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‘BigBenz’ soon to attack the ‘Matrix’

Soccer players may not have the hard-hitting nicknames of the boxing fraternity, such as Tommy “The Hitman” Hearns or “Smoking” Joe Frazier, but there are many who will perform at Euro 2008 who have interesting ones to say the least.

The world of the arts and showbusiness are well represented in diverse forms as Italian striker Alessandro del Piero earned the moniker of Renaissance artist “Pinturicchio” (Bernardino di Betto) from Juventus’ late owner Giovanni Agnelli, himself known as “The Lawyer,” a man not unknown for handing down great artists names to his best players as Roberto Baggio — also known as the “Pony-Tailed Buddha” — was branded “Raphael.”

Hollywood gets a look in as well, as Greece’s Euro 2004 goalkeeping hero Antonis Nikopolidis has earned the nickname “Clooney” after hearthrob George, because of his prematurely greying hair, while in a less complimentary fashion, Spanish defender Sergio Ramos has become known as “Tarzan” on account of his long hair and muscular body.

France’s player of the year, Karim Benzema, has acquired the nickname of the “Nightmare of French Football,” which sounds like a backhanded compliment — well it could come true if he has an appalling Euro — but in fact is a title conferred on him by his favorite French rap artist Rohff and is a play on the latter’s album The Nightmare of French Rap. Even though he is barely out of his teens and has had one good season with Lyon, the youngster has also acquired other less imaginative nicknames, such as “BigBenz.”

As for the bete noir of French soccer, hardman Italian defender Marco Materazzi, the man who, depending on how one sees it, was the victim or the deserving recipient of Zinedine Zidane’s headbutt — well it only got him in the chest — during the World Cup final, is either known by his fans as “Matrix,” or by his detractors as “Macellazi” — a play on the words macellaio or “Butcher.”

There are of course those who are simply known by nicknames signifying their stature in the sport, as Swedish veteran — even almost pensioner — Henrik Larsson is called “The Gold Pearl,” Spanish keeper Iker Casillas is “Saint Iker” for his remarkable saves and one time Chelsea bad boy Adrian Mutu is “Dynamite,” whilst his compatriot Marius Niculae is simply known as “The Arrow.”

Having said all that, perhaps the really great players are not in need of such dressing up, for certainly the best player going into the tournament, Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro, does not have one.

Save that the Ronaldo part of his name is in homage to former actor and late US president Ronald Reagan. Whilst some would suggest that Ronaldo has as much acting skills on the pitch when tackled, many others will hope he earns his stars and stripes on a truly international team stage.
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