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Drogba one of soccer's elite strikers

The Ivorian strikes fear in the hearts of opposing defenders

Last Updated: Wednesday, November 25, 2009 | 12:29 AM ET

By John F. Molinaro and Derek Kreindler, CBC Sports

Ivory Coast striker Didier Drogba will be one of the stars to watch at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. (IAN KINGTON/AFP/Getty Images)

DIDIER DROGBA

Born: March 11, 1978, in Abidjan, Ivory Coast

Position: Striker

Nickname: Tito, given to him by his mother, in honour of the Yugoslavian political leader Josip Broz Tito.

Clubs played for: Drogba made his professional debut with French club Le Mans in 1999, but moved to Guingamp halfway through the 2001-02 season. A transfer to Olympique Marseille in 2003 followed, and that's when his career took off, as he scored 19 goals and helped L'OM reach the UEFA Cup final, as well as being named player of the year in Ligue Un. His scintillating form caught the attention of Chelsea, who paid a whopping $37.6 million Cdn transfer fee in 2004 to bring him the English Premier League, where he has flourished as one of soccer's biggest stars ever since.

International career: Drogba made his national team debut in September 2002 and scored his first goal the following year. He was instrumental in helping the Ivory Coast qualify for the 2006 World Cup, marking the country's first-ever appearance at the tournament. He also captained his country to their second African Cup of Nations final appearance in 2006.

Why is he so special? Considered one of the game's elite strikers, Drogba is equally adept at using his height to score with his head or his quick feet to breeze past defenders before blasting the ball into the net. His tenacious style of play has won him admiration from fans and commentators, cementing his status as an A-list player.

His most famous moment: With the 2007 FA Cup Final extending into extra time, Drogba slipped the ball past Manchester United keeper Edwin van der Sar in the 116th minute to lift Chelsea to a 1-0 win. Drogba's goal allowed Chelsea to secure a victory close to home, in front of nearly 90,000 fans in the new Wembley stadium.

He said it: "I'm a very lucky player. In three years my life has changed. I was on the bench in the second division and step by step, year after year, I worked and I know where I want to be and I enjoy my life."

What they're saying about him: "Didier has it all. When you find a player who has talent and is unselfish, hai vinto, you've won." - Carlo Ancelotti, Chelsea's manager

Here's an interesting fact: Drogba was appointed by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) as a Goodwill Ambassador in 2007.

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2010 FIFA World Cup Headlines

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Should John Terry be stripped of England captaincy?: John Terry's future as captain of England will likely be decided Friday after recent reports he had an extramarital affair with the ex-girlfriend of England teammate Wayne Bridge.
The David Beckham debate: Should Fabio Capello, the dapper Italian manager of England's national team, name David Beckham to his 23-man roster for this year's World Cup in South Africa?
Onstad, De Rosario back in fold for Canada: It's been a long time since Pat Onstad and Dwayne De Rosario have worn the colours of their country. That'll end of Sunday when Canada plays Jamaica in a friendly.
U.S. midfielder Feilhaber hits his stride in Denmark: For American midfielder Benny Feilhaber, a stint with Danish club AGF Aarhus has revitalized his international career and given him a chance to play for the U.S. at the World Cup.
Exploring England's World Cup goalkeeping problem: England heads to the World Cup as one of the favourites, but all is not sweetness and light, as coach Fabio Capello faces a major dilemma, namely who will start in goal.
Prep work key to U.S. soccer success: It isn't by accident that the United States is set to compete in its sixth consecutive World Cup this June. It's all about the proper preparation, according to coach Bob Bradley.
10 on the bubble for World Cup: For players such as Ronaldinho and David Beckham, a World Cup roster spot is anything but assured, and they have a lot to do to earn a seat on the plane to South Africa.
Nothing rotten in state of Denmark: Few people gave Denmark much of a chance of emerging from a qualifying group that included Portugal and Sweden. Benny Feilhaber was not one of the doubters.
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