Meet the billion-dollar soccer player

What has happened to David Beckham? And Brazil forward Adriano who disappeared from the international media...and who is the billion-dollar soccer star, playing in England's Premier League? Latest soccer news and gossip in Pravda.Ru sports column, fresh from the press.

Adriano back in São Paulo

Brazilian superstar Adriano, 29, has travelled around during his star-studded career, which saw him honours for the Brazilian Championship (Flamengo, 2009), two Italian Cups (2005, 2006), 4 Italian Championships, and with the Brazilian national team, a Copa América (2004), a Confederation Cup (2005), after the World Under-17 Championship (1999) and the Under-20s South American Championship (2001).

However in recent times his star has been fading. What happened to Adriano and where is he?

Corinthians! In Brazil... The São Paulo club confirmed today that Adriano has a one-year contract, starting when the Brazilian championship kicks off in May.

Beckham the Captain

David Beckham, meanwhile, has been appointed Captain of Los Angeles Galaxy for the first time in three years. His team faces Real Salt Lake City this weekend. Beckham became Captain of LA Galaxy in 2007 when he joined, but then lost the position to Landon Donovan. Said Beckham: "It doesn't change the way I play. It's something you're very proud to wear, but you need more than one leader on the field."

The billion-dollar player

Harry Redknapp, the manager of Tottenham Hotspur FC, is arguably the best English soccer manager in the Premier League at present. For him, there is one player in the Premier League that he would not sell, even for a billion dollars. The name?

Luka Modric, the Croatian midfielder. Redknapp states that his midfield player is not for sale at any price, after helping his team to rise up the Premiership table and storm into the Champions League quarter-finals.

"I wouldn't want to sell him for £100million, not even for a billion". Famous last words?

Aleksei Federov

Pravda.Ru