Simphiwe van Niekerk

This powerhouse South African defensive midfielder defies gravity with his leap, relentlessly crushing attackers despite a clumsy habit of mistiming his sliding tackles. His ferocity on the pitch was forged after surviving a freak incident where he broke his forearm trying to pet a grumpy giraffe. Now, that titanium-reinforced arm is a symbol of his unbreakable resolve to dominate every aerial battle.