| Match of the Day Tuesday 4 December 2012 |
| Copyright (C) BBC |
GOSSIP - WHAT PREM STARS GET FOR CHRISTMAS!
MOTD EXCLUSIVE - "BENITEZ WANTED TO BEAT ME UP!"
2012 EPIC MOMENTS (PHOTO ARTICLE)
100 BEST PLAYERS ON THE PLANET!
GEAR - THE HOTTEST PRODUCTS IN THE WORLD EVERY ISSUE!
MATCH OF THE DAY MAGAZINE PRESENTS... FANTASY FOOTY
INBOX - WITH PAZ & BEZ FROM MOTD KICKABOUT
Section Index
Merry Christmas!
We love Christmas so we've included some awesome present ideas in this issue.
Plus, we've got a massive exclusive with Chelsea star Eden Hazard - and the top ten shocks of 2012. Happy Christmas, readers! Gary Lineker.
Watch Match Of The Day every week on BBC One.
INSIDE! Benched Chelsea stars! Spot the footballers! World's Top 100 stars! Wicked new gear!
GOSSIP - WHAT PREM STARS GET FOR CHRISTMAS!
Ever wondered what Prem superstars like Raheem Sterling, Theo Walcott and Eden Hazard get for Christmas? Judging from our pics they've all got the slick new Nike GS2 boots, and they look well chuffed! Nike obviously followed Bez's nan's approach to Christmas - give everyone the same present!
HAZARD - Eden Hazard's skills will be even slicker in these! Do they come in blue?
WALCOTT - Theo Walcott will be ripping up the wing in his new boots! "To Theo, love Santa." Nice!
STERLING - Raheem Sterling shows off his mint new Nikes!
BEZ SAYS: "These boots are way better than the smellies my nan always gets me for Xmas!"
GOSSIP QUIZ OFTHE YEAR!
Q. Which Prem star does this dog (a pug) belong to?
Michael Owen
Darron Gibson
Wayne Rooney
Q. Which pop star's celebration did Cristiano Ronaldo copy this year?
Answers: Darron Gibson, Lady Gaga.
No wonder this lot look cold - they're getting frosty treatment from their gaffers as they're forced to sit out matches on the bench or the stands. Does this mean they're being frozen out ahead of a January move?
LAMPARD: New boss Rafa Benitez says Frank could leave Chelsea in the summer, with LA Galaxy leading the race to sign him!
BENT: Poor Dazza didn't even make Villa's squad against Arsenal and Reading, and QPR are waiting to snap him up!
BALOTELLI: Talk of a switch to AC Milan has stepped up as Mario struggles for a first-team place at City!
WEIRDEST RUMOUR OF THE YEAR!
Arsenal are believed to be interested in Stewart Downing. That's the Liverpool winger who has scored zero goals in his last 41 Prem games. Yikes!
BLING BLING!
David Beckham loves his watches - he is in L.A. wearing his totally awesome 12000 pounds Breitling!
AB-SOLUTELY RIPPED!
Man. United midfielder Anderson showed off his abs recently after months of jibes about him being a porkster! Steer clear of the turkey sarnies this Christmas, Ando!
GOSSIP QUIZ OFTHE YEAR - PART TWO!
Q. "IF I WASN'T A FOOTBALLER, I'D BE A UFC STAR!" Who said this in MOTD's Gossip pages in July 2012? Mario Balotelli, Wayne Rooney or Luis Suarez?
Answer: Mario Balotelli
Arsenal gaffer Arsene Wenger clearly thinks he needs a new engine in that fancy midfield of his because Olympic legend Mo Farah has revealed exclusively to MOTD that the boss has been on the blower to chat about a deal. He said: "We had a chat when I trained with them last year. Watch this space!"
NEXT TIME!
Read our full and exclusive interview with Mo Farah in the next issue of MOTD magazine! It's Gunner be huge, dudes!
BBC SPORTS PERSONALITY OF THEY YEAR
Who will win? Who gets your vote for the BBC Sports Personality Of The Year?
FARAH, WIGGINS, MURRAY, ENNIS?
WATCH IT: Sunday 16 December, 7.30pm, BBC ONE.
Chelsea's dangerman!
What's the best thing about being a footy star?
Hazard says: "I love playing for big teams in important games - especially in the Champions League. Victory is the most important thing and there's no better feeling than winning a big match!"
Is it all about winning football matches then?
Hazard says: "I try to have fun and entertain, but you never forget that the ultimate goal is to win. Even for friendly matches and kickabouts with my family, it's the same!"
What's the best goal you've ever scored?
Hazard says: "A long ranger against Marseille when I was at Lille and we were champions back in 2011 - I hope to score a better one soon because that's a while ago now!"
What makes you such a special player, Eden?
Hazard says: "My greatest asset is my speed and explosiveness over short distances - and my ability to combine that with close ball control!"
Who did you want to be when you were young?
Hazard says: "Zinedine Zidane, Thierry Henry and Franz Beckenbauer are the three great players who influenced me!"
MOTD STAT: Eden bagged four assists in his first three Prem games for The Blues!
Chelsea signed Eden for 32 million pounds in June 2012!
Hazard won France's Player Of The Year award twice in a row!
Eden won the French league and cup in 2011!
Eden Hazard wears the wicked Nike Green Speed 2, Nike's lightest, fastest and greenest production boot. Available from www.nikestore.com
MOTD EXCLUSIVE - "BENITEZ WANTED TO BEAT ME UP!"
Pepe Reina on flattening Rafa, living next to Suarez and the documentary Being: Liverpool!
Reina says: "When Rafa Benitez was boss I hit him with a volley from seven yards! It put him on all fours. He was angry - he wanted to fight me. He remembers and jokes about it now!"
MORE LIVERPOOL SECRETS...
THE SMARTEST!
Reina says: "I'd say Joe Allen because of his understanding of the game!"
THE LOUDEST!
Reina says: "Jamie Carragher. He's the loudest on the pitch - always trying to help you out with your positioning."
COMPUTER KING!
Reina says: "Jose Enrique is the best. He recently won a FIFA 13 tournament!"
REINA'S NEIGHBOUR!
Reina says: "I live next door to Luis Suarez. He's a good neighbour and our families get on well together. Sebastian Coates, Jose Enrique and Martin Skrtel also live close!"
DID YOU WATCH BEING: LIVERPOOL?
Reina says: "Yeah, I caught most of it!" MOTD: What did you think? Reina says: "It's always nice for the supporters to see us away from the ground. I think it was enjoyable!"
MOTD STAT: Pepe has played more than 250 games for The Reds since joining in 2005!
Reina spoke to MOTD at the launch of the DVD BEING: LIVERPOOL, which is out now.
The biggest surprises of 2012!
10. BRENDAN RODGERS
We thought the Liverpool manager wasn't one to blow his own trumpet - but then we found out he's got a massive picture of HIMSELF hanging up in his living room!
9. EMILE HESKEY
The original chumpster who became an expert at not scoring has become a goal-machine since his summer switch to Australia - he even scored an overhead kick recently. Seriously!
8. WEST BROM
Experts said Steve Clarke's Baggies would be set for a season of struggle - but they've flipped the Prem table upside down and are challenging for a place in the Champions League!
7. TONY HIBBERT
Everton's right-back is nicknamed jigsaw because he goes to pieces in the box, but he scored his first ever goal for The Toffees this year - after 12 years of trying. Incredible!
6. DIDIER DROGBA
The Drog sealed Chelsea's Champo League win and ran around the pitch with the trophy before announcing he was quitting Stamford Bridge - to go and play in (shocked face) China!
5. QPR
The universe almost exploded when Jamie Mackie headed The Hoops into a 2-1 lead against Man. City in the final game of last season. But we all know what happened next!
4. FERNANDO TORRES
The bloke who runs around in blue looking like he's playing in wellies with a blindfold on stunned Europe this summer when he somehow won the Golden Boot at Euro 2012. Er, how?
3. ROBIN VAN PERSIE
The Arsenal legend had written his name into the history books with a record-breaking season at The Emirates - only to make a big 24 million pounds summer move to their big rivals Man. United!
2. CHELSEA
The worst Chelsea team for years knocked the best team of all time, Barcelona, out of the Champions League and then won the trophy. We still haven't figured out how!
1. CELTIC
The same team that has already lost to Inverness, Kilmarnock and St Johnstone this season pulled off one of the greatest shocks ever when they beat Barcelona in November. WOW!
2012 EPIC MOMENTS (PHOTO ARTICLE)
WEMBLEY HEROES!
Didier Drogba smashes home the deciding goal in Chelsea's 2- 1 FA Cup final victory against Liverpool at Wembley back in May!
LONG WAIT OVER!
Clint Dempsey celebrates scoring Tottenham's third in their famous 3-2 win at Old Trafford - their first away win at Man. United since 1989!
PEN KING PIRLO!
Andrea Pirlo dinks in a mega Paneka penalty for Italy in their 4-2 shootout win against England in the Euro 2012 quarter-finals!
FLYING HIGH!
Romelu Lukaku converts a penalty for West Brom in their 4-2 victory at Sunderland to help The Baggies go third in the Premier League!
PREM BOUND!
Ricardo Vaz Te bags a dramatic late winner for West Ham in their Championship play-off final victory against Blackpool at Wembley in May!
BACK IN THE BIG TIME!
The Reading players celebrate making a welcome return to the Premier League after finishing top of the Championship!
LEAVING IT LATE!
Wigan beat Arsenal 2-1 in April during a run of seven wins - including epic victories against Man. United and Liverpool - from nine games!
SAINTS GO MARCHING IN!
Southampton supporters take over the pitch at St Mary's to celebrate their return to the Premier League as Championship runnersup!
100 BEST PLAYERS ON THE PLANET!
100
Mario Balotelli
Man. City & Italy
Bonkers striker
Age: 22
99
Leighton Baines
Everton & England
Cross-tastic left-back
Age: 28
98
Pedro
Barcelona & Spain
Mega versatile and dangerous forward
Age: 25
97
Fabricio Coloccini
Newcastle & Argentina
Mega-tough centre-back
Age: 30
96
Wesley Sneijder
Inter Milan & Holland
Classy midfielder
Age: 28
95
Hernanes
Lazio & Brazil
Goalscoring midfielder
Age: 27
94
Fernando Llorente
Athletic Bilbao & Spain
Gigantic forward
Age: 27
93
Joao Moutinho
Porto & Portugal
Clever midfielder
Age: 26
92
Gerard Pique
Barcelona & Spain
Stylish centre-back
Age: 25
91
Mikel Arteta
Arsenal
Creative and smart midfielder
Age: 30
90
Edin Dzeko
Man. City & Bosnia-Herzegovina
Impact striker
Age: 26
89
Javi Martinez
Bayern Munich & Spain
Masterful midfielder
Age: 24
88
Oscar
Chelsea & Brazil
Supremely skilful midfielder
Age: 21
87
Marouane Fellaini
Everton & Belgium
Super-strong midfielder
Age: 25
86
Marek Hamsik
Napoli & Slovakia
Driving midfielder
Age: 25
85
Carles Puyol
Barcelona & Spain
Experiencedcentre-back
Age: 34
84
Danny Welbeck
Man. United & England
Nippy striker
Age: 22
83
Claudio Marchisio
Juventus & Italy
Sharp-shooting midfielder
Age: 26
82
Didier Drogba
Shanghai Shenhua & Ivory Coast
Rampaging striker
Age: 34
81
Marc-Andre Ter Stegen
B. Monchengladbach &Germany
Top shot-stopper
Age: 20
80
Yann M'Vila
Rennes & France
Strong-tackling midfielder
Age: 22
79
Alan Dzagoev
CSKA Moscow & Russia
Attacking midfielder
Age: 22
78
Mousa Dembele
Tottenham & Belgium
Midfield magician
Age: 25
77
Steven Gerrard
Liverpool & England
All-action midfielder
Age: 32
76
Samuel Eto'o
Anzhi Makhachkala & Cameroon
Lethal striker
Age: 31
75
Nemanja Vidic
Man. United & Serbia
Dominant centre-back
Age: 31
74
Arturo Vidal
Juventus & Chile
Hard-running midfielder
Age: 25
73
Alexis Sanchez
Barcelona & Chile
Flying forward
Age: 23
72
Andre Schurrle
Bayer Leverkusen & Germany
Versatile forward
Age: 22
71
Iker Muniain
Athletic Bilbao & Spain
Skilful winger
Age: 19
70
Ezequiel Lavezzi
PSG & Argentina
Tricky forward
Age: 27
69
Javier Pastore
PSG & Argentina
Midfield genius
Age: 23
68
Mario Gomez
Bayern Munich & Germany
Goal-hungry striker
Age: 27
67
Isco
Malaga & Spain
Electrifying midfield wonderkid
Age: 20
66
Javier Mascherano
Barcelona & Argentina
Tough centre-back
Age: 28
65
Carlos Tevez
Man. City & Argentina
Clinical striker
Age: 28
64
Mario Mandzukic
Bayern Munich & Croatia
Powerful striker
Age: 26
63
Robert Lewandowski
Borussia Dortmund & Poland
Deadly striker
Age: 24
62
Fabio Coentrao
Real Madrid & Portugal
Explosive left-back
Age: 24
61
Karim Benzema
Real Madrid & France
Lethal striker
Age: 24
60
Christian Eriksen
Ajax & Denmark
Gifted playmaker
Age: 20
59
Ramires
Chelsea & Brazil
Box-to-box midfield dynamo
Age: 25
58
Jack Wilshere
Arsenal & England
Classy midfielder
Age: 20
57
Stephan El Shaarawy
AC Milan & Italy
Prolific young striker
56
James Rodriguez
Porto & Colombia
Highly sought-after winger
Age: 21
55
David Villa
Barcelona & Spain
Sensational striker
Age: 31
54
Thomas Muller
Bayern Munich & Germany
Intelligent forward
Age: 23
53
Shinji Kagawa
Man. United & Japan
Magical midfielder
Age: 23
52
Angel Di Maria
Real Madrid & Argentina
Wicked winger
Age: 24
51
Joe Hart
Man. City & England
Imposing keeper
Age: 25
50
Arjen Robben
Bayern Munich & Holland
Jinking winger
Age: 28
Robben's rubber-legged buffoonery is entertaining, but in 2012 there was no end product as he flopped at Euro 2012 and lost the Champions League final!
49
Sami Khedira
Real Madrid & Germany
All-action midfielder
Age: 25
Khedira's swashbuckling adventures up the pitch give Real tons of energy - his goal in the 2-1 win over Barca, in April 2012, killed off their title challenge!
48
Gianluigi Buffon
Juventus & Italy
Experienced goalkeeper
Age: 34
Look at that stare! Gigi uses it to turn small children to stone and panic top scorers into not scoring - a trick he pulled a lot in 2012 with 22 clean sheets!
47
Klaas-Jan Huntelaar
Schalke & Holland
Mega-lethal striker
Age: 29
Huntelaar must be one of the greediest goal-getters around - he gobbled up 48 goals in 47 games last season to help Schalke to a Champions League spot!
46
Mats Hummels
Dortmund & Germany
Brick-wall centre-back
Age: 23
When he moves out with the ball, it's like watching a Ferrari pulling away from traffic lights - Hummels was a key part of Dortmund's 2012 league title win!
45
Gonzalo Higuain
Real Madrid & Argentina
Penalty-box striker
Age: 24
Higuain's wrigglesome fidgeting in the box might not be pretty, but it allowed him to find space for 22 league goals in Real's big title triumph last season!
44
Ashley Cole
Chelsea & England
Dynamic left-back
Age: 31
Ash has nearly as many FA Cup winners medals as you've had Christmas dinners - he got his seventh in 2012 and he's still one of the best left-backs around!
43
Mario Gotze
Dortmund & Germany
Attacking young midfielder
Age: 20
Four goals and three assists in his first nine Bundesliga appearances show that Gotze is primed to become a world-class star this season!
42
Marcelo
Real Madrid & Brazil
Flying left-back
Age: 24
His storming run and slashed finish against Man. City in the Champions League was typical of Marcelo's style - brave, stylish and powerful!
41
Philipp Lahm
Bayern Munich & Germany
Rampaging full-back
Age: 29
Lahm has been busily beavering about his work of flooring flying wingers for nearly ten years and he's still a first-pick for club and country. One of the greats!
40
Dani Alves
Barcelona & Brazil
Ace right-back and winger
Age: 29
He looks like a pitbull but attacks like a cheetah - either way Alves has got a bite capable of tearing into the world's top defenders week after week!
39
Sergio Ramos
Real Madrid & Spain
Top-class defender
Age: 26
Ramos used to flail around like a mad bull, but now he's become far more dependable - Real only lost one game with him on the pitch last season!
38
Lukas Podolski
Arsenal & Germany
Hard-hitting forward
Age: 27
Podolski - or Po-goal-ski as we call him at MOTD - impressed with four goals and three assists in his first 13 Prem games. His shots are like rockets!
37
Daniele De Rossi
Roma & Italy
Roaming midfielder
Age: 29
De Rossi is the complete midfielder who can do everything. His dominant displays at Euro 2012 helped an average Italy side go all the way to the final!
36
Diego Milito
Inter Milan & Argentina
Predatory striker
Age: 33
Milito scored 24 goals in Serie A last season - and started this campaign in hot form by scoring seven and setting up three in Inter's first 11 league games!
35
Giorgio Chiellini
Juventus & Italy
Fearsome centre-back
Age: 28
The Juve vice-captain has been named Serie A Defender Of The Year three times due to his no-nonsense defending - he also grabs the odd goal too!
34
Antonio Di Natale
Udinese & Italy
Six-yard-box striker
Age: 35
The only goal that Spain conceded at Euro 2012 came from the boot of this lethal striker, who has hit an amazing 80 Serie A goals in the past three seasons!
33
Vincent Kompany
Man. City & Belgium
Rock-solid centre-back
Age: 26
Step forward the Premier League's best centre-back. The City captain was the main man as the champions conceded only 29 goals in the league last season!
32
Hulk
Zenit & Brazil
Mega powerful striker
Age: 29
Superhero Hulk was the Portuguese league's Player Of The Year in each of the past two seasons before Zenit forked out 48.5 million pounds for him!
31
Bastian Schweinsteiger
Bayern Munich & Germany
Hard-working midfielder
Age: 28
Schweini bosses games for Bayern. He's a tough tackler, can hit a cracking shot from long range, and 88% of his passes this season have found their target!
30
Sergio Busquets
Barcelona & Spain
King of tackling midfielder
Age: 24
Busquets had a passing completion rate of 92% last season. Sitting back and playing quick passes, he allows Iniesta and Xavi to work their magic!
29
Franck Ribery
Bayern Munich & France
Beast of a winger
Age: 29
No one set up more Bundesliga goals last season than this tricky wing wizard. He was involved in 14 of Bayern's goals in their first 15 games of this season!
28
Mesut Ozil
Real Madrid & Germany
Quick-footed midfielder
Age: 24
Ozil created more goals than anyone else in La Liga last season - two more than even Messi - and no-one set up more goals than him at Euro 2012!
27
Cesc Fabregas
Barcelona & Spain
Masterclass midfielder
Age: 25
The attacking midfielder found himself leading the Spanish attack at Euro 2012 and did a wicked job, which proves one thing: Cesc Fabregas can do anything!
26
Manuel Neuer
Beyern Munich & Germany
Talented keeper
Age: 26
The German No.1 kept 29 clean sheets last season for Bayern Munich, and this year he's saved pens from superstars Ronaldo, Kaka and Mata. Impressive!
25
Thiago Silva
PSG & Brazil
Ultimate centre-back
Age: 28
Thiago Silva made 91 interceptions last season and won 44 of his 56 aerial battles, which encouraged PSG to pay AC Milan a whopping 34 million pounds for him!
24
Edinson Cavani
Napoli & Uruguay
Clinical forward
Age: 25
Cavani has scored 33 goals in each of the past two seasons and, after hitting 15 goals from his first 16 games this season, he's getting even better!
23
Santi Cazorla
Arsenal & Spain
Pocket rocket forward
Age: 27
Arsenal have finally found the man to replace Cesc Fabregas. Cazorla scores most of his goals from outside the box and is just as lethal with either foot!
22
Marco Reus
Borussia Dortmund & Germany
Goal-hungry forward
Age: 23
Reus is no longer a rising star - he's now the real deal and the best player in Germany. The creative genius scored 21 goals and set up 14 more last season!
21
Jordi Alba
Barcelona & Spain
Galloping left-back
Age: 23
This unbelievable full-back, who can play as a winger, has a magical left foot and makes clever, darting runs forward to get on the end of through-balls!
20
Luka Modric
Real Madrid & Croatia
Creative midfielder
Age: 27
Modric is playing a deeper role than at Tottenham, but he's still pulling the strings. In the big Champions League games, he now starts instead of Ozil!
19
Iker Casillas
Real Madrid & Spain
Multi-talented keeper
Age: 31
In 2012, the world's best keeper became the first player to reach 100 international victories - and then went 817 minutes without conceding a goal for Spain!
18
Eden Hazard
Chelsea & Belgium
Explosive forward
Age: 21
Hazard scored or assisted 36 goals for Lille last season, prompting a 32 million pounds switch to Chelsea where he's racked up 11 assists in his first 12 Prem games!
17
Sergio Aguero
Man. City & Argentina
Superstar striker
Age: 24
Man. City's Player Of The Year got 12 assists and 30 goals last season. The last of those goals was a wicked finish that clinched City the Prem title. Epic!
16
Wayne Rooney
Man. United & England
World-class forward
Age: 27
The man who hit 34 goals last season has been tearing it up as a playmaker this season - you could play Wazza in goal and he'd still be amazing!
15
Gareth Bale
Tottenham & Wales
Flying winger
Age: 23
Bale has been clocked running at 22.4 mph in games, which would get him a speeding ticket on small roads. This speedster wins games on his own!
14
Juan Mata
Chelsea & Spain
Wizard-like midfielder
Age: 24
Chelsea's Player Of The Year has ripped apart teams this season with his lethal left foot - scoring seven and assisting ten in The Blues first 17 games!
13
David Silva
Man. City & Spain
Midfield creator
Age: 26
Silva created more chances in the Prem last season than anyone else. He also has the most assists by a Spanish player in Euro Championship history!
12
Xabi Alonso
Real Madrid & Spain
Pass-tastic midfielder
Age: 31
Outside of Barcelona, Alonso hit more passes last season than any other player in La Liga - and won the league's Best Midfielder award earlier this year!
11
Andrea Pirlo
Juventus & Italy
Deep-lying playmaker
Age: 33
Steven Gerrard told MOTD mag that Pirlo is the best player he's ever faced. The maestro took England apart at Euro 2012 and scored one of the best pens ever!
10
Neymar
Santos & Brazil
Talented and speedy forward
Age: 20
Neymar has been top scorer in Brazil for three years running and averages more than a goal every two games. This guy will be huge in the future!
9
Luis Suarez
Liverpool & Uruguay
Intelligent, exciting forward
Age: 25
After 13 Premier League games, Suarez had scored ten of Liverpool's 17 goals. The Reds would be nowhere without Luis constantly messing with defences!
8
Yaya Toure
Man. City & Ivory Coast
Box-to-box midfielder
Age: 29
This rampaging bull often runs 5-6 miles per game - adding force to attacks and snubbing out opposition breaks. He's the City star that teams fear the most!
7
Zlatan Ibrahimovic
PSG & Sweden
Powerful and skilful striker
Age: 31
Zlatan won a league title every year between 2004 and 2011 - coincidence? No, he's a goal machine. Remember his epic overhead kick against England?
6
Xavi
Barcelona & Spain
Mega stylish midfielder
Age: 32
Xavi holds the Euros record for most passes played in a single match: 136. He completed a total of 2,688 passes last season - the average was 658!
5
Andres Iniesta
Barcelona & Spain
Classy passing midfielder
Age: 28
This year alone Iniesta has been named Euro 2012 Player Of The Tournament, UEFA's Best Player in Europe and the Champions League's Best Player!
4
Robin van Persie
Man. United & Holland
Deadly, multi-skilled striker
Age: 29
RVP was the Prem's top scorer last season with 30 goals for Arsenal. The lethal striker then bagged nine goals in his first 14 Prem games for United!
3
Radamel Falcao
Atletico Madrid & Colombia
World's best striker
Age: 26
Chelsea fans are still trying to forget Falcao's hat-trick against them in the Super Cup final. He hit 14 goals in Atletico's first 13 games of this season!
2
Cristiano Ronaldo
Real Madrid & Portugal
Rapid, unstoppable forward
Age: 27
Ronaldo hit an incredible 60 goals in 55 games last season - a new Real Madrid record - and has grabbed 19 goals from his first 20 games this season. Woah!
1
Lionel Messi
Barcelona & Argentina
Outrageously tricky forward
Age: 26
Messi's not just the best player on the planet at the moment - he's the best ever! He's won the World Player Of The Year award for the past three seasons and looks set to win it for a fourth time. The ball sticks to his feet like glue and he scored 26 goals in his first 20 games this season!
MESSI'S RECORDS!
His 14 goals in last season's Champions League is a European record!
Last season he became the first man to score 50 goals in a La Liga campaign!
Barcelona's leading goal scorer of all time!
First player to be top scorer in four Champo League campaigns in a row!
His 73 goals in 2011-12 is a world record for the most goals scored in a season!
Most La Liga hat-tricks in one season - eight!
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The only guide you need to the festive fistures!
NEWCASTLE
With a horrible run of games, Papiss Cisse and Demba Ba need to start scoring to stop Newcastle from being dragged into a relegation scrap!
61%: Ba scored more than half of The Toon's first 13 Prem goals this season - Pardew needs others to step up!
FESTIVE FIXTURES
MAN. CITY (H) 15 DEC
QPR (H) 22 DEC
MAN. UNITED (A) BOXING DAY
ARSENAL (A) 29 DEC
CHELSEA
Rafa Benitez will be expecting three wins - and Fernando Torres will be hoping Santa can bring him some goals!
The Blues haven't won their last three games immediately after Christmas Day - they need to lay off the turkey!
FESTIVE FIXTURES
ASTON VILLA (H) 23 DEC
NORWICH (A) BOXING DAY
EVERTON (A) 30 DEC
QPR
Three big home fixtures will give new boss Harry Redknapp the perfect chance to claw back some points as he tries to spark a Rangers revival!
23: QPR have used 23 different players in their starting line-up this season - Harry wants to build a far more settled side!
FESTIVE FIXTURES
FULHAM (H) 15 DEC
NEWCASTLE (A) 22 DEC
WEST BROM (H) BOXING DAY
LIVERPOOL (H) 30 DEC
WEST BROM
Two winnable home games could turn The Baggies sensational Prem start into a serious Champions League challenge!
18: The West Brom squad contains 18 different nationalities - that makes them ready to play in Europe then!
FESTIVE FIXTURES
WEST HAM (H) 16 DEC
NORWICH (H) 22 DEC
QPR (A) BOXING DAY
MAN. UNITED (A) 9 DEC
MAN. UNITED
Fergie will be ding-donging merrily on high about this fixture line-up - three straightforward home games will suit him very nicely!
United are the kings of Christmas - they've won their last eight Boxing Day fixtures. Watch out Newcastle!
FESTIVE FIXTURES
SUNDERLAND (H) 15 DEC
SWANSEA (A) 23 DEC
NEWCASTLE (H) BOXING DAY
WEST BROM (H) 29 DEC
MAN. CITY
Boss Roberto Mancini might look like Scrooge by 1 January 2013 - three tricky away ties could throw a real spanner in the City works!
City won't be looking forward to their trip to Sunderland to face The Black Cats - they lost 1-0 there last Christmas!
FESTIVE FIXTURES
NEWCASTLE (A) 15 DEC
READING (H) 22 DEC
SUNDERLAND (A) BOXING DAY
NORWICH (A) 29 DEC
More big festive fixtures...
SOUTHAMPTON v SUNDERLAND, 22 December
The loser wil be left in deep trouble in 2013!
ARSENAL v WEST HAM, Boxing Day
The Gunners need a win to boost their Champions League chances!
READING v SWANSEA, Boxing Day
The Royals need to start winning home games like this to stay in the Prem!
ASTON VILLA v WIGAN, 29 December
Two clubs in the relegation zone will be desperate for points!
See all the highlights with Gary on MOTD this Christmas! BBC One. Full listings at motdmag.com
You can now enter by text! (costs one standard text only).
WIN YAYA TOURE'S PUMA BOOTS!
The new Puma Kings are out on 1 January! One lucky MOTD reader will win a pair of these slick new Puma Kings - the same ones that Yaya Toure wears!
Q. To win, tell us which top club sold signed Yaya Toure to Man. City: A. AC Milan B. Ajax C. Barcelona.
Enter!
Email your answer, name, age, address, telephone number and boot size to 5607@motdcomps.co.uk OR TEXT COMP MOTD5607+ either A, B or C, your name, full address and boot size to 66644.
For example, text COMP MOTD5607A Joe Smith, 25 The Avenue, London, NW1 6XP Size 6.
Closing date: 11.59pm, 3 January 2013. Entry cost will be however much your mobile phone company charges for one standard text at the time of entry. Adults boots available in sizes 6-13. Junior winners will get the junior boots, available in sizes 10-5.5
WIN! THREE WICKED LEGO GAMES!
Eight lucky MOTD readers will scoop not one, not two, but three of the sickest LEGO games around. Get in!
Q. To win, tell us the last Prem club to reach the Europa League final: A. Liverpool B. Fulham C. Man. City.
Enter!
Email your answer, name, age, address & telephone number to 5609@motdcomps.co.uk OR TEXT COMP MOTD5609+ either A, B or C, your name and full address to 66644. For example, text COMP MOTD5609A Joe Smith, 25 The Avenue, London, NW1 6XP.
Closing date: 11.59pm, 3 January 2013. Entry cost will be however much your mobile phone company charges for one standard text at the time of entry. LEGO and the LEGO logo are trademarks of the LEGO Group. © 2012 The LEGO Group games.LEGO.co.uk
WIN! XBOX 360 & BEN 10 GAME!
We've got the new Ben 10 Omniverse game and an Xbox 360 to give to one reader. Two runners-up get the game!
Q. To win, tell us which Prem club plays at the Liberty Stadium: A. Swansea B. Wigan C. Stoke
Enter!
Email your answer, name, age, address & telephone number to 5608@motdcomps.co.uk OR TEXT COMP MOTD5608+ either A, B or C, your name and full address to 66644. For example, text COMP MOTD5608A Joe Smith, 25 The Avenue, London, NW1 6XP.
Closing date: 11.59pm, 3 January 2013. Entry cost will be however much your mobile phone company charges for one standard text at the time of entry.
WIN! SPIDER-MAN MEGA BLU-RAY!
The Amazing Spider-ManTM is out now on Blu-ray 3D, Blu-ray & DVD! Want The Amazing Spider-Man TM on Blu-ray? One winner will get the disc and player, nine runners-up get the film!
Q. To win, tell us who the current manager of Southampton is: A. Laudrup B. Pulis C. Adkins.
Enter!
Email your answer, name, age, address & telephone number to 5610@motdcomps.co.uk OR TEXT COMP MOTD5610+ either A, B or C, your name and full address to 66644. For example, text COMP MOTD5610A Joe Smith, 25 The Avenue, London, NW1 6XP.
Closing date: 11.59pm, 3 January 2013. Entry cost will be however much your mobile phone company charges for one standard text at the time of entry. © 2012 Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Marvel, and the names and distinctive likenesses of Spider-ManTM and all other Marvel characters: ' and © 2012 Marvel Entertainment, LLC & its subsidiaries. All Rights Reserved.
MATCH OF THE DAY MAGAZINE PRESENTS... FANTASY FOOTY
Free online game!
BARGAIN STRIKERS! The five deadliest strikers who cost 10 million pounds or less!
1 Romelu Lukaku
Club: West Brom
Value: 9 million pounds
2 Jonathan Walters
Club: Stoke
Value: 9.5 million pounds
3 Christian Benteke
Club: Aston Villa
Value: 9.5 million pounds
4 Mladen Petric
Club: Fulham
Value: 9 million pounds
5 Gaston Ramirez
Club: Southampton
Value: 10 million pounds
POWER PLAY CODE: IBRAHIMOVIC. This code will double your points in December!
XMAS BONUS TRANSFER CODES:
From 11 Dec: GIGGS
From 18 Dec: BORINI
From 25 Dec: PARKER
This lets you make three transfers per week!
LIKE!
LEIGHTON BAINES: The most-picked player in the our game!
EDEN HAZARD: The Chelsea star is in 30% of Fantasy teams!
DISLIKE!
ADAM FEDERICI: The Reading keeper has been letting loads in!
YOHAN CABAYE: The Newcastle man is out until February!
WIN FIFA 13!
We give a copy of FIFA 13 to the person whose Fantasy Footy team gains the most points every month. So get involved - and you could be the December winner!
New Teams: Groby Rovers, Zaks Liverpool, Harrybees
Play now at www.motdfantasyfooty.com
Transfer Special! Huge new gossip for every Prem club!
SUAREZ, FALCAO, NEYMAR.
ARTETA! World exclusive with the Arsenal ace! See you in the New Year dudes!
WIN! Wii U and Kre-O sets
2013 is gonna be massive!
CONTACT THE TEAM
Write to us at:
Match Of The Day Magazine, Immediate Media, Vineyard House, 44 Brook Green, Hammersmith, London W6 7BT.
Editorial: 020 8433 3438
Email: shout@motdmag.com, pazandbez@motdmag.com
INBOX - WITH PAZ & BEZ FROM MOTD KICKABOUT
Paz: What do you want for Xmas, little Bez?
Bez: Torres to score a goal!
PAZ & BEZ'S XMAS SING-SONG!
Forget classic Xmas carols, here are some footy alternatives to sing over the next couple of weeks!
Jingle Bells (to the tune of Jingle Bells)
Jingle bells, something smells,
Crouchy's let one go,
the Stoke boys all had sprouts for tea,
and they're about to blow!
Away At Old Trafford (to the tune of Away In A Manger)
Away at Old Trafford,
no help from the ref,
when Fergie goes crazy,
the fourth official goes deaf!
We Three Spurs (to the tune of We Three Kings)
Lennon, Bale and Adebayor,
two can cross and one can score,
play for Tottenham, who can stop them,
finishing in the top four?
Little Raheem (to the tune of Little Donkey)
Little Raheem, little Raheem
Plays for Liverpool,
He's super fast and super skilful,
But runs just like a fool!
WHO I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS!
I'm a huge Man. United fan and I'd love it if we bought Stephan El Shaarawy. He's a game-changer and when he's on the pitch he always fights for the ball! JOE
I'm an Arsenal fan and think we'll try to buy Wilfried Zaha and Klaas-Jan Huntelaar! HARRY
I would like Swansea to sign Javier Hernandez. He is doing really well this season and so are The Swans so Hernandez would fit in perfectly! JOE
I would like Villa to sign Daniel Sturridge. Darren Bent is almost certain to leave and Sturridge would play well with Benteke! JACK
DARE PAZ & BEZ!
Keep your challenges for our two top reporters coming in - we'll pick one in the next issue! Email your ideas to pazandbez@motdmag.com
CONTACT US!
Send your photos, drawings, emails and funny stuff to pazandbez@motdmag.com or post them to Paz & Bez, MOTD mag, Vineyard House, 44 Brook Green, Hammersmith, London W6 7BT.
Watch MOTD Kickabout on Saturdays, CBBC 7.40am & BBC Two 11.45am!
Put down your mince pie and take on our Christmas quiz!
FESTIVE NAME GAME!
Complete the names of these players with words that you might hear at Xmas! 5 points for each right-answer!
1 NAVAS...
2 ANDY...
3 DI MARIA...
4 HUNT...
HAPPT TEXTMAS!
Which names has predictive text got wrong? 1 point for each right answer!
1. Dignitaries Verbatim
2 Axel Tarantula
3. Adam Lakeland
4 Gaya You're
5 Steven Pie Base
GUESS WHO!
We've received this Christmas card from an ex-Prem star - can you guess who it's from? 6 points for the right answer!
"To MOTD - Wishing you a happy Christmas. You still haven't come over to Camp Nou! See you in the New Year! Best wishes, Your favourite No.4! CF."
2012 CHAMPS!
Write this year's winner underneath each pic! 3 points for each right answer!
1. F.A Cup...
2. League Cup...
3. Premier League...
4. Euro 2012...
SANTA'S SACK(Ed)!
These four gaffers have all been sacked in 2012 - but which Prem clubs gave them the boot? 3 points for each right answer!
1 Roberto di Matteo, sacked by...
2 Mark Hughes, sacked by...
3 Alex McLeish, sacked by...
4 Harry Redknapp, sacked by...
ANSWERS - Don't cheat!
FESTIVE NAME GAME!: 1 Jesus, 2 Carroll, 3 Angel, 4 Noel
HAPPY TEXTMAS!: 1 DimitarBerbatov, 2 Adel Taarabt,3 Adam Lallana, 4 Yaya Toure, 5 Steven Pienaar
GUESS WHO!: Cesc Fabregas
2012 CHAMPS!: 1 Chelsea, 2 Liverpool, 3 Man. City, 4 Spain
SANTA'S SACK(ED)!: 1 Chelsea, 2 QPR, 3 Aston Villa, 4 Tottenham
WHAT'S YOUR SCORE?
0-20: Too much Christmas turkey must have blocked your footy brain!
21-40: Oops, that's not a great score, mate. Forget about it and move on - quick!
41-60: That'll do for now, but keep reading MOTD in 2013 to improve!
61-80: You're a solid quizster - now it's time to step up and become a great!
81-100: That's different class. Even Leo Messi would be impressed!
For more quiz fun, you can visit the CBBC website at www.bbc.co.uk/cbbc