Cuauhtemoc Blanco

Undoubtedly one of the most famous names in the Mexico squad, the remarkable Blanco is a player who continues to defy expectations at the age of 37. He is perhaps best known to the wider world for the unique trick he perfected in France 98, which has been given many names including the 'Blanco Bounce', where he traps the ball between his feet and hops between two defenders to evade capture. The striker went to the World Cup for a second time in 2002 but was then overlooked four years later and his international career seemed to be over when cast aside by Sven-Goran Eriksson. However, he returned to favour under Javier Aguirre to inspire El Tri to a qualification that at one stage appeared in doubt. Blanco's age and relative lack of fitness, plus the fact that he plays for Veracruz in the Mexican second division, suggest that he should not be able to trouble the better defences in South Africa. But the veteran remains one of his country's most skilled and experienced performers and will be looking to provide the odd flash of genius that Mexico will need to progress deep into the tournament.