Lionel Messi

Oscar

Mario Gotze

Cristiano Ronaldo

Sergio Aguero

　　Let’s face it: half the fun of watching the World Cup is the eye candy。

　　承认现实吧：看世界杯一半的欢乐其实都来自养眼的球员们。

　　Soccer is a sport with the most striking and attractive players worldwide. Soccer fans not only love watching the sport as a game, they are also fascinated by the handsome players. Even if you’re not a soccer expert, who could say no to watching players work up a sweat on the pitch while showing off their incredible bodies?

　　相较于其他体育运动，足球运动员在全球的知名度和吸引力最大。球迷们不仅喜欢看比赛，更为帅气的球员神魂颠倒。就算不是足球专家，谁又会拒绝欣赏型男球员在球场上挥汗如雨的场面呢？

　　Two weeks ago, we conducted a poll on 21st Century’s WeChat account in which we asked readers to pick their favorite type of soccer player. Here are the top choices according to the results, and maybe a few more reasons to watch the world’s biggest soccer event。

　　两周前，我们在“21世纪英文报”官方微信平台上发起了一轮投票，让订阅用户选出自己最喜爱的球员类型。下面我们就一起去看看都有哪些类型得票最高？也许他们会成为你看世界杯的新理由。

　　Winning personality

　　暖男当道：靠气质取胜

　　The players in this category may not have the most gorgeous faces or excellent bodies, but their sincere temperament and accessible personality make them even more attractive. So it makes perfect sense that they ended up being our readers’ favorite type。

　　此类球员不一定拥有最出众的外貌，或最完美的身材，但他们真诚的气质、平易近人的性格让他们更具魅力。因此，完美的气质为他们赢得了最多的选票。

　　Lionel Messi

　　里奥内尔•梅西

　　Age: 26

　　年龄：26

　　National team: Argentina

　　效力于：阿根廷国家队

　　Position: Forward

　　位置：前锋

　　Although the Argentine superstar has had a relatively disappointing year on the field, you can’t change the fact that he’s a witty yet handsome player, with a strong personality。

　　尽管这位阿根廷巨星近来在球场上表现相对欠佳，但不可否认的是，他不仅长相帅气，而且机智幽默，个性很强。

　　This year’s World Cup in Brazil is Messi’s chance to make a mark on soccer’s greatest stage and prove himself to those who still have doubts about his ability. Even if Argentina doesn’t make it all the way, watching Messi weave through his opponents promises to be one of the highlights of the World Cup。

　　今年的巴西世界杯，对梅西而言，不仅是一个在最大足球舞台上重写历史的机会，也是向那些质疑自己能力的人证明自我的机会。即使阿根廷队不能最终夺冠，看梅西带球在对方球员之间自由穿梭，也一定是世界杯最精彩的画面之一。

　　Oscar

　　奥斯卡

　　Age: 22

　　年龄：22

　　National team: Brazil

　　效力于：巴西国家队

　　Position: Midfielder

　　位置：中场

　　Kaka didn’t make it onto Brazil’s national team, but there’s another baby-faced player in the lineup: Oscar, who even shares a similar playing style and ability with Kaka。

　　卡卡没有出现在巴西国家队阵容中，但是我们看到了另一位童颜球员——奥斯卡，他不仅拥有和Kada相似的球风，在球技上也与Kada不相上下。

　　At only 22, Oscar is already a mature attacking wizard. A superb dribbler, Oscar is fluid and creative in his runs. As a playmaker, Oscar has great vision and is able to deliver precise passes to his teammates. Crucial to the side’s balance, the Chelsea star may well hold the key to Brazil’s attempts to seize glory。

　　才22岁的奥斯卡已经是一名成熟的进攻奇才。他运球技艺高超，跑法流畅却不落俗套。作为一个中场球员，他颇有远见，能够准确的传球给其他队员。作为平衡球队的重要人物，这位切尔西球星也许是巴西队夺冠的关键所在。

　　Mario Gotze

　　马里奥·格策

　　Age: 22

　　年龄：22

　　National team: Germany

　　效力于：德国国家队

　　Position: Midfielder

　　位置：中场

　　Gotze’s warm smile may be charming and attractive, but that doesn’t mean a soft playing style on the field。

　　马里奥·格策温暖的笑容魅力十足，但这并不代表他在场上的风格同样温柔。

　　The German player is known for his ruthless attempts on the goal, high speed, excellent technical and dribbling skills, and playmaking capabilities. The German Football Association’s former technical director Matthias Sammer describes Gotze as “one of the best talents that [Germany’s] ever had”。

　　这位德国球员以其强势的进攻，卓越的速度，高超的球技与控球能力而著称。德国足协前技术总监马蒂亚斯·萨默尔称他是“(德国)足球史上最具天赋的球员之一”。

　　After a respectable performance at Bayern Munich, this year’s World Cup will be the measure of how high Gotze rises in our estimation。

　　格策在慕尼黑拜仁效力期间的表现可圈可点，今年的世界杯则将成为检验他刷新众望的机会。

　　Appearances count

　　发型控球星：头发和球技一样重要

　　Thanks to David Beckham, who has successfully become a fashion icon, more players are paying attention to their personal style – and a distinct hairstyle is the easiest thing to begin with, especially while on the pitch. Of course, a beautiful face is a must。

　　因为贝克汉姆成功转型成为时尚偶像，越来越多的球员开始注意个人风格——一款与众不同的发型则是最简单的开始，在球场上尤其如此。当然，一张帅气的脸是必不可缺的。

　　Cristiano Ronaldo

　　里斯蒂亚诺•罗纳尔多

　　Age: 29

　　年龄：29

　　National team: Portugal

　　效力于：葡萄牙国家队

　　Position: Forward

　　位置：前锋

　　You can’t have a “hottest players” list without Cristiano Rondaldo in it. Anyone who has watched his games and commercials knows that he is probably the perfect human being, in terms of physique and athletic ability。

　　“最受欢迎球员”名单中没有C罗是不科学的！每一个看过他比赛，或广告宣传的人都知道，在体型和体能方面他几乎堪称完美。

　　Ronaldo is the most expensive soccer player in history and it looks like he’s worth every cent. The 29-year-old will lead Portugal’s World Cup 2014 team as captain, despite suffering from a hamstring injury. And there’s no need to explain why he’s hot – his latest cover for Vogue Spain says it all。

　　C罗是足球史上身价最高的球员，而他也确实名副其实。尽管跟腱受伤，29岁的他仍作为队长带领葡萄牙队出战本届世界杯。他为何如此受欢迎？无需多言，看看他在《Vogue》西班牙版的最新封面，你就懂了。

　　Sergio Aguero

　　塞尔吉奥•阿圭罗

　　Age: 26

　　年龄：26

　　National team: Argentina

　　效力于：阿根廷国家队

　　Position: Striker

　　位置：中锋

　　The speedy and powerful Aguero made his debut in the Argentine league in 2003, when he was only 15. Since then, he has won Olympic gold with Argentina in 2008, the Europa League with Atletico Madrid in 2010, and the Premier League in his first season with Manchester City in 2012.

　　速度和力量俱佳的阿圭罗在2003年的阿根廷联赛上开始了自己的首场比赛，当时的他只有15岁。自此之后，2008年，他和他所在的阿根廷国家队获得了奥林匹克冠军；2010年，他效力于马德里竞技并获得欧联杯冠军；2012年，他转会曼彻斯特城并在英超联赛第一赛季夺冠。

　　It will be exiting to see how Aguero does in this World Cup, because if you have watched him play, you will know how good he is — and how his dark brown hair is elaborately brushed。

　　能在本届世界杯上看到阿圭罗是件激动人心的事，因为只要你看过他的比赛，就会知道他踢得有多好——以及他那精心梳理的深棕色的头发。

文章来源：沪江英语