Nik Gusev

Towering and technically sublime, this charismatic Russian maestro dominates the midfield with bone-crunching aggression and a ballerina’s grace on the ball. He refuses to take the pitch unless he has balanced a single dried apricot on his nose for exactly one minute, a bizarre ritual that leaves his teammates both baffled and impressed. While his aerial reach leaves something to be desired, his raw strength and dribbling brilliance turn every match into a personal masterclass.