Cartoon of the Day: Happy New Year! Stars prepare to bring in 2013

Spain secured their place in the pages of football history, Chelsea marched to an unlikely Champions League triumph and two of the greatest players of all time have smashed yet more records. 2012 will be difficult to match.

With the fixtures in the world's major leagues wrapped up for the current calendar year, the game's biggest and brightest can celebrate a job (mostly) well done.

But there's plenty more to look forward to in 2013. Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo will carry on and, in all likelihood, reach a few more remarkable landmarks. A mouthwatering last 16 of the Champions League awaits. And, when all else fails, there's Mario Balotelli.

Messi or Ronaldo leading the line, Xavi or Pirlo pulling the strings - what is the best XI of 2012?

This year has seen plenty of individuals shine in the footballing sphere and, at the very end of 2012, now is the time to sing their praises by looking at who would make it into your best combined XI.

In Spain, Lionel Messi has broken record after record; Cristiano Ronaldo propelled Real Madrid to a Liga title once more; and Radamel Falcao's value has soared as he continues to deliver goals at Atletico Madrid.

In England, Robin van Persie has been imperious in front of goal all year; Juan Mata and Ramires were crucial to Chelsea winning the Champions League; while Vincent Kompany skippered Manchester City to their debut Premier League title.

In Italy, it will be Juventus' squad - Andrea Pirlo, Gianluigi Buffon, Giorgio Chiellini, etc - that will feature most heavily in XIs, but the sudden rise of Stephan El Shaarawy has been impressive, while Edinson Cavani keeps on looking world class for Napoli in Serie A.

In Germany, Mario Gotze and Mats Hummels were axels in Borussia Dortmund's Bundesliga-winning team, while Marco Reus has been excellent since signing in the summer; on the other hand, numerous players in Bayern Munich's team - especially the in-form Franck Ribery - could make it into best-of-2012 XIs.

Elsewhere in Europe, Paris Saint-Germain's all-star squad includes the likes of Zlatan Ibrahimovic who has been fantastic since his transfer from AC Milan; Shakhtar Donetsk's attackers might not be obvious choices but they have excelled repeatedly; and Russian sides such as Anzhi Makhachkala and Zenit St Petersburg continue to build expensively-assembled but star-studded sides.

And across the rest of the globe, Neymar continues to set the Brazilian league alight, while Didier Drogba won the Champions League for Chelsea before trotting over to China in the summer.

Goal.com asked readers what should the best XI of the year is on Twitter, and we had w ell over a thousand responses!

Shaufy Sufyan: Casillas; Zabaleta, Chiellini, Pique, A Cole; Xavi, Ozil, Pirlo; Ronaldo, Messi, Ibrahimovic.

Carlo Garganese: Buffon; Piszczek, Thiago Silva, De Rossi, Ashley Cole; Vidal, Pirlo, Iniesta; Ronaldo, Ibrahimovic, Messi.

DarkDyson: Casillas; Piszczek, Ramos, Kompany (not including this season), A Cole, Yaya Toure, Xavi, Inies ta; Ronaldo, Michu, Messi.

Puneet Lalwani: Cech; Lahm, Ramos, Kompany, A Cole; Iniesta, Yaya Toure, Ozil; Messi, Falcao, Ronaldo.

Enis Koylu: Buffon; Piszczek, Dante, Hummels, Lahm; Khedira, Pirlo; Reus, Messi, Ronaldo, Lewandowski.

Shamoxen: De Gea; Acerbi, Vidic, Chiellini, Kolarov; Sergio, Rosicky, Vidal; El Shaarawy, Rooney, Giroud.

Robin Falken: Hart; Ivanovic, Ramos, Kompany, Alba; Xavi, Alonso,, Iniesta, Ronaldo, Messi, Falcao.

Miles Chambers: Buffon; Lahm, Chiellini, Kompany, A Cole; Xavi, Pirlo; Ben Arfa, Messi, Ribery; Van Persie.

You can still get involved by leaving your best XI of 2012 in the comment section below, or you can share your ideal starting 11 by tweeting to@goal_intl with the hashtag TeamoftheYear.

Chicharito wants to prove himself at 'biggest club in the world' Manchester United

Manchester United forward Chicharito is hoping to force his way into a regular role at Old Trafford after his last-ditch winner against Newcastle.

The Mexican netted in the final minute to give the Old Trafford side a massive victory on Boxing Day which, with rivals Manchester City losing to Sunderland, puts them seven points clear at the top of the table.

The 24-year-old was granted a first-team role with both Wayne Rooney (knee) and Danny Welbeck (illness) unavailable, but the match was only his fourth start in the league this season, with the striker not yet reaching 20 league starts in a full term.

The former Chivas Guadalajara man acknowledges that Sir Alex Ferguson has other high-quality options to select but is determined to prove his worth and eventually become a regular choice.

"Ask any player in the world and they will tell you they want to play every game," he told reporters.

"But the competition here i s incredible. It is the biggest club in the world. You need to be aware there are five strikers who want to be part of the games.

"I have to prove, in one minute or 90, that I want to start."

Though he did net the eventual winner late in the game, Hernandez wasted two golden opportunities to, possibly, seal the vital three points earlier in the day.

However, the Mexican insisted that he never dwells on missed chances in order to stay focused for the next one, while stating the most important thing was that they secured victory in the end.

"I didn't have those things in my mind," he added. "You cannot afford to regret every chance you miss because if you do you will never be concentrated for the next opportunity.

"You are never going to play the perfect game. You will never score five goals from five opportunities. That is the beauty of football. The most important thing was the win because here there are no heroes.

"It doesn't matter if I score in the last minute or we score four goals. We won and Manchester City lost. That is very good news."

Wenger: Arsenal have not lost interest in Henry loan

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has revealed that he still retains an interest in a loan move for striker Thierry Henry.

The Frenchman returned to the club where he scored 226 goals over an eight-year period on a short-team deal last season, famously netting the winner in an FA Cup clash with Leeds.

And Wenger has admitted that he has not yet ruled out a third Gunners stint for Henry, with the 35-year-old's current club, the New York Red Bulls, out of action during the MLS off-season.

"I've not lost interest in him," Wenger told reporters. "I've not completely [ruled it out]. But I haven't spoken about it with him at all.

"He's still coming today to practice with us. We are very close, but at the moment I think he has had a second spell at the club that was very successful. You have to be cautious that it's not one time too many."

Beckham 'in no hurry' to join a new club

Former England captain David Beckham is in no hurry to join a new club, according to his management company.

The 37-year-old ended his five-year spell with LA Galaxy by helping them to MLS Cup glory earlier this month but has no plans to hang up his boots yet.

Beckham is said to be mulling over his option as he seeks out one last challenge to end his career and has been linked with moves to teams in France, Asia and Australia.

And his management company say he is considering "a number of serious proposals" from a "host of clubs" but warned it is "early days in the process."

"David is in no hurry to make a decision, the key is making the right one as he has always done successfully in his career," the statement continued.

"David is enjoying spending quality time with his family over the holidays."

Cruyff or Zidane in midfield, Maradona or Pele in attack - what is the greatest XI of all time?

Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are widely considered two of the best players currently plying their trade on the global stage, but would they fit into your greatest XI of all time?

In goal, some might root for the only shot-stopper to win European Player of the Year, Lev Yashin, while many might pick a more modern alternative such as Peter Schmeichel, Oliver Kahn or Gianluigi Buffon.

Defenders are often overlooked when it comes to choosing the greatest players in history, but Franco Baresi, Franz Beckenbauer, Paolo Maldini and Roberto Carlos are all household names who - at their peak - would be the star of many a team.

The likes of Zinedine Zidane, Johan Cruyff and Michel Platini have helped ensure that Europe has a rich history of midfielders, though there are names from across the globe worthy of a place in any best-of-all-time midfield.

And in attack there is an embarrassment of riches when it comes to deciding who to put in one 's team. Eusebio, Diego Maradona, Pele, Ronaldo (the Brazilian striker, not his Portuguese namesake), Gerd Muller and so many more leave even the most decisive football fanatic scratching their head as they try to decide who to pick.

Should an illustrious, silverware-filled career boost your chances of getting into the team? Or should those with trophy cabinets bursting at the seams not gain an advantage, and the choice be purely based on skill?

And what formation would you opt to deploy - a balanced 4-4-2, a fluid 4-3-3 or a 3-4-3 so that you can pile in as many attacking players as possible?

As a fun festive activity, Goal.com asked readers what should the greatest XI of all time is on Twitter, and we had well over a thousand responses!

Goal.com editor Carlo Garganese started the debate by tweeting his ideal 11, which featured players who would prove to crop up on a regular basis such as Maradona and Maldini, and shout outs for less frequent options such as ex-Selecao midfielder Roberto Rivelino. His XI in full: Buffon; Djalma Santos, Baresi, Maldini, Zanetti; Matthaus, Xavi, Rivelino; Platini; Maradona, Eusebio.

Featuring a team consisting of only those he has seen play consistently, The Bandwagoner has picked a meaty mix of stars who have plied their trade at either Real Madrid, Barcelona or AC Milan. His XI in full: Casillas; Cafu, Cannavaro, Hierro, Maldini; Makelele, Zidane, Iniesta; Messi, Raul, Cristiano.

Skipper of the Uruguay squad which won the 1950 World Cup, Obdulio Varela was a very uncommon (but canny) choice by Goal.com's South American expert Rupert Fryer. His XI in full: Zoff; Cafu, Baresi, Beckenbauer, Maldini; Varela, Matthaus; Messi, Cruyff, Maradona; Ronaldo.

A tweeter by the name of 'WORST' picked a slightly different (but still packed with superb stars) XI to many. His side is crammed full of those who impressed in Serie A over the last 20 years, and Roberto Baggio, Edgar Davids and Andrea Barzagli got rare nominations to be included. His XI in full: Buffon; Zanetti, Thuram, Barzagli, Maldini; Pirlo, Nedved, Davids, Zidane; Baggio, Ibrahimovic.

Goal.com's social media guru Joe Wright was one of the few to plump for Redondo in midfield, whil e Ronaldo (de Lima, not Cristiano) makes his second appearance on this list! His XI in full: Schmeichel; Cafu, Thuram, Maldini, Zanetti; Rivaldo, Redondo, Zidane; Ronaldinho, Messi, Ronaldo.

Ronaldinho was a name which sneaked into quite a few line-ups, while Deco and Alessandro Nesta creeped into a surprising amount of suggested sides. However, The Aficionado was surely the only person to tweet Steve McManaman in his selection! His XI in full: Vi tor Baia; Cafu, Nesta, Maldini, Roberto Carlos; Vieira, Deco, Ronaldinho; McManaman, Ronaldo, Nedved.

Goal.com's Dutch expert Stefan Coerts opted to put Manchester United and England legend Bobby Charlton in midfield, while a left-field pick is former Netherlands centre mid Willem van Hanegem. His XI in full: Yashin; Thuram, Beckenbauer, Maldini, Facchetti; Charlton, Xavi, Van Hanegem; Maradona; Cruyff, Pele.

Chris James thought he might have been a bit late with his submission, but his solid side - which features a rare nod for ex-Three Lions goalkeeper Gordon Banks and two-time Brazilian World Cup winner Garrincha - has earned his line-up a mention. His XI in full: Banks; Cafu, Beckenbauer, Baresi, Maldini, Mattaius, Zidane, Maradona; Pele, Messi, Garrincha.

You can still get involved by leaving your best ever XI in the comment section below, or you can share your ideal starti ng 11 by tweeting to@goal_intl with the hashtag greatestXI.

Goal.com's bumper festive quiz: Part two starring Cristiano Ronaldo

Temperatures may be plummeting but the Premier League season is certainly hotting up as the hectic Christmas programme of matches now hits full swing.

Away from the drama on the pitch and your traditional Christmas dinner at home, though, we have some more content to get your teeth into!

All in the name of some festive fun, Goal.com have produced a bumper festive quiz! We are running a mini-quiz every day from Monday to Friday, with pictures, trivia and football-based brainteasers.

Read on for part one and have a go at the questions, leaving your answers in the comments box below. Enjoy!

GUESS THE YEAR



What year was the above picture of Cristiano Ronaldo taken?

GUESS TH E LINK



What is the link between the three men in this picture?

GUESS THE KIT



Which team is this?

TRIVIA

Who is the only current Premier League player to have scored for six different top-flight teams?

Nicky Barmby, Les Ferdinand, Craig Bellamy, Marcus Bent, Andy Cole and Robbie Keane are the former Premier League players who have achieved the feat.

Check back on Wednesday for round three of our fun festive quiz!