A supportive father, and state: Ngangom Bala Devi on her journey to becoming the first Indian woman footballer with a professional contract

The Italian shot stopper made his debut for Parma in 1995, aged 17. He soon established himself as the team’s first-choice keeper. The club beat more fancied opponents to win the Copa Italia, UEFA Cup, and the Supercoppa Italiana in 1999, which prompted a transfer to Juventus, the most successful club in Italy. Between 2001 and 2018, Buffon made 509 appearances for the Turin club, winning all domestic accolades. He was also a part of the Italian team that won the FIFA World Cup in 2006. After 17 seasons in Turin, Buffon signed for Paris Saint-Germain in 2018, only to return a year later. He celebrated his 42nd birthday on January 28. Juventus sit atop the points table. Buffon is set to win his 12th Serie A title with Juventus.

Ibrahimovic, 38, returned to AC Milan in the January transfer window after spending a couple of years in the MLS with LA Galaxy. The former Swedish international is one of the most decorated players in football history, having won 31 trophies in his 23-year career. A notable absentee in his trophy cabinet would be the Champions League title, and that is unlikely to change with Milan serving a one-year ban from European football. Having scored on debut, Zlatan will be hoping to win the elusive trophy in his second stint with AC Milan. The club are within touching distance of a top four finish, guaranteeing qualification for next year’s edition of the Champions League.

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Nakamura became the first footballer to win the Most Valuable Player in the J League on more than one occasion, but his greatest achievement is, perhaps, to have become one of the first Asian players to be nominated for the Ballon d’Or. The 41-year-old made his name in Europe for Celtic, with whom he won the Scottish Premier League on three occasions. He is also the first Japanese player to score in the Champions League and is best remembered for his free-kick goal against Manchester United. Nakamura still poses a credible threat from dead-ball situations. After a short spell with Yokohoma FC, he joined the Indonesian side Persela Lamongan in January 2020.

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Newell’s Old Boys has an illustrious alumni network that boasts the likes of Leo Messi, Diego Maradona, Mauricio Pochettino and Marcelo Bielsa. However, one of the club’s oldest servants is Maxi Rodriguez, who is now in his third stint at the club for which he made his debut in 1999. He moved to Spain in his 20s and made a name for himself at Espanyol and Atletico Madrid, before his big-money move to Liverpool. Rodriguez won the under-20 World Cup with Argentina, playing alongside Javier Saviola and Fabricio Coloccini.

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The former England international is in the twilight of his career, but his contribution has been instrumental in West Brom’s push for promotion to the Premier League this season. Having made his debut for Aston Villa in 1998, Barry went on to make a record 653 appearances in England’s top flight, wearing the stripes of clubs like Manchester City, Everton, Villa and West Brom. The defensive midfielder played an important role in City’s successful league campaign in 2011-12, allowing players like Carlos Tevez and Mario Balotelli to thrive in advanced positions. If the Baggies make it to the Premier League next season, Barry could end up extending his lead over the chasing pack of active players vying to become the most capped player in Premier League history.

“Sometimes [Roger] Federer and I message or write to each other, we psychoanalyse each other. In an interview a few years ago, they asked him the secret of his longevity and he said: ‘I’m inspired by Buffon’. Clearly that was a very cute statement”