1
Lionel Messi
Country: Argentina
Club Team: Barcelona
Position: Forward
Age: 22
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| Lionel Messi |
Lionel Messi is the best pound-for-pound soccer player in the world, and perhaps of all time. At 22, Messi has won just about everything there is to win, both individually and in club soccer. Missing is any sort of hardware with Argentina, aside from an Olympic gold medal. Messi's game relies on its unpredictability and magnificent control of the ball, which seldom demurs to anything Messi asks it to do. Listed at a charitable 5-foot-7, he's even a good header. While transcendent with his club, Barcelona, in the last few years (his 17 goals this season are tied for the most in Spain), the knock on Messi has been that he doesn't match that dominance for Argentina. For the most part, this is blamed on Argentina manager Diego Maradona's refusal to deploy him in his natural position -- on the right, allowing him to cut in -- and posting him behind a deep striker instead. Maradona, one of the best of all time as a player, has named Messi his successor as Argentina's soccer savior, a label that has proved disastrous for all others so designated previously by Maradona.
Scouting thumbnail: Technical genius with a low center of gravity and pace who can break down any defense off the dribble and conjure something out of nothing. Struggles when used as a striker and prefers playing out wide and cutting in on his left foot.
2
Cristiano Ronaldo
Country: Portugal
Club Team: Real Madrid
Position: Midfielder
Age: 25
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| Cristiano Ronaldo |
"Buy that kid," Manchester United players told manager Alex Ferguson after an 18-year old Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro, whose middle name allegedly honors Ronald Reagan, had torched Man U in a friendly in the summer of 2003. Ferguson obliged his players' wishes, shelling out some $20 million and handing Ronaldo the No. 7 jersey, previously worn by legends George Best, Bryan Robson, Eric Cantona and David Beckham. Ronaldo responded by outdoing all of the aforementioned in a six-year romp during which he scored 118 goals and won three Premier League titles, one Champions League and one Club World Cup, swiping 42 individual prizes, including the 2008 FIFA World Footballer of the Year, along the way. Last summer, Ferguson sold him to Real Madrid for a record $132 million. Ronaldo has become a lethal dribbler, superlative header and long-distance shooter and one of the better free-kick takers on the planet and will anchor an aging Portugal looking to shine one last time.
Scouting thumbnail: Explosive, pacy and an astonishingly prolific goal scorer for a winger. Specializes in long-range free kicks and shows the ability to shoot from anywhere.
3
Wayne Rooney
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| Wayne Rooney |
Country: England
Club Team: Manchester United
Position: Forward
Age: 24
When Wayne Rooney broke through internationally at just 17 years of age and took his place next to then-England striker Michael Owen, a British journalist referred to them as "the baby-faced assassin and the assassin-faced baby," with Rooney accounting for the less flattering of the descriptions. An England side without him has become unimaginable, as the Liverpool-born Rooney developed into a world-class striker in a country starved for them. The highly athletic Rooney has reinvented his position, swerving all over the attacking half of the field to drop back into midfield when needed or provide the final tap on a goal. With former teammate Cristiano Ronaldo now in Spain, Rooney has carried the scoring load for Man U, leading the Premier League with 23 goals. Rooney sports a tattoo that says, "Just Enough Education To Perform." While this may be generous, his on-field intelligence is off the charts. One half of another British power couple, Rooney and his wife Colleen have taken England by storm, he as a soccer player and she as a fitness guru/fashion commentator of some sort.
Scouting thumbnail: Complete striker who can play anywhere across the front three. Powerful build and aggressive attitude poses problems for any defense. Can score any type of goal and has improved his finishing skills.
4
Kaka
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| Kaka |
Country: Brazil
Club Team: Real Madrid
Position: Midfielder
Age: 27
Kaka belongs to Jesus. The T-shirts he has shown underneath his jersey say so. An oxymoronic principled soccer player, Kaka also happens to be the rare Brazilian star who comes from an upper-middle-class background. Money couldn't tear him away from Milan and its fans. Kaka said he wasn't interested in the heaps of money offered him by Manchester City and Real Madrid. So long as Milan would have him, he would be staying. Milan needed his transfer fee to stay afloat though, so after Kaka won everything there is to win for club and self, Milan sold him to Real Madrid for about $95 million in June. So now Kaka also belongs to Real Madrid. Kaka has become a central figure in manager Dunga's new Brazil, masterminding its lethal counterattacks, which have made a Brazil team not as deep in world-class players as in past years still one of the world's best.
Scouting thumbnail: Knee injuries have sapped some of his speed and he no longer goes on galloping dribbles the entire length of the field. Artistic playmaker who can break down defenses via dribble or pass.
5
Xavi
Country: Spain
Club Team: Barcelona
Position: Midfielder
Age: 30
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| Xavi |
Every soccer team needs a Xavi, a savvy midfielder whose organizational skills are the glue that held both Barcelona and Spain together in their respective runs to glory. Along with Andres Iniesta he makes up the superb engine room for club and country, connecting the dots between those around him with his infallible short passes. The natural successor to Pep Guardiola, now Barcelona's manager, Xavi has been a mainstay in Barcelona's lineup since 1998 after joining the club's academy in 1991. With a contract running through 2014, he isn't liable to be leaving the only employer he has ever had anytime soon. His Player of the Tournament award for Spain's EURO 2008 triumph was justified. Perhaps the best illustration of the force that is Xavi was his performance against archrivals Real Madrid in May 2009, when he notched four assists in a 6-2 Barcelona win.
Scouting thumbnail: Intelligent playmaker who combines precise passes and artistic vision in both the final third and from a deep lying position. The pulse of the Spanish team. Superb ability to keep the ball.
6
Didier Drogba
Country: Ivory Coast
Club Team: Chelsea
Position: Forward
Age: 31
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| Didier Drogba |
When Chelsea splashed out $37 million for him in 2004, Didier Drogba seemingly came out of nowhere, uncommonly late in arriving on the world scene at 26. Now 31, he nonetheless has become one of the world's foremost strikers, and probably the most athletic one. Both captain and all-time leading scorer of Ivory Coast, he will be relied upon to debunk the stereotype that for all their ability, African teams never perform. This robust striker both takes up and covers a lot of real estate, often requiring several opposing defenders to keep him in check -- although Premier League opponents haven't been too successful at that this season, as Drogba ranks second to Wayne Rooney with 19 goals. Known for his big personality and intense looks, Drogba is spectacular to the eye.
Scouting thumbnail: Talismanic striker and physical specimen whose power makes him practically unplayable when he puts his mind to it. Can score all types of goals and excels as a lone front man.
7
Andres Iniesta
Country: Spain
Club Team: Barcelona
Position: Midfielder
Age: 25
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| Andres Iniesta |
There's a reason they call him "El Illusionista" -- "The Illusionist." Andres Iniesta is a whimsical playmaker who transcends position and role to create a steady flow of chances for whoever is lucky enough to be playing in front of him. So multifunctional as to be capable of slotting into just about any midfield or attacking job, Iniesta is the creative counterpart to Xavi's pragmatism in Barcelona's and Spain's golden tandem. Coming up as Ronaldinho's understudy, Catalunya and all of Spain now shudder at the thought of life without Iniesta. Luckily, lithe as he may be, he has an uncanny ability to play through injury.
Scouting thumbnail: Small, technical playmaker with low center of gravity and tremendous ball control and creative vision, regarded by some peers as the best player in the world. Very difficult to dispossess and can also run at defenders and take them off the dribble. Sometimes overpasses when he should take the shot himself.
8
Fernando Torres
Country: Spain
Club Team: Liverpool
Position: Forward
Age: 25
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| Fernando Torres |
Fernando Torres was born to score goals. He was converted from a goalkeeper to a striker at age 7 and scored 55 goals as a 10-year-old, which caught the attention of his beloved Atlético Madrid, which had relaunched its academy after disbanding it a few years earlier (sending superstar Raul into the arms of Real Madrid). The club wouldn't make that mistake a second time. Torres broke into Atlético's starting lineup at 17 and never did stop scoring goals, earning him a transfer to Liverpool in 2007. At 25, Torres, the embodiment of the modern striker, already has 132 competitive league goals under his belt.
Scouting thumbnail: Well-rounded, pacy striker with tremendous technique who draws much support as the best in the world. Likes to play off the shoulder of the last defender and can finish with aplomb with either foot and is also superb in the air. Can sometimes be thrown off his game if defenders dish out the rough treatment and the referees are lax in calling fouls.
9
Steven Gerrard
Country: England
Club Team: Liverpool
Position: Midfielder
Age: 29
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| Steven Gerrard |
Dismissed as too slight for professional soccer as a child, Gerrard went on to be voted the second-best Liverpool player of all time by the club's fans and is even a Member of the Order of the British Empire. Several clubs passed on him when he was in his teens, before his hometown Liverpool finally committed to him. Regret it they did not, as Gerrard emerged as a superb attacking midfielder, who also operates as a second striker or as a winger. Gerrard is a nine-year veteran of England, pairing with Frank Lampard to form the best duo of attacking midfielders in the world.
Scouting thumbnail: Complete player who can play virtually anywhere on the field, but excels at club level with his own unique English interpretation of the trequartista role. Combines an explosive long-range shot with aggressive tackling, but struggles at times to shed man markers.
10
Michael Essien
Country: Ghana
Club Team: Chelsea
Position: Midfielder
Age: 27
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| Michael Essien |
An elite defensive midfielder who doesn't shy away from attacking, Ghana's Michael Essien is one of Africa's finest. With the help of fellow midfielders Sulley Muntari and Stephen Appiah, Essien led Ghana to the second round in Germany in 2006. Beating the Czech Republic 2-0 and the U.S. 2-1, Ghana's surprise run made it the only African country to survive the group stage. Essien, a two-time African Player of the Year, now has four more seasons as a regular at Chelsea under his belt. His versatility, energy and defensive pedigree make him one of the most consistent and reliable players in the world. Out since mid-January with a knee injury, Essien is expected to return by the World Cup but will need to prove he's fit.
Scouting thumbnail: The world's most dominant defensive midfielder. Covers an incredible amount of territory with boundless energy and the ability to contribute box to box. Possesses a powerful long-range shot.
An elite defensive midfielder who doesn't shy away from attacking, Ghana's Michael Essien is one of Africa's finest. With the help of fellow midfielders Sulley Muntari and Stephen Appiah, Essien led Ghana to the second round in Germany in 2006. Beating the Czech Republic 2-0 and the U.S. 2-1, Ghana's surprise run made it the only African country to survive the group stage. Essien, a two-time African Player of the Year, now has four more seasons as a regular at Chelsea under his belt. His versatility, energy and defensive pedigree make him one of the most consistent and reliable players in the world. Out since mid-January with a knee injury, Essien is expected to return by the World Cup but will need to prove he's fit.
Scouting thumbnail: The world's most dominant defensive midfielder. Covers an incredible amount of territory with boundless energy and the ability to contribute box to box. Possesses a powerful long-range shot.
11
David Villa
Country: Spain
Club Team: Valencia
Position: Forward
Age: 28
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| David Villa |
Where David Villa goes, the goals inescapably follow. At 28, the son of a miner has already accumulated the second-most goals for Spain of all time, trailing only Raul, who has eight more goals but in 48 additional games played. That's not all; Valencia's Villa is also 11th on the all-time Primera División top-scorer charts (and is tied for the top with Lionel Messi this season with 17) and was the most prolific scorer in the world between 2005 and 2009. Strongest when running on to through balls threaded past defenders by Spain's midfield, the perfectly ambidextrous Villa is the ideal complement to Fernando Torres, a taller target man.
Scouting thumbnail: Elite finisher who's comfortable with either foot. Instinctive, predatory goal scorer who constantly finds openings in the defense and penalty box.
12
Franck Ribery
Country: France
Club Team: Bayern Munich
Position: Midfielder
Age: 26
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| Franck Ribery |
A man who once pronounced himself ugly and OK with that, Franck Ribery led a nomadic soccer existence until the day his Turkish club Galatasaray could no longer pony up his salary and Ribery moved to Marseille. There he became a star and was appointed the successor to France star Zinedine Zidane, even though Ribery is more a winger than a playmaker. Establishing himself as one of the finest of his craft at Bayern Munich, the bite-sized and injury-prone Ribery has yet to confirm that status with France, for which he has been a regular since its surprise run to the final of the 2006 World Cup.
Scouting thumbnail: Clever playmaker who operates anywhere behind the striker but prefers the wing. Direct player who loves to run at defenders and get to the byline. Impressive work rate.
13
Samuel Eto'o
Country: Cameroon
Club Team: Inter
Position: Forward
Age: 28
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| Samuel Eto'o |
Ever since Real Madrid, which had signed him at 16, deemed him unfit for its ranks four years later, Samuel Eto'o has played soccer with a meteorite-sized chip on his shoulder. Eto'o's wrath led him to score 108 league goals for Barcelona in just five seasons, helping Barca win the league three times in that span. Incredibly, Eto'o (pronounced ay-TOH-oh, not ay-TOO) made his debut for Cameroon's senior team when he was 14 and, had Cameroon qualified in 2006, would be making his fourth World Cup this summer, despite still being younger than 30.
Scouting thumbnail: Lacks the searing pace of earlier years, but still one of the world's finest goal scorers. Often glides into the box and finishes calmly. Presses defenders high all across the field.
14
Luis Fabiano
Country: Brazil
Club Team: Sevilla
Position: Forward
Age: 29
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| Luis Fabiano |
It's rather a good thing that Luis Fabiano kept being given chances, even after failing at Stade Rennes and FC Porto. His successes at São Paolo, where the left-footed striker had scored 62 goals in just 84 games, kept enticing clubs to give him a shot, in spite of his bad reputation, earned due to a flair for unlicensed bare-knuckle on-field boxing matches. When Sevilla took him on in 2005, everything came together for Fabiano, allowing him to return to the Brazil team in late 2007, which had given up on him three years prior. He has since established himself as Brazil's top striker, beating out more talented players.
Scouting thumbnail: Temperamental Brazilian who can score in bunches. Work rate is suspect but an explosive finisher who needs only half a chance.
15
Iker Casillas
Country: Spain
Club Team: Real Madrid
Position: Goalie
Age: 28
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| Iker Casillas |
Iker Casillas showed what he was about when, after having established himself as Real Madrid's starting goalkeeper at barely 18, he didn't bother to upgrade his dinky secondhand car. Indeed, Casillas is what anyone would like their goalie to be: boring and reliable. After he joined the club when he was 9 years old and made his senior debut at 16, it's difficult to imagine Real without Casillas, who doubles as Spain's captain. Just how good Casillas, an unrivalled shot-stopper, really is best is illustrated by the buyout clause in the "contract for life" he signed in 2008 -- which actually runs out in 2017 -- which is set at $186 million.
Scouting thumbnail: Lacks the physical presence of other top goalkeepers but possesses superior reflexes and positioning. Composed and deals solidly with aerial crosses.
16
Cesc Fabregas
Country: Spain
Club Team: Arsenal
Position: Midfielder
Age: 22
It was the world's most blatant case of robbing the cradle. Cesc was 16 when Arsenal swooped in and signed him away from Barcelona, whose academy he had come through and whose games he had attended since he was 9 months old. Cesc, for all his ability as a classic Spanish control-the-middle-or-die-trying midfielder, is not a regular in Spain's lineup, although he does come on regularly as a substitute, Just 22, Cesc became a regular for Arsenal at 17, benefiting from injuries, and has starred this season, leading the EPL with 13 assists and tied for sixth with 13 goals. He's not yet been that lucky for Spain, and seems perennially stuck behind Xavi and Andres Iniesta.
Scouting thumbnail: Dynamic playmaker who can score, create and beat defenders on the dribble. Always demands the ball, can be a little careless with turnovers at times.
17
Gianluigi Buffon
Country: Italy
Club Team: Juventus
Position: Goalie
Age: 32
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| Cesc Fabregas |
The transfer fee record for a goalkeeper set when Buffon was sold by Parma to Juventus in 2001 may never be broken -- perhaps because no goalie may ever again be so dominant at such a young age. The stylish Buffon, who needed a little time to cement himself as Italy's undisputed No. 1, embodies the very essence of Italian soccer: rock-solid defending with a superlative goalkeeper as a backstop. During the 2006 World Cup, Buffon conceded only two goals -- a penalty and an own goal -- to bookend a 453-minute goalless streak.
Scouting thumbnail: Veteran Italian goalkeeper with sound positional sense. Solid shot stopper, rarely makes a mistake. Vulnerable to low shots.
18
Dani Alves
Country: Brazil
Club Team: Barcelona
Position: Defender
Age: 26
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| Dani Alves |
As key member of Barcelona's stunning run to six trophies last year, Daniel Alves, a hybrid right back/right winger, turned heads with his ability. As good a defender as he is a winger when in possession, Alves frequently covered the wing when Lionel Messi was off cutting inside. Alves has come a long way from the destitute Brazilian countryside where he grew up. His family gambled what little money it had on Dani and won. Stupefyingly, Alves is not a regular for Brazil, having to cede the spot to Maicon for reasons known only to coach Carlos Dunga.
Scouting thumbnail: Attacking fullback who's brilliant going forward as a pseudo-winger. Combines pace, vision and playmaking skills as well as superior set-piece delivery. Defensively vulnerable at times and can be caught out of position or muscled off the ball.
19
Nemanja Vidic
Country: Serbia
Club Team: Manchester United
Position: Defender
Age: 28
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| Nemanja Vidic |
The most uncompromising of defenders, Nemanja Vidic is from the old school, where keeping your man in front of you is a matter of honor and professional pride. After being plucked from Spartak Moscow for a modest $11 million by Manchester United four years ago, Vidic emerged as one of the very best central defenders in the world, and without a doubt the most dutiful one. The 2008-09 Premiership Player of the Season and his laser-guided tackles and incontestable headers had a lot do with the record 14 straight shutouts United recorded that year.
Scouting thumbnail: Powerhouse central defender who owns the box with his aerial ability, both defensively and on offensive set pieces. No-nonsense enforcer, but can be vulnerable to pacy forwards with strong dribbling skills.
20
Wesley Sneijder
Country: Netherlands
Club Team: Inter
Position: Midfielder
Age: 25
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| Wesley Sneijder |
While his stature leaves him likely to trip over a postage stamp, his ego is not so encumbered. Wesley Sneijder, while fabulously talented, is as likely to deliver an inch-perfect pass from 80 yards away as he is to hurl abuse at his coach. Suspected of being a clubhouse cancer in his native Netherlands, whatever psychological defect he has that makes him act like a spoiled teenager is tolerated for the positive effect he has on a team's play. On the field, Sneijder's world-class passing game does provide the glue that will hold together the 10 players surrounding him.
Scouting thumbnail: Short, squat playmaker with vision and impressive long-range shooting ability, harnessed with precise set-piece delivery. Can play anywhere in midfield but prefers to operate centrally in the final third.
21
Maicon
Country: Brazil
Club Team: Inter
Position: Defender
Age: 28
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| Maicon |
That the tide had turned for Brazil became apparent when head coach Dunga refused to drop Maicon for Dani Alves after the latter emerged as a superstar. Preferring to stick with the more defensive-minded Maicon, who by no means fears the other half of the field, it became obvious that the glory days of the all-out attack happy-go-lucky Brazil teams were over. Nonplussed by any such suggestions, Maicon has done an admirable job of filling the giant shoes left by the retirement of Cafu, one of the greatest right backs of all time.
Scouting thumbnail: Probably the most well-rounded fullback in the world, providing strong defensive play with powerful surging runs down the right flank. Doesn't have a lot of flair but has no real weaknesses.
22
Frank Lampard
Country: England
Club Team: Chelsea
Position: Midfielder
Age: 31
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| Frank Lampard |
One of several of today's English internationals to emerge from the West Ham United academy, Frank Lampard plays with a versatility that belies his English roots. The son of West Ham legend Frank Lampard Sr., Lampard is a majestic central midfielder with a superb understanding of the game and rapport with the ball. One of the world's finest penalty takers and long-distance shooters, Lampard is also reliable on the other side of the ball. Neurological research showed that Lampard has an unusually high IQ -- among the highest ever recorded by the testing company, not just among soccer players. England can only hope he produces like he has for Chelsea, where he has 12 goals and 10 assists this season.
Scouting thumbnail: Well-rounded central midfielder with impressive work rate and a nose for the goal. Doesn't do any one thing exceptionally well but is above average in all areas and an impressive finisher for a midfielder.
23
Andrea Pirlo
Country: Italy
Club Team: Milan
Position: Midfielder
Age: 30
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| Andrea Pirlo |
It took megatalent Andrea Pirlo, now 30 years old, a few years to find his feet. Pirlo, who has gypsy roots, had made his pro debut just two days after his 16th birthday. After being picked up by Internazionale soon after, it took three fruitless years at Inter, including two loan spells, for the Nerazzurri to give up on him and sell him to city rival AC Milan, where he became a star. As Pirlo pulls the strings from a deep position as playmaker, his superb long ball decides games, whether with Milan or Italy. His ability to set a game's pace was a key ingredient to Italy's 2006 World Cup win.
Scouting thumbnail: Deep-lying playmaker with subtle skill and vision. Can control the tempo of a game and generally delivers superb set pieces.
24
Carlos Tevez
Country: Argentina
Club Team: Manchester City
Position: Forward
Age: 26
We knew the world had changed when West Ham United bought a player owned by an investment company. When Carlos Tevez moved from Boca Juniors to Corinthians in 2005, a shady deal saw his rights go not to the latter club but to Media Sports Investments, which would go on to rent Tevez to several clubs during the coming years before he was sold to Manchester City for a reported $70 million this past summer, a tidy profit on MSI's $20-odd million investment. (Manchester City isn't complaining as Tevez has tallied 15 goals in the EPL.) While putting off numerous interested clubs with his complex contract situation, the multifunctional forward did become an important player for Argentina.
Scouting thumbnail: Whirling buzzsaw of nonstop hustle and energy who can play anywhere across the front line. Capable of scoring spectacular goals, but is a streaky finisher.
25
Robin van Persie
Country: Netherlands
Club Team: Arsenal
Position: Forward
Age: 26
The son of a painter and a sculptor, Robin van Persie developed a reputation as a prodigy almost as quickly as that of a brat. He was impossible to handle in the early stages of his career. That led to a never-ending conflict with then-Feyenoord manager Bert van Marwijk, who is now his manager with the Netherlands, and van Persie took a shortcut to an early exit from the professional ranks. Scooped up by Arsenal for a fraction of his worth in 2004, van Persie settled down with his Dutch-Moroccan wife, purportedly converted to Islam and grew into a superb attacker, capable of playing on either wing, up front or behind the striker.
Scouting thumbnail: Clever, lithe attacker who can play as a striker or in the hole. Needs work on his heading ability but possesses every other tool in pace, finishing and long-range shooting.
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