Welcome to Offbeat Wednesday, where we bring you the wacky and fun side of football! This week, it's all about birthday celebrations. From Neymar's Birthday boat extravaganza in Brazil and Sara Carbonero's birthday celebrations to Ronaldo's new Lamborghini, it was all about the fiestas!

Brazil's wonder kid of the moment, Neymar, turned 20 over the weekend and what better way to celebrate it than in true carioca style at a club?

Italia es el rey, cuando menos en el arco, donde Gianluigi Buffon ha sido clasificado como el mejor guardavallas del siglo XXI por la Federación Internacional de Historia y Estadística del Futbol. Buffon se impuso sólo por dos unidades al español Iker Casillas (197), siendo el rubro decisivo el lugar que ocuparon en el "top 20″ de las votaciones en el 2012.

Que dulce! Valencia kept to their promise to the fans last night and held Barca to a 1-1 draw with a 27th minute screamer from Jonas. Part of the promise was to play their best and not lose in front of the home fans, so this result is significantly better than a loss.

Awards are for the vain folk that feel the need to be rewarded for greatness. An award, usually a piece of precious metal, is handed to an individual, usually a sentient homo sapiens, based on that individual's contributions to a particular endeavor. Subjectivity underlines the entire process. Humans clasp at the material to the detriment of the abstract.

Welcome to Offbeat Wednesday, where we cover the wacky and gossipy side of football! In today's edition, read about Lukas Podolski's second car accident, David Beckham's new editorial, Luca Toni's fatherly pride and Sara Carbonero!

We kick things off with David Beckham's new editorial spread in Men's Health magazine!

When Carbonara was still a type of pasta sauce to Casillas and when Xavi channeled his inner 'New Kids On The Block'. Ah, what memories! / via Aga on Bellazon

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Rumours are circulating of a serious training ground dispute between coach Jose Mourinho and vice-captain Sergio Ramos on Friday.

According to Madrid-based sports paper Marca, Mourinho accused his playing staff of betrayal following their post-match press reaction on Wednesday night.

It's been an incredible eighteen months for Gareth Bale and a period that has ended with our Welsh left winger being named as the only British player in UEFA's team of 2011.

Bale took his place among the likes of Barcelona's Dani Alves, Gerard Pique, Xavi, Andres Iniesta and Lionel Messi as well as Real Madrid's Cristinao Ronaldo, Iker Casillas and Marcelo.

Yet another Clasico is upon us, infact the fourth of this season and the first of 2012. When it was confirmed that this years Copa Del Rey will see both Barca and Madrid taking on one another, the reaction of both set of fans were classic. For the fiirst time in history they all greeted with a collective sigh of "Not Again, Lord".

Apart eleven years of as a Reebok athlete, Spain and Real Madrid captain Iker Casillas has signed an endorsement deal with national team and club sponsor adidas. Casillas was unveiled...

Apart eleven years of as a Reebok athlete, Spain and Real Madrid captain Iker Casillas has signed an endorsement deal with national team and club sponsor adidas. Casillas was unveiled...

It's Milan Derby weekend and if you're all like "Snoozefest time!"... STEP ASIDE, per favore! It's not about the derby but rather the culture surrounding it. All the Uncle Giovannis who are preparing their premium Neapolitan pasta sauces at this very moment will only serve it at 8pm tomorrow because that's how the Italianos roll!

Iker Casillas
Sergio Ramos, Gerard Pique, Nemanja Vidic, Dani Alves
Andres Iniesta, Xavi, Xabi Alonso
Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney, Lionel Messi.

"Rooney and Vida In FIFA World XI" was originally published at The Republik of Mancunia.

Las clasificaciones siempre van a dar de que hablar, generan polemica, hasta las que hace la FIFA.
Por eso aquí están los 11 mejores jugadores del año según el máximo mandato en el futbol mundial. Fueron anunciados en la gala del dia de hoy.
Los futbolistas del Real Madrid, Cristiano Ronaldo, Sergio Ramos, Xabi Alonso e Iker Casillas, no viajaron a Zúrich porque mañana enfrentan al Málaga por la Copa del Rey.

STARTERS
Did you see the trio of goals that Clint Dempsey scored for Fulham in the FA Cup this past weekend. He is been on FIRE lately. See those goals right here.
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Landon Donovan also contributed to an Everton win in the FA Cup putting in a corner kick that was finished off with a fine header for the games first goal.

Congrats (and Happy Belated B-day to the most Gingerific man in La Liga) you crazy kids! Image Credit: Vanitatis.com.

While the global footy community is full of hot and heavy, high profile relationships, not all of them are as wonderful and easy going for us to cover as Xabi and Nagore's is.

The FIFA back "International Football Federation of History & Statistics" ( IFFHS ) has released its calculations & list for the "Best Goalkeeper in World Football". REAL MADRID CF & Spanish International IKER CASILLAS has been chosen & thus gains his 4th recognition from the IFHHS. On the list FC BARCELONA goalie VICTOR VALDES comes in 3rd placed.

The FIFA back "International Football Federation of History & Statistics" ( IFFHS ) has released its calculations & list for the "Best Goalkeeper in World Football". REAL MADRID CF & Spanish International IKER CASILLAS has been chosen & thus gains his 4th recognition from the IFHHS. On the list FC BARCELONA goalie VICTOR VALDES comes in 3rd placed.

This entire video screams 'delirium' at best, but there's nothing better than a footballer who can bake in an apron. Even if it's Pepe, who has been rudely left out of the Real Madrid Fangirl- Friendly Gang! You know what we're talking about, chicas!

There is no doubt that every Barcelona and Real Madrid fan is still reeling under the effect of the brilliant El Cklasico night at the Bernebeu on Saturday. Can't blame anyone as it usually takes more than a day atleast to get over these. The reactions from both Camp to the result was very much interesting.

szólj hozzá: Real Madrid 1-3 Barcelona

There are fewer joys in the world than the spectacle of seeing Barca coming to the Santiago Bernabeu and beat the crap out of Jose Mourinho's brownshirts. Which they proceeded to do summarily in the first edition of this year's El Clasico.

Real is considered favorites to win La Liga and the Champions League this season but they need to solve the riddle that Barca poses them.

By Alan Duffy

Turning their attention away from silly little issues like racism, the international footballing authorities have announced their 55-man shortlist for the FIFPRO World XI 2011. (FIFPRO is the Federation Internationale des Associations de Footballers Professionnels, by the way)

Six players from good old Blighty have made the list, with Wayne Rooney and Gareth Bale worthy of their places in the elite list.

Real Madrid goalkeeper, Iker Casillas will actually have a street in his home town, Mostoles (a suburb of Madrid) named after him! The city's Mayor Esteban Parro, proposed the idea and he is now waiting for the City Council to approve the change of name of the "Avenida de los Deportes" to the "Iker Casillas Avenue.

David Villa & Iker Casillas attended a beer event & made sure they put up their best Alpha Male performances! / via Real Madrid

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Some great Spanish sock-painting Real Madrid keeper Iker Casillas had to become a victim of graffiti in order to take to the field for his side's match against Valencia on Saturday. The Spain international was spray painted to get his kit to meet the referee's expectations. The match officials were not happy at a considerable [.

P-Iker card. Any card Move over Dynamo. Football has a new magician and his name is Iker Casillas. The Real Madrid keeper has been showing off his card tricks. Unusually for a Real player, the card trick doesn't involve him picking up a red card and magically being suspended for a dead rubber match!

Este 15 de Noviembre Costa Rica tuvo una oportunidad de oro de vencer a la selección campeona del mundo, hasta obtuvo en el inicio ayuda de uno de los mejores porteros del mundo Iker Casillas el portero del Real Madrid por si vivian dentro de una cueva.
Costa Rica durante un tiempo puso a temblar a la selección española que de furia no tiene nada.

Este 15 de Noviembre Costa Rica tuvo una oportunidad de oro de vencer a la selección campeona del mundo, hasta obtuvo en el inicio ayuda de uno de los mejores porteros del mundo Iker Casillas el portero del Real Madrid por si vivian dentro de una cueva.
Costa Rica durante un tiempo puso a temblar a la selección española que de furia no tiene nada.

Welcome to Offbeat Wednesday, where we round up the wacky stories in football for you! This week, read about Sara Carbonero's thoughts on her man Iker Casillas, Carlos Tevez goes home & Balotelli's £400 000 toilet damaging fees and more!

As you may know, IkerBonero went on a holiday to Rome last week and were snapped arriving at Madrid's Barajas airport looking every bit like the holidaymakers they are!

Spanish International & Real Madrid Goalkeeper IKER CASILLAS played his 127 International match for the SPANISH NATIONAL FOOTBALL TEAM against COSTA RICA to make him the highest "capped" player in SPANISH FOOTBALL History. However COSTA RICA nearly "rained" on the special day for Casillas & the current World Champions drawing with SPAIN 2 - 2 & again lifting Spanish eye-brows & some enquiring

Liverpool legend Phil Neal won an astonishing 4 European Cups as a player at Anfield, and he played alongside some fantastic goalkeepers, including Ray Clemence and Bruce Grobbelaar. Clearly, he knows a good keeper when he sees one, and Pepe Reina is no exception.
Speaking on LFC TV, Neal paid a glowing tribute to Liverpool's shot-stopper:
"He's the best goalkeeper in the Premiership, and for Spain.

Spain's poor form in friendlies continued Tuesday when they needed a stoppage-time goal from David Villa ij order to get a 2-2 draw at Costa Rica.

Spain fell behind after an uncharacteristic howler from captain Iker Casillas. The Real Madrid goalkeeper miscontrolled the ball near the edge of the penalty area just after the half hour, allowing Randall Brenes to lift the ball into the empty net.

There are only two thoughts that may be going through your head : "Are Spain trying to be National Yearbook Photo Kings?" or "I'd die to be Laura Chinchilla (Costa Rica's president) right now!" Either way, the Spaniards are relieved that the Costa Ricans are still in love with them despite their 0-1 loss to England over the weekend.

Can England beat the unstoppable Spain? This was the question on many people's mind when the Three Lions hosted the world champions in Wembley on Saturday afternoon.

Well, you probably the answer to the above question as England captain Frank Lampard scored the only goal of the game to hand England a hard earned victory against the best nation in the world.

You'll find Guti in the Bad Week section. Like didn't already know. Image: Carlos Alvarez/Getty Images Europe.

Your favourite things this week included Frankie Sandford (style reasons), Olivier Giroud (nefarious reasons) and the ill-thought out and totally unlikely possibility of a Kickette Book Club (spiteful reasons).

Feliz viernes! The Spanish National Team finally unveiled their FIERY Euro 2012 camisetas nuevas in Las Rozas, Madrid a few hours ago. The red tones have been dramatically emphasized to match the country's national colours while the blue stripes on the sleeves from last season have also been removed.

Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina says in-form David Silva is the latest example of a Spanish player benefiting from playing in the Premier League, and reckons compatriot Juan Mata will follow suit.
Reina, 29, has established himself as one of Europe's best goalkeepers since arriving at Anfield in 2005 and the former Villarreal No.

Este próximo Sábado 12 de Noviembre en Wembley se enfrentarán Ingleses y Españoles en un amistoso que echará chispas, los equipos representantes de las 2 mejores ligas del mundo.
Horario del partido Mexico - 11:15 a.mPeru, Ecuador, Colombia y Estados Unidos - 12:15 p.mVenezuela - 12:45 p.

Despite the String of Missed Chances especially in the first half, I would say that we generally played well last night.
Last season, when asked about who I'd like us to face in the Champions League on our way to the final, I asked for the following teams: Olympique Lyonnais, AS Roma, Bayern Munich and Arsenal – I would have asked for Liverpool or Juventus too if possible.

02.11.2011 - La Comisión del Fútbol, la Comisión Técnica y de Desarrollo y un grupo de expertos de (la revista) France Football, elaboraron las listas de candidatos preseleccionados que comprenden 23 jugadores y 10 entrenadores.
El 5 de diciembre (2011), la FIFA y France Football anunciarán (en París) las ternas definitivas para la 56º entrega del Balón de Oro.