Let me preface this blog by stating that I am an Estudiantes de La Plata fan. Actually, when you have true passion for your team, it goes much further than just being a fan. Like I have mentioned before, an Estudiantes de La Plata flag was placed inside my crib the day I was born. The same flag now hangs on my desk at Goltv. (I have included a photo of this flag below.)  So, on this July 2^nd of 2009, I can take great pride in knowing that my club is in the Finals of the Copa Libertadores.  Even more impressive is the fact that Estudiantes is ranked number 4 by FIFA in their World rankings.  Here is the run down of the top four: Barcelona, Manchester United, Chelsea, and Estudiantes de La Plata.

Let’s start with the number 1 ranked team, Barcelona.  Barcelona’s Lionel Messi  makes close to 14 million dollars per season. Only one player in Estudiantes makes more than 1 million, and that’s Juan Sebastian Veron. Meanwhile, Barca has Henry, Etto, Xavi, Iniesta, Carles Puyol, Dani Alves, Toure Yaya, Rafa Marquez, and Goalkeeper Victor Valdes, each of whom make more than 5 million dollars a year. Estudiantes’ entire roster, combined, including all their lower divisions, every member of the coaching staff, medical staff, and even ball boys, don’t make the 14 million a year that Barcelona pays just Messi.

2^nd on FIFA’s list is Manchester United. The Red Devils recently topped Forbes rich list. The English club was valued at 1.8 billion dollars. The Red Devils even earned 130 million just for selling the rights to Cristiano Ronaldo to Real Madrid. Manchester United could, with that money, buy every single soccer-playing person in the entire city of La Plata, every professional soccer player included, and still have 80 million left over! I am only being partially facetious here.

The third ranked team in the world is English club Chelsea.  The blues are owned by Russian businessman Roman Abramovic. In 2009, Forbes had his networth around 8.5 billion dollars – a drop of 3 billion from last year. You thought the economic crisis caused you to lose a ton of money? Abramovic lost 3 billion!  Meanwhile, his team lost in the English Premiere league title race, in the Champions league final of 2008 and the Champions league semifinals of 2009. Here’s some interesting trivia: Abramovic, the 51^st richest person in the world, is also known as the world’s greatest spender on Luxury yachts. He owns five of the biggest yachts in existence. Just one of his yachts would be worth more than all of Estudiantes de La Plata.

And finally the 4^th ranked team in the world, Estudiantes de La Plata. The club was founded on august 4, 1905 by university students who felt left out by the management of Gimnasia y Esgrima de La Plata, which favored indoor games over football. Estudiantes nickname is El Leon, which is Spanish for the lion – the king of the jungle, the most regal of all beasts. Ironically, Estudiantes doesn’t even have their own stadium. Their old one is deemed unfit to host matches, so they play at Estadio Unico Ciudad de la Plata, the city’s stadium.  The team does have one in the works.  It is currently in the process of being built, although nobody knows when that will be completed. Such is life for clubs with small budgets.

Despite their financial status, Estudiantes have claimed a world title by defeating Manchester United in 1968 to win the Intercontinental Cup. That victory also earned Estudiantes the title of World Champion, which they have printed on the back of their jerseys.  Forty one years later, Estudiantes is ranked 4^th in the world and with a chance to win this year’s Copa Libertadores.  If Estudiantes wins the Copa, they have a chance to be World Champions again. To accomplish that feat, they would have to win the FIFA Club World Cup in December. Of course, standing in their way in that tournament will be the number one ranked team in the world, Barcelona, with Lionel Messi, and all his superstar teammates. But before you give Estudiantes a no-chance shot, remember this: never rule out a team with the heart of a Lion.

Pablo Alsina

p.alsina@goltv.tv

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