Michael Kojo Essien (also known as Mickaël Essien; born 3 December 1982) is a Ghanaian footballer who plays for Chelsea and the Ghanaian national team. He is a midfielder who has often been touted as a box-to-box midfielder for his ability to exert boundless energy in supporting offensive and defensive play. Essien can also play in the defending position, as a right back or centre back.
Essien began his career playing for Liberty Professionals in his home country. In 2000, he moved to France joining SC Bastia. Essien spent three seasons at the club appearing in over 60 matches before joining league champions Olympique Lyonnais in 2003. At Lyon, Essien won back-to-back league titles in 2003–04 and 2004–05 and also played in the UEFA Champions League for the first time. During his five-year stint in France, he acquired French citizenship. In 2005, Essien signed with Chelsea for a fee of £24.4 million and, at the time of his signing, was the most expensive African footballer in history. At Chelsea, Essien helped the club win the Premier League in 2006 and 2010, as well as three FA Cups and one Football League Cup. In 2008, he appeared in the UEFA Champions League Final. He has won the Chelsea Goal of the season award twice, in the 2006–07 and 2008–09 seasons.
Asamoah Gyan (born 22 November 1985 in Accra) is a Ghanaian professional footballer and a part-time rapper, who plays as a striker for Sunderland of the Premier League.
Gyan shot to prominence after scoring three goals at the 2010 FIFA World Cup, and also missing a crucial penalty kick in the last minute of extra-time in Ghana's quarter-final defeat by Uruguay.
Having signed for Udinese in 2003 from Ghanaian club Liberty Professionals located in his hometown of Accra, Gyan spent two years on loan at Serie B club Modena to gain match experience. Following some excellent displays during the 2006 World Cup, he attracted interest from Russian club Lokomotiv Moscow. Gyan returned to Udinese at the start of 2006, but on 17 February 2007, Udinese pulled out of a deal to sell him in the January transfer window. The striker was on the verge of signing a 3-year deal with Russian Club Lokomotiv Moscow for US$10.5m, the fourth largest transfer fee in Russian football history. "The striker Udinese targeted to replace me did not sign for them," Gyan told BBC Sport. "I've been told I will now have to stay in Italy for the rest of the season."
David Luiz Moreira Marinho (born 22 April 1987), known as David Luiz, is a Brazilian footballer who plays for Chelsea in the Premier League. Primarily a central defender, he can also be deployed as a left back.
After starting out at Vitória, he moved to Benfica at the age of 19, remaining with the club five seasons (three complete). He joined Chelsea in January 2011, winning the Champions League and the FA Cup in the following season.
Born in Diadema, São Paulo, David Luiz arrived in Esporte Clube Vitória at the age of 14 after being released by São Paulo FC, and started playing as a defensive midfielder, almost leaving the club for his poor performances in that position. However, he was soon moved to central defender and adapted well.
Luiz made his official debut for Vitória in 2006, and excelled against Santa Cruz Futebol Clube for that season's Brazilian Cup, in a 2–2 draw. At the worst situation of its history, in the third division, Vitória promoted to the second division at the end of the season with Luiz's help, after finishing in second position, with the central appearing in eight of the club's last decisive nine games, scoring his only Série C goal on 3 September 2006, in a 2–0 home win against Clube Atlético do Porto.
Nadia Buari (born November 21, 1982) is a Ghanaian actress. She received two nominations for Best Actress in a Leading Role at the African Movie Academy Awards in 2007 and 2009.
Buari is the daughter of Sidiku Buari, a Ghanaian musician. She studied Performing Arts at the University of Ghana, Legon and graduated with a BFA degree in Fine Arts.
Buari premiered on Ghanaian national television with the TV series Games People Play in late 2005. Her first major film was Mummy's Daughter, after which she starred in Beyonce: The President's Daughter. Her role as Beyonce was her major breakthrough. She has starred in over 20 movies.
Santiago "Santi" Cazorla González (Spanish pronunciation: [sanˈtjaɣo kaˈθoɾla ɣonˈθaleθ]; born 13 December 1984 in Llanera, Asturias) is a Spanish footballer who plays for Málaga CF in La Liga.
A versatile winger, he can play on either flank, being ambidextrous. He is noted for his speed and capacity to change the rhythm of gameplay, and spent most of his professional career with Villarreal.
Cazorla represented Spain at Euro 2008, helping the national team win the tournament.
Having started playing football for local Asturian club Real Oviedo, Cazorla was snapped up by Villarreal CF several months before turning 18. He progressed through the reserve team, making his first team debut on 30 November 2003, playing one minute in a 1–0 win at Deportivo de La Coruña.
Established in the main squad in 2004–05, Cazorla scored four goals in the season's UEFA Cup, also making two goalless appearances in the following season's UEFA Champions League .
On 7 July 2006, Recreativo de Huelva signed Cazorla for €600.000 on a four-year contract, with a clause in his contract whereby he could return to Villarreal (for €1.2 million), going on to score in his official debut, a 1–1 home draw with RCD Mallorca, on 27 August. He became Spanish player of the year according to Don Balón, a member of European Sports Magazines after topping its rating list. On April 22, 2007, Cazorla dedicated a goal to his father, who had died recently, in a 4–2 home win against Racing de Santander. He helped the Andalusians, which had just returned from the second division, eventually finish eighth.