Chelsea F.C. — Best pictures!

Chelsea’s German international Michael Ballack (pictured right) continues to collect rating points match after match, advancing methodically in the FTBL ranking where he has reached the top echelon, discarding rivals along the way. A little more than

Manchester United’s star forward Wayne Rooney will go into the season opener against newly promoted Birmingham City with a plank of 15 rating points to beat if he wants to remain in the top tier of the FTBL world ranking of strikers.

Brazil skipper Lucio (pictured) had something to be cheerful about yesterday as he helped his country successfully defend its Confederations Cup title with a winning goal in the 83rd minute after a less-than-convincing season with Bayern Munich. Lucio

Chelsea’s John Terry, the new leader in the FTBL World Top 23 of defenders, could lose the top spot after the final of the Confederations Cup in South Africa between Brazil and the U.S.: with 141 points over all, Terry is being actively pursued by Inter

Villarreal’s 31-year-old Spain international Juan Capdevila (pictured in a red jersey) grabbed the lead in the FTBL Top 23 of the world’s best defenders after Spain beat Iraq 1:0 in the Confed Cup in South Africa to be the first country to qualify for