Deco

The engine of Barcelona's 2004-05 and 2005-06 Champions League era — Deco's ability to link play, carry the ball in tight spaces and contribute decisive goals in the biggest matches made him one of the most influential midfielders in European football of the mid-2000s. Born in Brazil and choosing to represent Portugal, his 75 caps for his adopted country included central contributions to the 2004 and 2006 European and World Cup campaigns. His Champions League winners' medals with Porto in 2004 and Barcelona in 2006 — won just two seasons apart — made him one of the few players of his era to win the competition with two different clubs at the peak of his powers

Football at the highest level rewards technical mastery, physical conditioning and the mental fortitude to perform consistently across a long and unrelenting career. Career highlights included Champions League 2x (Porto, Barcelona), La Liga 2x, Primera Liga 2x. The dedication required to reach elite level in football and sustain that performance over many seasons is rarely appreciated, yet Deco's career record speaks precisely to that kind of exceptional commitment. Few athletes in football have combined consistency and peak performance as effectively, and across such an extended period, as Deco managed throughout his career. The standard Deco set across his career in football reflects the level of preparation, tactical intelligence and competitive focus that consistently separates the truly elite from the rest of the field. The dedication required to perform consistently in football at international level defined every aspect of Deco's approach to the sport.

• Champions League 2x (Porto, Barcelona)
• La Liga 2x
• Primera Liga 2x
• 75 Portugal caps