World Player of the Week: Eric Abidal - Barcelona

Welcome to Goal.com's regular feature: Goal.com World Player of the Week. Each week our worldwide team of editors will put forward a selected candidate, as chosen by Goal.com International, who deserves recognition for achieving something special that matchday. It won't necessarily be the best player in the world - at least not usually - but whoever we nominate will have done something amazing. It might be for a particularly awesome performance or for something praiseworthy off the pitch - either way, the person in question deserves special attention...

Bet: £5 £10 £20 £50 £100

Returns:

Bilbao £85.00

Draw £55.00

Barcelona £12.50

Bet: £5 £10 £20 £50 £100

Returns:

Bilbao £95.00

Draw £55.00

Barcelona £12.90

Bet: £5 £10 £20 £50 £100

Returns:

Bilbao £90.00

Draw £50.00

Barcelona £13.00

Bet: £5 £10 £20 £50 £100

Returns:

Bilbao £90.00

Draw £60.00

Barcelona £12.90

Bet: £5 £10 £20 £50 £100

Returns:

Bilbao £87.00

Draw £53.00

Barcelona £12.50

Goal.com World Player of the Week #106: Eric Abidal (Castrol Ranking: 20)
Club: Barcelona
Country: France
Age: 31
Role: Defender
Achievement: Won the Champions League just two months after being diagnosed with a tumour on his liver

His season appeared over, but he made a dramatic recovery and was back on the pitch, six weeks after his operation. The 31-year-old came on against Real Madrid in the second-half of their Champions League semi-final second-leg tie at Camp Nou, and after featuring regularly in the Primera Division matches that followed, he was handed a starting berth in the Champions League final against Manchester United at Wembley on Saturday evening.

Abidal’s performance against the English champions at left-back was laudable, keeping Antonio Valencia at bay, and he proved himself to be reliable and strong despite everything he had endured. Barca went on to win the title and Carles Puyol, who had come on in the second-half and was expected to lift the trophy as skipper, handed him the captain’s armband. Abidal lifted the most coveted trophy in club football.

After the match, Abidal thanked Puyol for his gesture and enthused: "I can’t explain the emotions I have. It's spectacular. I'm so thankful for the gesture."

Prior to the London finale, Barcelona midfielder Xavi had underlined the significance of Abidal’s victory over his illness and explained: "He has shown he is an example to all humanity. For everything he represents - his values, his competitiveness, his recovery, his involvement, and overcoming [the illness] and wanting to be back. You wouldn't have known he had even had an operation.

“I haven't lived a situation as bad as that - it was a question of life or death. Now he is back and he's just as strong as he was before the operation - it's amazing. He's an example for so many people. He transmitted such calm. We were more anxious than he was. His return is great news."

Honourable Mentions

Lionel Messi – Barcelona (Castrol Ranking: 1)

The Argentine was the best player on the Wembley pitch on Saturday evening, as he scored the second goal in Barca’s victory over United. It was Messi’s 53rd effort in all competitions and saw him equal Ruud van Nistelrooy’s record haul of 12 Champions League strikes in a single season.

Marco Reus – Borussia Monchengladbach (Castrol Ranking: 495)

The German youngster was the hero for his team as his goal against Bochum allowed them to remain in the Bundesliga. His equaliser in the second-leg of their relegation play-off came after 73 minutes, helping Monchengladbach win the tie 2-1 on aggregate.

Djibril Cisse – Panathinaikos (Castrol Ranking: N/A)

The French striker scored both goals in Pana’s 2-0 victory over AEK Athens that helped his side top the Super League play-offs in Greece. Cisse’s brace secured Panathinaikos a berth in the qualifying rounds of next season’s Champions League.

Dario Rodriguez – Penarol (Castrol Ranking: N/A)

The Uruguayan defender scored the only goal against Velez Sarsfield in the first-leg of their Copa Libertadores semi-final tie. The veteran was a rock at the back for Penarol and his finish on the stroke of half-time saw his team win 1-0 on the evening.

Robbie Keane – Republic of Ireland & Tottenham Hotspur (Castrol Ranking: 1717)

The Tottenham striker scored the only goal in the Home Nations Cup final on Sunday evening as the Republic of Ireland defeated Scotland 1-0. It was Keane’s 49th international strike.

Samuel Eto’o – Inter (Castrol Ranking: 38)

The Cameroonian striker has been arguably the best player for the Italian giants this season and he wrapped up the 2010-11 campaign with a brilliant brace against Palermo in their 3-1 victory in the Coppa Italia final on Sunday evening.

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