Omar Matteucci

With an otherworldly leap, he hangs in the air like a basketball player, marshaling his defense with a friendliness that belies his relentless tackling style. He still fondly remembers how, as a youth player, he headed a ball with such force that he accidentally shattered his coach's favorite sunglasses on the sideline. While his anticipation can occasionally lapse, his blistering speed and precise jockeying more than compensate for any slip-ups.