There are two things you need to know about many football players: they're gorgeous and they like to take their shirts off. So in a piece of pure, despicable objectification, here is gallery of some of the most beautiful men looking to score, or going for the perfect tackle at the FIFA World Cup in South Africa. Andy Barron, NEW ZEALAND Date of Birth: 24 December 1980 Height: 178 cm Shirt number: 13 Position: Midfielder Current club: Team Wellington (NZL) International Caps: 11 International Goals: 1 First international: New Zealand-Malaysia (2006) FIFA says: A hard-working central midfielder with Team Wellington in the New Zealand Football Championship, Barron only had brief tastes of international football early in his career. Carlos Bocanegra, USA Date of Birth: 25 May 1979 Height: 184 cm Shirt number: 3 Position: Defender Current club: Rennes (FRA) International Caps: 80 International Goals: 12 First international: Korea Republic-USA (2001) FIFA says: USA's steely captain Carlos Bocanegra is an uncompromising centre-back, always willing to put his body on the line for the American cause. Cristiano Ronaldo, PORTUGAL Date of Birth: 5 February 1985 Height: 185 cm Shirt number: 7 Position: Forward Current club: Real Madrid (ESP) International Caps: 72 International Goals: 22 First international: Portugal-Kazakhstan (2003) FIFA says: Perhaps more than any other player of the modern era, Portugal's superstar seems to maintain a wide-eyed innocence on the field. Fabio Cannavaro, ITALY Date of Birth: 13 September 1973 Height: 175 cm Shirt number: 5 Position: Defender Current club: Juventus (ITA) International Caps: 133 International Goals: 2 First international: Italy-Northern Ireland (1997) FIFA says: The World Cup winning captain is a worthy successor to the country's dynasty of great defenders, acquiring hero status in a land where making a perfect tackle is accorded the same importance as a spectacular volley. Kaka, BRAZIL Date of Birth: 22 April 1982 Height: 186 cm Shirt number: 10 Position: Midfielder Current club: Real Madrid (ESP) International Caps: 78 International Goals: 27 First international: Brazil-Bolivia (2002) FIFA says: Kaka is firmly established as one of the finest players in the world with a capacity to glide almost effortlessly past opponents. Lucas Neill, AUSTRALIA Date of Birth: 9 March 1978 Height: 185 cm Shirt number: 2 Position: Defender Current club: Galatasaray (TUR) International Caps: 57 International Goals: 0 First international: Saudi Arabia-Australia (1996) FIFA says: Regardless of club form, Lucas Neill has been a highly consistent performer in the Australia backline and has worn the captain's armband for the past four years. Thierry Henry, FRANCE Date of Birth: 17 August 1977 Height: 188 cm Shirt number: 12 Position: Forward Current club: Barcelona (ESP) International Caps: 121 International Goals: 51 First international: France-South Africa (1997) FIFA says: A veritable colossus of French football, Thierry Henry’s achievements read like an extract from the Guinness Book of Records. Valon Behrami, SWITZERLAND Date of Birth: 19 April 1985 Height: 184 cm Shirt number: 11 Position: Midfielder Current club: West Ham Utd. (ENG) International Caps: 27 International Goals: 2 First international: Switzerland-France (2005) FIFA says: Valon Behrami was not especially fond of football as a boy, preferring athletics in general and cross-country running in particular. Yoann Gourcuff, FRANCE Date of Birth: 11 July 1986 Height: 185 cm Shirt number: 8 Position: Midfielder Current club: Bordeaux (FRA) International Caps: 21 International Goals: 1 First international: Sweden-France (2008) FIFA says: After having shown early promise in Lorient’s youth team, Yoann Gourcuff entered Rennes’ academy in 2001. Natasha Kai, USA Because this looking at hot men business has been exhausting for this poor lesbian, here's something for the ladies: American football (sorry, soccer) player Natasha Kai ... that stomach ... damn. When's the women's World Cup? PS: Go the All Whites! Jacqui Stanford - 15th June 2010