While his attacking counterparts are often seen to overshadow him, Carles Puyol's energy, focus and stamina ensures that he is a firm favorite at the Nou Camp and while Ronaldinho, Lionel Messi and Samuel Eto'o are better known internationally, he is an essential member of the current team and has been captain since 2003 when Phillip Cocu departed for PSV Eindhoven.

A first glance at Puyol is deceptive, with apparently stocky build and sturdy legs that don't seem to be built for speed, all topped by his trademark head of long curly hair. However, when he removes his shirt there is not an ounce of fat to be seen and his torso is ripped from many hours dedicated to working out.

Puyol is noted for his ferocious dedication to the club, a dedication that means that he is absolutely determined to play in every single match. This has seen him come into conflict with Frank Rijkarrd on occasion, as he even objects to being left out of the team to be rested when a number of tough matches are being played in a short space of time. He pushes himself hard, as he has often been spotted attending training sessions when he was due a rest day.

Carles Puyol is from a town in the interior of Cata lonia called La Pobla de Segur, where he was born in April 1978. As a boy he played for the local team before being signed to the Barcelona B team aged 17 and making his first team debut in 1999 against Valladolid, a match in which the visiting FC Barcelona managed to beat the home team 2-0.

Although a defender throughout his professional career, Puyol's original position was goalkeeper. When shoulder injuries prevented him from continuing ? and from his aggressive defense you can only imagine what he would have been like in goal, perhaps a big contributing factor to his injuries ? Puyol moved up front to become a striker. These days he plays centre back, although he debuted at Barcelona as a right back when he first came up from the B team.

He is often called up to the Spanish selection, which he has also captained on occasion, and has also appeared in the Catalan team, but what is clear is that Carles Puyol is Barcelona through and through and with his contract running until 2010 it is difficult to ever imagine him playing for another club, no matter how big the offer put to him ? his dedication to the club appears to be absolute.