The Best World Cup Player Names

June 17th, 2006 | by: WC Bob |

From one-name wonders to long names that roll off the tongue, this World Cup is full of players with names that are fun to hear when they are announced on television and even more fun to type when we are liveblogging. Having seen every match thus far, I have developed a certain fondness for players based on their names alone. Here is my very biased list of the best names in the 2006 World Cup.

Loco, Angola,
Razak Pimpong, Ghana
Yaya Toure, Ivory Coast
Jerko Leko, Croatia
Jamba, Angola
Bastian Schweinsteiger, Germany
Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink, Netherlands
DaMarcus Beasley, United States
Lee Ho, South Korea
Franck Ribery (only because he plays for France and you can say “Ribery, Fraternity, Equality”)
Hakan Yakin, Switzerland
Shaka Hislop, Trinidad and Tobago
Fred, Brazil
Alex, Japan
Xavi, Spain

Do you have a favorite name that you think should be added to the list?

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Comments

Displaying the most recent 25 comments from a total of 29 comments.

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By Frank Key | June 17th, 2006 at 1:38 pm

Make that
http://hooting.yard.users.btopenworld.com
See, now the link works

Posted from United Kingdom

By Matt | June 17th, 2006 at 2:19 pm

Howcome no ones mentioned YAPI YAPO of the Ivory Coast, it’s an awesome name!

Posted from United Kingdom

By Mary | June 17th, 2006 at 3:32 pm

This is such a great article and the comments are awesome!

I’ve learned quite a bit and smiled even more!

Posted from United States

By OmarKhayyam | June 17th, 2006 at 4:55 pm

Yapi Yapi Yapo from Cote d’Ivoire, although apparently, he goes by a more informal Yapi Yapo these days.

Posted from Singapore

By OmarKhayyam | June 17th, 2006 at 4:56 pm

Ah, Matt caught our Yapi friend before me. Oh well.

Posted from Singapore

By lennongirl | June 17th, 2006 at 5:26 pm

Schweinsteiger is not only tough to promounce for non Germans (I guess), it also translates to “pig climber”, which makes it even better

Posted from Germany

By Trapper | June 17th, 2006 at 6:45 pm

The Portugal reserve keeper goes by the name Quim.

I rest my case.

And like Ali I love it that a Brazilian is called Fred. Here’s hoping for a Barry.

Posted from Australia

By lorenz | June 17th, 2006 at 6:57 pm

Isn’t there a Brazilian named

KAKA

That’s all I have to say.

Posted from United States

By Fan's Attic | June 17th, 2006 at 8:29 pm

funny, i came up with best XI names last night. some the same, some different.
http://fansattic.blogspot.com/2006/06/best-world-cup-names.html

Posted from United States

By Lola | June 17th, 2006 at 10:15 pm

Fred, Brazil
sure

Posted from Brazil

By abercombie&fitch | June 17th, 2006 at 11:19 pm

I like Zinedine Zidane — rolls nicely of your tongue.

Drogba’s nickname — “The Drog”

Thiery Henry — it rhymes

Messi — do i really have to comment on this one?

And ofcourse, the Pimpong guy from Ghana — the guy has an entire sport named after him. how cool is that?

Posted from United States

By hussein hijazi | June 21st, 2006 at 4:23 pm

hi look all doooods i wold like to tell u that beckham , gerrard , roony , owen ,lampard , j cole , a cole , ferdinand , g nevil , j terry , robinson and more england players are the best and the world cup 2006 is for england

Posted from Lebanon

By Argelia G. | June 22nd, 2006 at 4:57 pm

Mexico is trying hard but they need to put in much m0re eff0rt if they wanna win. im kinda bummed out on how they are doing.

Posted from United States

By Argelia G. | June 22nd, 2006 at 4:58 pm

chek me out on
http://www.myspace.com/babygaxiola

Posted from United States

By Almeida | June 24th, 2006 at 2:25 am

well…
Cherundolo – can only rhyme with Chiribolo (don’t ask, go and learn castillian)
Bocanegra – Blackmouth??
Reyna? – still castillian
Hahnemann..and manan manam

and these are american players..with spanish names..odd

ps: castillian, ignorants call it spanish

Posted from Portugal

By faisal yassine | June 27th, 2006 at 1:12 am

guys the same final game in 2002 will be in 2006 but visversa germany will win 2-0.
just remember that and reply

By hayley | June 28th, 2006 at 7:02 pm

glad u mentioned fred,brazil he is gonna win it for brazil

Posted from United Kingdom

By luca | June 29th, 2006 at 6:59 am

Hey…
2006 is argentina’s year…
Ger vs Bra Final?
nooo….
Germany will lose to Argentina
My bet is 3-1

Posted from Malaysia

By luca | June 29th, 2006 at 7:03 am

funny names?
what about Boulahrouz…
hey did i get the spelling rite?

Posted from Malaysia

By muzza79 | June 30th, 2006 at 7:59 am

Otto Pfister, Togo coach – Classic!

Posted from Australia

By jb77 | July 3rd, 2006 at 2:29 am

The best Kaka (Brazil). (caca is slang for shit in spanish).

By Omrito | July 12th, 2006 at 6:36 pm

Italy deserved that cup of 2006 bcz they and fans have been waitin since 1982 ! Totti 3eesh (3eesh means live in arabic)

Posted from United Arab Emirates

By CZ101 | August 2nd, 2006 at 8:30 am

Peter Crouch.

Posted from Czech Republic

By david | September 7th, 2006 at 2:09 am

A dedicated person like me can only go 4 the best players,players like LIONEL MESSI,ROBINHO,C RONALDO,FRANK RIBBERY and V PERSIE including DAVID BECKHAM.PLZ LETS CHOOSE WISELY AND BE SPECIFIC.Ronaldinho could be among the best but he never shiow his skills during the world cup.
“BECKS”
POSTED FROM NAMIBIA(WCE 1ST YEAR)

By lello | July 4th, 2007 at 11:42 am

england were the best in germany but when rooney gets a red card all he team became not strong

Posted from United Arab Emirates

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