Mention those names to any soccer fan worth his boots, and his eyes will widen in recognition. Players like that can command millions of dollars for their services, and they make headlines nearly every day in soccer-mad countries.

Mention those names to most Americans, however, and expect nothing but a blank stare. Famous soccer players? Making millions? Yeah, right.

That perception may change, at least for a month anyway, when 32 countries and 736 players take center stage beginning Friday in what many believe is the sporting world's biggest event, the World Cup.

Which players will make a name for themselves? Which will prove they still have a name in soccer? Is there another Pele in the making?

A good place to start is with Brazilians Rivaldo and Ronaldo, who like Pele were famous in Brazil as teenagers.

Both already have been in the World Cup spotlight, and both emerged as stars.

Rivaldo, 30, burst onto the international scene in World Cup '98, when he led Brazil to the final against France and was named to the FIFA World Cup All-Star team. Rivaldo, who plays for Barcelona in the Spanish First Division, is considered a creative scorer with a one-track mind on the goal. Detractors say he doesn't play defense and he's not a team player. Ronaldo, 25, played in his first World Cup in '94 when he was 17. He was FIFA's Player of the Year in '96 and '97, but he has been slowed by knee injuries the past two seasons.

This World Cup will give Ronaldo a chance to prove he can still perform at a high level. This is a pivotal tournament for the Brazilian striker, whom former British coach Bobby Robson said "would become the best ever."

"As far as I'm concerned I want to try and do better than in France," said Ronaldo, who scored four goals in the '98 World Cup. "I want to play better and score more goals."

British soccer fans believe their player, midfielder David Beckham, is the best ever. When Beckham went down with a broken left foot against Spanish team Deportivo La Coruna on April 10 while playing for his club team, Manchester United, the London Daily Mirror's front-page headline screamed "OUR WORST NIGHTMARE!" England has been trying to win a World Cup since 1966, its last triumph, and Beckham, 27, is supposed to be the player to deliver the Cup.

He relieved his fans when he announced two weeks before the tournament that he would be ready to go.

"We didn't know who to play at outside right," England coach Sven Goran-Eriksson said. "We had a lot of options, of course, but we don't have another Beckham. Free kicks, corners, he helps the whole squad."

Beckham, who makes $14.6-million a year, is deadly accurate on corner and free kicks. It was his free-kick goal against Greece in a World Cup qualifier that got England into the World Cup.

He had a solid World Cup in '98. But if his name sounds familiar to non-fans, perhaps he's best known because he's married to Victoria Adams, formerly known as Posh Spice of the Spice Girls. France's Zinedine Zidane enjoyed stardom after leading his team to the '98 championship. However, Zidane sustained a left thigh strain a week before the World Cup and might not play the first two matches.

Many pick Italy as a World Cup favorite. Players who could gain attention for the "Azzuri" include goalkeeper Gigi Buffon, defender Paolo Maldini and forward Francesco Totti.

Totti, 25, has struggled with a thigh injury that has kept him out the past two months. He is said to be back to full strength, not good news for opponents.

"Totti can transform a side," Italian coach Giovanni Trapattoni said. "There are very few players who have that capability. Francesco has the talent and he has now matured so that he will be Italy's leader in the final. He is reaching the right age to show his real quality on the biggest stage."

Forwards tend to get most of the attention. Argentina's Gabriel Batistuta, Sweden's Henrik Larsson and Spain's Raul Gonzalez, who was third in FIFA Player of the Year voting in 2001, are other forwards hoping to vault onto the world's stage at the World Cup.

Defenders and goalkeepers only seem to draw attention when something goes wrong. But Paraguay goalkeeper Jose Luis Chilavert and Germany goalkeeper Oliver Kahn are widely recognized as two of the best.

Paraguay defender Carlos Gamarra, France's Lilian Thuram and Italy's Maldini are considered some of the toughest fullbacks.

And then there's Portugal midfielder Luis Figo, whom American fans might get to know in a hurry. The United States opens against Portugal on June 5 in a Group D match. Figo, 29, has been with the Portugese national team since 1991. He plays for Barcelona in Spain and is considered a dynamic offensive midfielder.

"I really haven't paid much attention to the other groups, but I'm certainly familiar with Portugal," U.S. coach Bruce Arena said. "Portugal clearly enters the World Cup, and especially our group, as being the most balanced attacking team. They have a lot of outstanding players."

-- Information from other news sources was used in this report.

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