Rafael Ferdinand van der Vaart

Rafael van der Vaart, born on February 11, 1983, in Heemskerk, Netherlands, is a retired Dutch footballer known for his graceful playmaking. Starting with Ajax in 2000, he showcased remarkable skills and later played for notable clubs such as Hamburg, Real Madrid, and Tottenham Hotspur. Van der Vaart's vision, precise passing, and goal-scoring prowess contributed significantly to the Dutch national team's success in UEFA European Championships and FIFA World Cups. His versatile and stylish playing style left a lasting impact on Dutch football. Following retirement, he shifted to punditry, maintaining his connection with the sport he passionately graced for many years.

Here are some of his career achievements:-

• Represented his country at three UEFA European Championships and two FIFA World Cups
• Received the AFC Ajax Talent of the Future award in the year 1999
• Achieved the Amsterdam Talent of the Year award in the year 2000
• Rewarded with the Amsterdam Tournament Most Valuable Player title in the year 2001
• Given the Johan Cruijff Award in the year 2001
• Earned 109 caps for the Netherlands within a span of 12 years in between 2001 and 2013
• Given the Golden Boy Award in the year 2003
• Named as the Bundesliga Player of the Month for September 2005
• Named as the Premier League Player of the Month for October 2010
• Rafael made his debut at the 2019Denmark Open on 4 May, in which he won his first-round match against Thomas Anderson 4–2 but knocked out in the second round by Mogens Christensen 4–0.