Riichi Machida

With lightning-fast acceleration and brilliant technical flair, this Japanese midfield star carves up defenses at will, though he can occasionally drift into bouts of frustrating passivity. Before kickoff, he insists on placing a dried plum inside each boot, a bizarre superstition that leaves his teammates shaking their heads in quiet disbelief. Despite his strange ritual, his unflappable composure remains his greatest asset on the pitch.