Who Has Scored The Most Goals In World Cup Soccer History?

By Amy Nutt

Almost every culture around the world has some type of connection to the history of football/soccer. Such cultures as the Ancient Greeks, Persians, Vikings, The Chinese, Japanese, and much more, played a game that is much like todays football/soccer. For instance, The Chinese played "footballer" games dating as far back as about 3000 years ago. However, it was in England that soccer / football really began to grow in popularity. After becoming popular in England, soccer became a widely loved sport throughout the world. The celebrated FIFA World cup led the way to the rise of soccer stars, and conferred world soccer records holders such as the player who has scored the most goals in world cup soccer history.

Brazilian professional footballer Ronaldo Nazario de Lima has scored the most goals in Fifa World Cup history. Ronaldo Lus Nazario de Lima, more generally known as Ronaldo, was born in September 18, 1976. In 1993, Ronaldo began his professional soccer/footballer career playing for Cruzeiro. In his single year with Cruzeiro, he accumulated 12 goals in 14 games and led the team to win their first Copa do Brasil championship. After playing with Cruzeiro, in 1994, he joined with the Dutch football team PSV. In 1996, in his final year with PSV, Ronaldo aided the team to win the Dutch Cup.

Ronaldo is also an established national footballer for Brazil. He has played in 97 international games, accumulating 62 goals and standing 15 goals away from the Brazilian national scoring record. He was a member of the Brazilian team that won the 1994 and 2002 World Cups. During the 2006 World Cup soccer game, Ronaldo became the highest goal scorer in the history of the World Cup with his fifteenth goal. "The Phenomenon" in English, Ronaldo made the number 9 famous and made it tantamount with the position of center forward. During his footballer career in Europe, Ronaldo became one of the most celebrated strikers throughout the world after he won his first Ballon d'Or as the European Footballer of the Year in 1997, and then once more in 2002. He is also one of only two players to have won the FIFA Player of the Year award three times. In 2007, he was named as one of the best starting eleven of all-time by France Football and was named to the FIFA 100, a list of the greatest footballers compiled by his fellow Brazilian soccer star, Pel.

To many contemporary footballers, Ronaldo is a living icon who has been credited with encouraging a stronger marketing interest in soccer throughout the world, particularly because of his relationship with Nike who had in the past spent their marketing resources and time primarily on Basketball.

The soccer that we know today was shaped during the 1960s. Increased media coverage and TV broadcasts has made the game more popular than ever. With soccer stars such as David Beckham in the spotlight, the popularity of soccer will continue to grow.

About the Author:

A recognized leader in sports travel and tours provides 2010 world cup soccer packages and world cup tickets for games throughout the tournament.

A Shopping Guide for Guitar Effects Pedals

By R. S. Rasnick

Guitar effects pedals have been on the scene since the 1960's when guitar-based music became predominant. An engineer named Roger Mayer is credited with inventing the first guitar effects device, a "fuzz" box, that evolved into the modern distortion and overdrive pedal, and the wah pedal. Mayer's clients included such noted rock n' rollers as Jimmy Page, Jeff Beck, and Jimi Hendrix. Supposedly, Mayer created the first effects pedal for his friend in the early 1960's. Now, countless effects pedals are used by guitar players every day.

Effects pedals are used to give the guitarist more tonal colors or, that is, an expansion of timbre on his instrument's palette. It's possible to use an amplifier's settings to create these different tonal colors, too, but the amplifier is limited to what effects it can give, plus its settings would have to be changed only between songs, whereas guitar players frequently want to change tonality and color in the midst of playing a single song, and often many times over.

Just as the invention of the electric guitar and the amplifier gave the guitar player a far more powerful voice and greater sustainability of notes, so the effects pedals gave him a far wider range of expressive options. Today, even some acoustic guitar players and classical guitar players use effects pedals although the distortion and wah pedals used by electric guitar players aren't usually part of their tonal palette.

After effects pedals became popular, rack-mounted effects saw more wide use amongst guitarists, especially during the 1980's. The Yamaha SPX-90 and Eventide Ultra Harmonizer were two of the most popular rack effects that guitarists used at this time. However, guitar players soon realized that effects pedals were far more convenient and useful than rack gear, especially since the sound quality of digital pedals increased dramatically and eliminated the need for much rack equipment.

In order to make storage and transport much easier, guitar players will usually affix their pedals to boards ("pedalboards") with velcro, so that it's easy to "stomp" on their desired effects pedals. Volume and Wah pedals are usually mounted in such a way that facilitates their usage, since those pedals have to be "rocked" back and forth to affect their sound.

You'll find, though, that most guitar pedals are pretty simple to operate. With a simple "stomp," one can go from a blaring rock and roll distortion to a beautifully clean sounds. Some guitarists even use devices called "loopers" to chain groups of effects together than can be switched on and off simultaneously.

It's safe to say that most guitarists expend a lot of effort to get the "perfect" sound, and this involves configuring their guitars, amps, and effects pedals in the right combination. There are many different types of effects for players to chose from today: delay, vibrato, tremolo, chorus, pitch-shifting, flanger, overdrive, distortion, and the list goes on and on. Such effects can have significant changes on a guitarist's sound, which explains their ever-increasing popularity.

If you are guitarist who is wondering how you can shape your sound in new and exciting ways, then check out the above guitar effects. They might inspire you in ways you never considered possible.

About the Author:

About the author: R. S. Rasnick is the founder of JustEffectsPedals.com, where you can find all the effects pedals mentioned in this article and many, many more!

Transformers: Revenge Of The Fallen Online Free

By Felipe Hendersen

If you adore the metal being smashed against metal and huge robots annihilating the hell out of one another is up your street, ensure you watch Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen online free. Theres absolutely nothing more that you can expect in a Michael Bay movie besides havoc, explosions, ravishing girls and confusion and this is precisely what is in Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen movie.

The CGI animation level that has been used in the film as well as the action sequences is definitely the most amazing one would have seen ever and the audience will be left open mouthed. This however continuously has its cons especially with the prominence on action, stunts and further action, one ends up with a horrible plot if at all it can be called a plot. However besides that, theres lots of action to guarantee even John Rambo is jolted from his chair many a time.

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen movie swept a number of records at the box office for ticket sales and there is nothing surprising in that. One thing that got a lot of people and critics talking about was the length of the movie being close to 2 and half hours. If two or three scenes were cut in the movie, it would have definitely gotten better reviews.

Almost everything in the movie is over the top, the robots, the time frame and even the story. The story, however little it may be does fit together nicely. Michael Bay doesnt seem to care about criticism; he still does what he does best " make some of the most stunning and clean action sequences around.

The story is all about the battle between the huge robots. Like I said earlier, the storyline is not focus of the film but we should respect that considering the fact that we were treated to some scintillating action. There are more fight scenes and robots involved when you compare it with the original movie. This actually gives you a feeling that the Transformers are vigilantes for earths people and not some distant warring aliens.

The actors, even though not mind- blowing, put up a reasonable performance. Megan Fox looks very beautiful, unprecedented, and also delivers impressively on the acting front. It seems as if Josh Duhamel and Tyrese have been coerced into serving their script unwillingly. Michael Bay is a big fan of slow motion sequences however this is possibly the first time where the fight scenes take a back seat and Megan Fox is shown more in slow motion, especially in the run up to to the fight sequences, but I have to admit, it was most pleasing. The role of the semi perplexed - half champion college student who is handed over the task of saving the world, is played by Shia who actually does justice to this role.

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen online free is not for the ones who love good scripts or the drama, but for the ones who are hardcore action fans. You can watch this movie for free on our website. Your family can have a blockbuster weekend if they watch Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen online free. You need to fill in a quick registration form and you will have all old and new movies at your fingertips.

About the Author:

Go ahead and Watch Transformers Revenge of the Fallen over at Free Movies and for a limited time watch wonderful movies and more.

What You Can Learn From Free Slot Games

Some people tend to believe that nothing in life is free. Well, that may have been true in the past but not anymore since the arrival of free slot games. But can anything that is free, truly be of any value or worth pursuing? The answer is short, sweet and simple and that answer is yes, it is worth it.

If you are not used to gambling online, or even gambling in any sense, playing the free slot games is the perfect way to get your feet wet. What is there to lose? You are essentially playing with someone else's money. The online casinos want you to come to their site and play their online slots. But there are a lot of different online casinos out there. In order to grab your attention, they offer you free money.

One thing that you will quickly learn with the free slot games is that it is mostly chance. There are some things that you can do to increase your chance of winning such as playing with a reputable and popular gaming site. You can also play more often which should better your odds at winning but you do not want to spend all of your own money doing this in order to avoid going broke. More will be explained about this free money will be explained shortly.

Not only can you learn the ins and the outs of the game by playing with free money, but you will also be able to learn just how the whole virtual casino works. It is not all that hard, but there are certain things that you will be curious about and what to get the hang of before putting down your own money from your personal bank account.

The learning curve will still be fun, even though you will be learning a bunch of things about the game. One thing that you do not have to learn though is losing your money too early in the learning process. By taking advantage of all of the different free slot games you will be able to play for free, learn everything there is to learn and have fun doing it. There is certainly a certain thrill that comes from gambling with someone else's money.

And don't forget, you really do not have to stick with one particular online casino while using their free money. You are not tied into a contract. By sampling a little bit of everything that is out there for you from the various online casinos, you will be able to truly judge which games and slots are right for you.

Once you get the hang of the free slot games you may find yourself sharing your experiences with your friends and family who in turn may find themselves interested in learning about the slot games that you play. Feel free to help them out so that they too can have fun with the free slot games and possibly even win a nice chunk of change.

Take a Caribbean Cruise Vacation in November and Revisit the Summer

By Ric Henderson

It is hard to believe that August is already here and will be gone before you know it. What that usually means is a sad face as the summer has slipped away and a full winter of work lies ahead. Not so fast my friend, save one of those weeks of vacation that you still have and extend your summer with a Caribbean Cruise Vacation.

Have you ever noticed how much better you feel when the summertime is here? You wake up earlier and you cannot wait to get to work so you can get home and take a dip in the pool. The weekend rolls around and down the shore you go. That summer fun does not have to end as you can head to the Caribbean and keep that tan nice and fresh.

If you have never been to Jamaica, you have no idea what you are missing. It has some of the best Caribbean food around and plenty of rum. A Western Caribbean Cruise Vacation will take you there and also to the ports of Mexico, Grand Cayman and Cozumel. If you like diving, the Grand Caymans have areas that are known around the world to be breathtaking.

If you would like to go somewhere that is not only a great port, but also a great destination vacation spot, try the Easter Caribbean. With the ports of St. Marteen, St. Thomas and Puerto Rico all on the agenda, you may never come back home! Great beaches, great shopping and incredible food will all be on the menu here.

An area that you may not find people flocking to, but is just as beautiful is the South Caribbean. It is not as popular as some of the other spots, but it is not because it lacks in things to do or beauty. This is the ideal Caribbean Cruise Vacation spot for someone that wants to stay away from the hustle and bustle and really sit back and enjoy what this part of the word has to offer.

As soon as you have your destination picked out, it is really now only a matter of what cruise line and how many days you are going to go for. You can always break up your vacation and take a couple of 4 day cruises instead of one long 8 day cruise. This would really allow you to carry the summer sun into the winter months.

While the short cruises are definitely recommended, you will still want to take at least one long cruise. Being out on the ocean for 7 or more days is something that his hard to describe. You start out with a few days at sea to set the mood and then island hop for a few days and see some of the most majestic beaches and sites in creation. It truly is paradise stuffed into a week.

When you want to extend that summer, you need to seriously consider going on a Caribbean Cruise Vacation. In all honesty, they cost nothing more than a week at the shore would cost you and you are getting so much more for your money. Do something different this year and take a cruise to the Caribbean!

About the Author:

Over the years, Ric Henderson has travled the world via cruise vacations. When you are looking for a relaxing vacation, nothing is better than a Caribbean Cruise Vacation. Check out our site for more cruise vacations.

English Soccer Remembers Sir Bobby Robson

By Ross Everett

One of Englands most beloved sporting figures, Sir Bobby Robson, yielded to his courageous fight with cancer recently at the age of 75. British soccer fans mourned his passing after a lifetime in the game, first as a player and then a team manager and elder statesman. Even the often snippy British press had nothing bad to say about the universally respected Robson, headlining their obituaries with adjectives like The Bravest Knight or simply The Legend.

Robson enjoyed a productive career as a player that spanned 20 years and was spent primarily in the English Premier League with Fulham and West Bromwich Albion. He also competed for Englands national team on twenty occasions, netting four goals in international play.

After his retirement in 1968 as an active player, he found more fame as a team manager both in England and on the international level. In the EPL, his guidance transformed Ipswich Town from a laughing stock to a league powerhouse and he would lead the club for well over a decade. He would also serve as the England National Team manager for 8 years, as well as managing club teams in Portugal and Spain. He ended his career in British football with a stint as manager of Newcastle United that ended in 2004.

Robson earned even more love and admiration from his countrymen due to his public battle with cancer. Although a brain tumor left him partially paralyzed in 2006, he never wavered in his commitment to English football or to raising money and awareness for cancer treatment. After being diagnosed with terminal lung cancer in 2007, he started the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation, and raised well over one million pounds for the Sir Bobby Robson Cancer Trials Research Centre in Newcastle.

Such was the respect for Robson that two other soccer icons not known for seeing eye to eye were quick to pay their respects. Former Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho gave this tributes shared his thoughts on Robson:

I wanted to and I will keep with me always the Bobby Robson of every day, a person who had extraordinary passion for life and for football, with an extraordinary enthusiasm. Bobby Robson is one of those people who never die, not so much for what he did in his career, for one victory more or less, but for what he knew to give to those who had, like me, the good fortune to know him and walk by his side. My thoughts and embraces go to all his loved ones.

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson shared his own touching comments:

In my 23 years working in England there is not a person I would put an inch above him. I was never too big or proud to ask him for advice, which he gave freely and unconditionally. And I'm sure I am speaking for a lot of people when I say that. I mourn the passing of a great friend, a wonderful individual, a tremendous football man and somebody with passion and knowledge of the game that was unsurpassed.

His character was hewn out of the coalface; developed by the County Durham mining background that he came from. His parents instilled in him the discipline and standards which forged the character of a colossal human being. He added his own qualities to that which he passed on to his sons. The strength and courage he showed over the past couple of years when battling against his fifth bout of cancer was indescribable. Always a smile, always a friendly word with never a mention of his own problems.

The world, not just the football world, will miss him. Let's hope it won't be long before another like him turns up because we could never get enough of them.

There will be another of tributes to Robson in the upcoming English Premier League season. Some teams have already announced plans to honor Robson with a black uniform arm band, while other longer lasting tributes are in the works.

About the Author:

Ross Everett is a consulting handicapper for a number of offshore sportsbooks and an authority on sports betting . He's a noted expert on sports handicapping theory, as well as financial investment strategy. He contributes to a number of online media outlets providing insight on how to bet on NFL football, soccer and boxing.

Beating Brock Lesnar: 5 Who Can

By Ross Everett

In the aftermath of Brock Lesnars 2nd round TKO victory over Frank Mir the prevailing attitude toward him from mainstream fans has experienced a sudden and seismic shift. Before his past two fights many were questioning whether his credentials justified giving him a shot at the title, with some even unfairly comparing him to EliteXC YouTube sideshow attraction Kimbo Slice. In the aftermath of Lesnars UFC 100 victory the new question surrounding the former WWE champion has become who can beat this guy? Lesnar definitely is a freaky physical specimen combining size and strength with speed and agility. Hes also progressing by leaps and bounds as a fighter with every bout. Still, hes got a big deficit in experience to make up on the job as UFC heavyweight champion.

Lesnar is no doubt a tough matchup, but he's been the beneficiary of very favorable matchups in his short professional career. Lesnar has made amazing progress as a fighter, but he's not unbeatable. Here's fight fighters who could do it.

1) FEDOR EMELIANENKO: 'The Last Emperor' is until proven otherwise the best heavyweight in the sport. The former PRIDE champion has striking power, submission mastery, and may be the toughest fighter mentally in the sport. Fedor might get taken down by the new UFC heavyweight champ, but hed reverse it from the bottom and win via armbar.

2) ANTONIO RODRIGO NOGUEIRA: Nogueira would present Lesnar with another formidable challenge. The former Interim heavyweight champion has equal, if not superior, BJJ skills and has proven to be tougher and more durable than Mir. His five career losses are all via decision and came to the absolute highest level of competition (Fedor Emelianenko twice, Frank Mir, Josh Barnett and Dan Henderson). The UFC heavyweight division is notoriously thin, but among the current crop Nogueira is by far Lesnars worst matchup.

3) JOSH BARNETT: Barnett is another unlikely opponent for Lesnar, due as much to his recent positive drug test in California than anything else. Still, Barnett could be the worst matchup in the sport for the new UFC champ. Lesnar is likely the more powerful of the two, but Barnett is an imposing physical presence himself at 63 250 lbs. Barnett also has a solid wrestling background, with the added dimension of his sizable submission repertoire. As his career has progressed, Barnett has become a more patient and tactically sound fighter and his standup game has improved significantly. Perhaps Barnett's greatest weapon against Lesnar is his wide knowledge of 'shoot wrestling' submissions that are very effective and tough to learn how to defend.

4) ALISTAIR OVEREEM: Overeem is bigger than Lesnar"260 pounds and 65 tall. He went through a rough patch in his career during his tenure in PRIDE, but has compiled a 5-1-1 record in his last seven fights. Mirko Cro Cop suggests that hes the *only* fighter in the world who could beat Fedor Emelianenko at this point. Hes got great standup including a kickboxing background that could cause Lesnar problems, as well as solid ground fighting ability. Hes yet another heavyweight that is unlikely to bend to Dana Whites contractual demands, and currently has a relationship with DREAM in Japan and Strikeforce in the US. Still, hes a dangerous matchup for any fighter on the planet.

5) RANDY COUTURE: Lesnars win over Couture was far from decisive, and it didnt have anything to do with the age disparity. Couture got caught with a big shot and it cost him the fight. Until that point, he was more than holding his own. He was making his opponent work hard, had the edge in the striking exchanges and had opened up a cut over Lesnars right eye. Itll never be a favorable physical matchup on paper for Couture but at the same time Lesnar in no way proved his categorical superiority over The Natural

Lesnars next challenge is likely to be the winner of the Cain Velesquez/Shane Carwin match. Both are big, rugged competitors but are also beatable opponents for Lesnar. An intriguing matchup down the road could be against Croatian striking machine Mirko Cro Cop. Cro Cop has battled injuries over the past year or so but if he could come close to the form he demonstrated in winning the PRIDE Open Weight GP he could be another formidable challenge. At his best, Cro Cop is simply the most devastating striker in the sport. While the UFC is likely to set up 'favorable' matchups for Lesnar in the near term to allow them to take advantage of his PPV popularity, he'll have his hands full defending his UFC heavyweight title.

About the Author:

Ross Everett is a staff handicapper for Sports-1 and an authority on NFL football betting . He's a well known and widely published expert on sports handicapping theory, as well as financial investment strategy. He contributes to a number of websites providing insight on how to bet on NFL, MMA and boxing.