Fernando Torres

Torres, nicknamed El Nino or The Kid, was voted Liverpool FC's 2007 Young Player of the Year by fans. The striker was signed for a team-record amount and has been with Liverpool FC since July of 2007. He is under contract to play with the club until 2013. Born in a suburb of Madrid, Spain, Fernando Torres began his football career playing for Atletico Madrid, joining the youth side at 11 years old. He played for the club professionally beginning in 2001, making him Atletico's youngest player ever. Two years later, he was named Atletico's captain, again setting a record for the club's youngest ever. In 2001 Torres was named the UEFA European Under-16 Football Championship Top Goalscorer, with seven goals in six games. The next year he received recognition as the association's Under-19 Football Championship Top Goalscorer, with four goals in four games. Both years his team, Spain, won the competition.

Fernando Torres played for the Spain national football team in the 2006 World Cup and scored three goals. On his personal Web site Torres says he likes to be around for fans: "I think signing autographs after a training session is almost a duty, a moral obligation. I'm aware of the enthusiasm and excitement that the fans feel towards me, the respect and affection they have for me. In fact, not long ago I was one of them."