Position: Defender

Born: 22.10.75

Club: Real Madrid

Salgado will hope the 2006 World Cup will finally give him the chance to shine on the international stage and demonstrate why he is nicknamed "Il Due" - The Number Two.

Inexplicably left out of Spain's squad in 2002, then injured for Euro 2004, this year's finals will only be the right-back's second major tournement.

Starting his career at Real Betis, where he won his first international cap, Salgado joined Real Madrid in 1999 where a glorious period quickly followed.

A Champions League winner in his first year with Madrid, the La Liga title followed the season after.

Salgado has subsequently won another European Cup and league title along with two Spanish Supercups and a UEFA Supepcup.

Combative and forward thinking, Salgado has long been a popular figure at the Bernabeu with his attacking raids up the right matching Roberto Carlos' on the opposite flank.

A proud Galician, the 30-year-old's partnership with David Beckham down the right has played a key role in the Englishman's success in Madrid.

Salgado missed just two matches of Spain's qualifying campaign and formed part of a defence which conceded just 5 goals in 12 games.