Birthday Boy: Eric Abidal

What makes yesterdy's match suck even more is that on his birthday, Eric Abidal as well as his team were unfortunately sadly off form. I wish it could have been a better night for him, but in any case, best of birthday wishes, Abi!

He's an extraordinary player, tremendously solid in his defending and hardly ever not showing up to games. At thirty one he's as great a fullback as ever, and over the past couple of years has been seriously improving as he gets older, instead of falling back. With nothing to say that the tides will be turned anytime soon, he's an indespensible part of the team and I'm so glad we've got him. Hope he has yet another awesome year and many more to come!

Birthday Boy: Gabriel Milito

Gabriel Milito's birthday was yesterday and he turned thirty; best belated birthday wishes, Gabi! I'm sure it was a fabulous birthday seeing as his national team gave Spain a 4-1 thrashing on the special day; what better triumph is there than being the first team to beat the newly crowned world champions, and by a comfortable margin at that?

Having this curly-haired cherub of an Argentine on Barca is pretty awesome. I was missing him sorely during his over-a-year of injury absence, the prolonged period making his eventual return last season an even bigger joy without leaving him with much of a post-injury hangover. At thirty his game is still as hot as ever, with no signs of regression. Keep it up Gabi, I hope this season - set to be your first full season since the accursed injury - is as amazing as possible!

Birthday Boy: Bojan

It's really hard to believe that Bojan is actually twenty today. It seems like just yesterday he was a sixteen year old mite making his pioneer debut for the senior squad and scoring in that same friendly against Al-Ahly...

Of course twenty is still totally young, but it just feels strange because he's always been the baby of the team, Barca's adorable and amazing teen wonder since the day he broke into the first team. Now he's officially not a teen anymore, but he's still every bit as amazing and more. And I don't think I'll ever stop calling him Baby Bo even when he's thirty.

Bojan is the cutest thing ever to happen to Barcelona, and having him on the team has been a tremendous joy over the past three years. I really couldn't imagine Barca without him. Have an incredible twentieth, Baby Bo!

Birthday Boy: Maxwell

It's Maxwell's birthday today, and the dude turns 29. Really? It doesn't seem like he's that old, but anyway - happy birthday, Max!

Signing Max a year ago was such a cool move, and I've loved him ever since. Not just because he's totally cute, but because he fits right into this team while bringing an alternative twist to the leftback position in that he's attack oriented, in contrast to Abidal who plays the positon more defensively. He gives the team that diversity and that freshness, and he's never stopped improving ever since he came here. Maxwell, having you on the team is a delight, have a rockin' birthday!

Birthday Boy: Pedro

I must apologize for the lack of updates over the past couple of days, but I haven't had time and I hope everyone will understand that summertime is busy time, and I never know when I'm going to have the chance to get online... once my semester starts I'll be updating much more regularly, so bear with me until then.

To the point: Yesterday our beloved Prince Pedro turned twenty-three, and like Busi, he's on top of the world at that green age, and I'm talking on every level you can think of.

Internationally, he was called up to the Spain NT for the first time in his life to participate in the World Cup, played and started his share of the matches including the final, and was crowned world champion in the end.

Domestically, he finished his debut season with Barca as a starter and the second top scorer of the team behind Messi, scoring one of the most memorable goals of the season along the way.

Plus he's like, the cutest thing imaginable. His year has been perfect, so let's hope the coming ones are as great! (I would say better, but let's face it, there's no topping the World Cup). Best wishes to him!

Birthday Boy: Sergio Busquets

Happy Birthday to Sergio Busquets, who turns twenty-two today! At such a young age he's on top of the world, being the youngest player on the Spanish side that won the World Cup, and having a good part in achieving the victory, too. Best wishes to him!