. Romario had the ability to produce goals with the most beautiful finishes. He helped his strong team to their fourth world championship victory in the 1994 FIFA World Cup hosted in the United States where he won the golden ball for his performance at the World Cup.
7. ROBERTO BAGGIO
The Italian sensation Roberto Baggio is the all time greatest attacking mid-fielder of Italy. The young Baggio made his great skills evident on the field of the 1990 World Cup displaying some extra-ordinary playmaking and goal scoring abilities. It was in the 1994 World Cup where he really shined and scored incredible match winning goals for Italy and taking his team to the finals. Due to an injury Baggio was not at his 100% against Brazil but still Baggio managed to put up a great fight against the mighty Brazil in the end it was not just enough to overcome Brazil and he won the Silver ball of the tournament. Sadly Baggio was never a part of a World Cup winning Italian team.
6. BOBBY CHARLTON
Before the likes of English superstars & celebrity-status players like David Beckham and Wayne Rooney back in the 60s was Sir Bobby Charlton. He is the greatest footballer England has ever produced worthy of a title of a "Sir" as he helped the English team to their World Cup Title win and glory in the 1966 World Cup. Where the modern superstars like David Beckham & Wayne Rooney failed miserably Sir Bobby Charlton was the one who brought glory to his nation with his incredible mid-fielding and match-winning skills.
5. GARRINCHA
The legendary Brazilian forward footballer Garrincha is one of the greatest footballer produced by Brazil & his dribbling skill was extra-ordinary. Garrincha along with the likes of Pele, Gilmar, Santos, Pereira & others led an elite Brazilian team in the late 50s & 60s, it was the golden era of Brazil. Garrincha was influentional in Brazil's title victory at the 1958 World Cup and it was he who led his incredible team to their second consecutive title victory at the 1962 World Cup without Pele & winning the golden ball as well as the golden shoe.
4. FRANZ BECKENBAUER
3. ZINEDINE ZIDANE
Zidane the attacking mid-fielder & playmaker is a legendary footballer of France and an iconic figure in his country of France. His footwork & tricks with the soccer was magical, his passes & playmaking awe-inspiring and he had the ability to score a goal out of nowhere from unorthodox positions much to amazement of all. Zidane's playmaking was noticeble at the 1998 World Cup hosted by his country France where he helped the formidable french team including superstars like Petit, Barthez, Blanc & others to their world title victory by vanquishing the mighty Brazil in the final giving his French nation the biggest jubilation, so Zidane succeded where Platini had not.
In the 2006 World Cup, Zidane returned in top form & led the frenchmen to the very end of the tournament. At the quarterfinal against the star-studded Brazil, Zidane single-handedly defeated Brazil he owned players of the caliber of Ronaldo, Ronaldinho ,Kaka, Roberto Carlos & the entire Brazilian team in gameplay, an amazing performance on a World Cup stage which would never be forgotton. The finals was shocking & controversial as Zidane the hero of France in an outburst of anger would fall receiving a red card after headbutting the italian scum Materazzi to the ground on foul mouthing, the italians were known for their dirty on-field tactics to subdue their opponents psychologically and this one was mega-success as it led them to their victory by removing Zidane from the picture.
And so the proud Zidane in defiance went past the World Cup Trophy which could have been his, ignoring it completely in the most iconic moments of the 2006 World Cup in which he ultimately went down in a blaze of glory. Zidane's defiance was the most discussed story and so iconic that it overshadowed even the Italian World Cup victory, controversy had always created much bigger icons. Despite Zidane still received the golden ball as there was none who could even come close to his game-play in that tournament.
2. PELE
Pele the legendary footballer from Brazil is the most beloved of Brazil itself, the FIFA community, football critics and many fans around the world and considered by them the best. Decent & simple in nature Pele had never been the most glamorous or a flashier footballer but has proved his technical & goal-making skills on the field and has proven himself from time to time during his much decorated football career. The young Pele was instrumental along with the likes of Garrincha and other top-rated Brazilian footballers at their World Cup victory in 1958. The Brazilian team has always comprised of excellent players with great solidarity & coordination amongst themselves and Pele was their best man ever. In the 1970 World Cup Pele helped Brazil to win their third World Title & received the golden ball for being the best player of the tournament.
1. DIEGO ARMANDO MARADONA
Maradona, Maradona, Maradona, Maradona, Maradona...Diego, Diego, Diego..............!
Such were the heavy chants whether by the fans jampacking an arena or commentators witnessing Maradona creating magic on the football field. Such was an aura of Maradona that fans used to be confused whether to chant for Maradona or their own national team when their team faced Argentina.
Diego Maradona is the most intense, passionate, most badazz football player ever, not only an expert magician with the soccer ball Maradona on his own has achieved feats of such magnitude on the football field that no other footballer could ever achieve. Maradona the most intense enigma & phenomenon of his time is the unique & rare player that is only once in a life time there will be no one like him ever & neither has been, the iconic larger than life Argentinian footballer is considered the greatest hero yet by some a villain, he did got stuck in vices and personal issues, he did have a darkside like every incredible & great character in fiction had in fact he is the greatest Anti-hero of the sport of soccer.
Maradona is the only complete footballer ever created by this sport, his skill, his aerobics, his awesome moves, his close-range & long-range control of the ball, his playmaking, his gameplay, his dribbling, his tactics, his fury & speed, his passes, his accurate & unorthodox kicks are unmatched & yes the evil footballing genius is a master illusionist & can make goals with use of his hands without getting caught the only one to master the trick & use for advantage as evident by the infamous goal dubbed "The Hand of God" against England. But moments later he scored in the same match "The Goal of the Century" the best goal ever in the World Cups, he took the ball alone from his own half to the opponent's goal tackling in-between six players including the goalkeeper and scored the ultimate goal.
Enter the world of the "Kaijus" the titanic beasts & the "Jaegars" the giant robotic hunters. The Pacific Rim is a realization of a fantasy of any giant-monster movie fan. The film is a treat for those who spent their childhood watching the Voltron: Defender of the Universe, Saber Rider & the Star Sheriffs, and the Power Rangers. The heroic giant Jaegars are a a great representation of such jewels of the past on a much bigger level & screen. Similarly the Godzilla & Kaiju fans would also find it to be refreshing & exhilarating as a new band of Kaijus the super giant beasts averaging over 300 foot are introduced. The plot is also genuinely good and new as these Kaiju Titans are the weapons of mass destruction or should I say weapons of mass wreckage of an alien race beyond some other physical dimension. Unlike aliens or monsters invading from space here the monsters are emerging from an inter-dimensional rift deep in the Pacific ocean bed. The Humans counter these gigantic beasts with all their military might but ends up demolishing their own cities & people on huge scale hence the world came up with the Jaegar program, the giant robots almost as huge as the Kaijus themselves, piloted by humans and built for combating and hunting down the mighty Kaijus without causing much destruction to human resources. Hence the battle between the heroic Jaegars and the destructive Kaijus rages on... 
"Pacific Rim", this offering by director Guillermo Del Toro is an action-packed blockbuster. Audiences have been wowed by this movie after its hotly anticipated release. Visually stunning thanks to a heavy helping of CGI, "Pacific Rim" is filled with spectacular fight scenes and tremendous backdrops. The intense element of CGI in the Pacific Rim is a vital factor for transporting the audience from their cinema seats into the apocalyptic world. It's also available to watch in 3D, which really gives it an extra dimension. Del Toro has created a movie which truly comes to life. It is a form of escapism from humdrum everyday occurrences, even if only for little over two hours. 
The cast are in no way overshadowed by the use of special effects and does a fantastic job of making the audience feel a part of the action. Charlie Hunnam (from "Green Street," & "Children of Men") is convincing in his role as Raleigh Becket, a retired pilot called back into action to help control a Jaeger. Idris Elba (from "Prometheus," & "Thor") brings a believable air of authority to the role of Becket's commanding officer, Stacker Pentecost. Becket's co-pilot, Mako Mori, is played by Rinko Kikuchi (from "Babel," & "The Sky Crawlers") who delivers a feisty, tough attitude and is, refreshingly, seen as an equal to the male characters. All in all the cast does a great job of convincing the audience that they really have been pulled from the cinema into the frantic world of "Pacific Rim." 
The movie itself is more geared towards the big special effects and action scenes, but it still manages to deliver a good plot, which is centered on the battle to save the world. It isn't too hard to follow and will appeal to both teenagers and adults alike. The characterization of the Kaijus and Jaegars are also emphasized in a neat way. The Kaijus are divided into categories as according to their size, weight ,toxicity and strength and given code names accordingly. Category 3 Kaijus like Knifehead who almost defeated Gipsy Danger in a solo combat in a titanic battle, similarly the Category IV Kaijus the deadly tag team of Leatherback & Otachi obliterated the Chinese Jaegar Crimson Typhoon & Russian Jaegar Cherno Alpha like rag dolls, were the most formidable of Kaijus until came the final trio of Kaijus two of them were category IV Raiju & Scunner and the biggest & the baddest of them all at almost 600 foot the category V Kaiju Slattern. 
Similarly the Jaegars are also categorized as according to Mark technology & classification, each having its unique arsenal of weapons and combat abilities. A solo human is unable to handle the mental strain of piloting the Jaegar, so the Jaegers must be controlled by two pilots. These pilots are required to develop a neural bridge between their minds for the Jaegers to replicate, as they defend themselves against the Kaiju. Pentecost summons Becket out of retirement to take the helm of Gipsy Danger, the Jaeger he once piloted with his now-deceased brother. The only suitable candidate to co-pilot the Gipsy Danger is Mori, who just so happens to be Pentecost's adoptive daughter. The movie follows their battle to save mankind from extinction. 
Given that the plotline is essentially robotic giants versus monstrous aliens, viewers probably won't be expecting the movie to convey any meaningful message. However, there is more to this blockbuster than first meets the eye. Scratch a little under the surface, and it becomes apparent that there are several underlying themes. First and foremost is the idea that science and technology has evolved far enough to become a tool that can be used for the good of mankind. "Pacific Rim" also celebrates human individuality but at the same time shows that humans rely on each other to progress through life. Finally, it shows the strength of human courage and just how strong people are in the face of adversity if we are disciplined & united for the cause of good.
The Final showdown is as epic as some Jabroni wrestling fanatics would say the showcase of the immortals, as if the Olympians are taking on the Titans in a truly Giants versus Monsters finale. The power duo of the two best Jaegars the badazz Striker Eureka & the deadly beauty Gipsy Danger takes on the elite trio of the mightiest Kaijus, the biggest and the baddest category V Kaiju Slattern, his category IV little brother Scunner and a rabid category IV Kaiju Raiju. While Gipsy does a number on Scunner until ambushed by Raiju, as Gipsy squares off against the odds, Striker Eureka the strongest of the Jaegars takes on the mightiest of the Kaijus Slattern, though Slattern was almost thrice the size of Striker Eureka but Striker a badazz that it was went toe to toe with the biggest Kaiju and started ripping & slashing the mighty Slattern with its sting blade fighting techniques, Slattern shocked, surprised & in pain called for help as if calling its mommy, its little brother Scunner came to aid. As Gipsy finally disposes off Raiju, Striker in a self-explosion thermonuclear attack takes out Scunner while severely injuring the mighty Slattern. The heroic pilot of Gipsy Danger in the end finishes off Slattern while ending the alien threat by destroying the inter-dimensional gateway. 
In 1976, nobody knew what a lightsaber was, Wookies didn't exist, and the sci-fi movie genre was on life support. A year later, George Lucas' space opera "Star Wars: A New Hope" had revived the stagnant genre, put Wookies on the map, and made lightsabers the coolest weapon in the galaxy. The legacy of the film, which spawned two sequels, three prequels, and an upcoming third trilogy, doesn't stop there. The entire movie industry was changed irrevocably by the film, with many of those changes still evident today. 
lasted for several years, solidifying the sci-fi genre as a force to be reckoned with. It also ushered in an era of adventure films that were based on action and had much bigger budgets than the quieter dramas that preceded them. A good example of this is the Indiana Jones trilogy, which starred "Star Wars: A New Hope" alumnus Harrison Ford. 
One of the most impressive and lasting legacies of "Star Wars: A New Hope" is that it also brought much-needed focus onto the state of special effects in the movie industry, which had made little or no progress in the previous years. The film's effects seem rather rudimentary by today's standards, but in 1977, the year that the first film came out, they were positively groundbreaking. When audiences first saw effects like a ghostly Obi-Wan Kenobi and a lightsaber, they were immediately hooked. This sudden thirst for special effects did not go unnoticed by the studio heads, who quickly started investing in the technology to give audiences what they craved. Storied companies like Lucas' own Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) were created during this rush for better special effects. 
Speaking of parodies, this is yet another lasting legacy of this fantastic series. It is rare that a movie, particularly a genre movie, gets to the level of success that " 
