Happy Birthday: Raul, Kevin Pietersen, Nico Rosberg

Sport360 staff 14:49 27/06/2016
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  • (L-R) Pietersen, Raul and Rosberg.

    When it comes to the best strikers to have played the game, then Raul certainly falls into the bracket and when you look at his CV it’s easy to see why.

    Turning 38 today, he is one of the greatest Spanish players and is rightly considered a legend at Real Madrid. During his 16 years at the Bernabeu, he scored an amazing 228 goals in 550 appearances.

    His goals helped haul in six La Liga titles, two Champions League crowns, four Supercopa de Espana titles, one UEFA Super Cup and two intercontinental trophies.

    He is the third highest goalscorer in the UEFA Champions League, and stands fifth in the all-time La Liga charts. More success followed at Schalke and Qatar’s Al Sadd before ending his career with New York Cosmos.

    For La Roja, he scored 44 times in 102 appearances and finished second in the 2001 Ballon d’Or behind Michael Owen.

    1980: Kevin Pietersen, South African-born former England batsman and 2010 World Twenty20 winner (36).

    1983: Dale Steyn, South African fast-bowler, who has taken more than 500 international wickets (33).

    1985: Nico Rosberg, German Formula One driver for Mercedes who currently leads the 2016 standings (31).

    1986: Shawn LeMerritt, American athlete, who won Olympic 400m gold at the 2008 Beijing Games (30).

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