In our series profiling footballers who were born in different months of the year, we have already looked at a few very good soccer stars. Today we will be spotlighting players born in the first month of the year, January.
1. James Milner
The tough-tackling Liverpool midfielder was born on January 4, 1986.
Apart from operating in the middle of the park, Milner is also a very good utility player who can step in to cover certain positions in cases of injury or suspension to teammates.
The Reds player has been a major part of the Anfield team over the past few seasons and doesn’t look to be slowing down anytime soon.
2. Eden Hazard
The 31-year-old Belgium Captain was born on January 7, 1991.
Hazard is renowned for his dribbling skills, pace, and expert finishing, which he showcased especially during his time at English side Chelsea.
Eden is currently with Real Madrid, where he hasn’t enjoyed the best of times, but he is hoping to turn things around soon.
Right now, he is consistent to be of the most injury-prone footballers in the world.
3. Jan Oblak
The Atletico Madrid goalie was also born on January 7. The Slovenia international was born 29 years ago in a Slovenia town called Skofja Loka.
Oblak is regarded as one of the best goalkeepers in the world because of his excellent performances for Atletico since 2014, when he joined them.
4. Leroy Sane
The highly skillful German winger was born on January 11, 1996.
Sane is blessed with great dribbling ability and pace, which he uses to get the better of his opponents to good effect.
He is regarded as one of the most prolific wingers in football at the moment.
Leroy is currently on the books of top German side Bayern Munich.
5. Koke
Although he is known to many as Koke, his full name is Jorge Resurrección Merodio.
Koke was born on January 8, 1992.
He plays as a midfielder for La Liga club Atlético Madrid, and he is also the club captains.
Koke also has 70 caps with the Spanish national team.
Koke is a right-footed footballer, but he is incredibly versatile, which allows him to play as a right, left or central midfielder.
6. Henrikh Mkhitaryan
The former Armenian international is a highly creative and technical player who has featured for top sides like Borussia Dortmund, Arsenal FC, and AS Roma.
He is one of the best midfielders in the Italian Serie A right now.
Mkhitaryan was born on January 21, 1989, in Yerevan, Armenia, and is one of the popular soccer players born in January.
Henrikh is currently on the books of Italian side Inter Milan.
7. Luis Suárez
The Uruguayan international is arguably one of his generation’s best yet most controversial players.
The former FC Barcelona striker was born on January 24, 1987, in Saito, Uruguay.
The Uruguayan football legend is widely regarded as one of the best players of his generation and one of the most lethal strikers of all time.
Suárez won two European Golden Shoes, as well as a Golden Boot in the Eredivisie, Premier League, and Spanish La Liga.
He has scored over 500 career goals for club and country
Luis Suárez currently plays at his boyhood club Nacional in Uruguay.
8. Gianluigi Buffon
The ageless former Italian international is still going strong at the ripe old age of 44.
Gianluigi was born on January 28, 1978. Buffon currently plays for Italian Serie B side Parma
9. Toni Kroos
Another popular football player born in January is the mercurial midfielder, Toni Kroos.
The former German international was born on January 4, 1990.
Kroos is known for his technical ability, vision, passing, creativity, crossing and set-piece ability and is widely regarded as one of the greatest midfielders of his generation.
10. Axel Witsel
Axel Witsel is a Belgian football player who currently plays for La Liga side, Atlético Madrid.
He was born on January 12, 1989.
Witsel is a versatile footballer who can play a variety of positions on the pitch.
He has been a main player for the Belgian national team since his debut in 2008.
Axel Witsel represented his country at the FIFA World Cup in 2014, 2018 and 2022, and the UEFA European Championship in 2016 and 2020.
