Neymar, Ronaldo, Tevez, Hagi and Maldini... why February 5 is a special day for football

Any footy-mad dads who have welcomed a son into the world today have another reason to celebrate as February 5 has been the birth date for some of the world's top players.
Real Madrid and former Manchester United winger Cristiano Ronaldo, Brazilian superstar Neymar, former Barcelona forward Gheorghe Hagi, Manchester City striker Carlos Tevez and Italian legend Cesare Maldini all share the same birthday.
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Snap happy: Neymar tweeted picture of him with birthday cake at the team hotel today

Special one: Cristiano Ronaldo receives congratulations for his birthday from the fans

But Ronaldo's special day was slightly soured when he was taunted with chants of 'Messi, Messi' - in support of Barcelona rival Lionel Messi - as he signed autographs for fans in Portugal after arriving in the country for Wednesday's friendly against Ecuador.

Also celebrating today are former England and Manchester City manager Sven Goran Eriksson, ex-Scotland striker Billy Dodds, former Arsenal and Rangers midfielder Giovanni van Bronckhorst, ex-Australia centre forward John Aloisi and Vedran Corluka, the Lokomotiv Moscow and Croatia defender who used to play for Manchester City and Tottenham.

Birthday boys: Neymar (left) and Carlos Tevez (right)

Happy returns: Former Romania and Barcelona star Gheorghe Hagi (right)

Birthday boys

Cesare Maldini (football) - Former Italy coach, born 1932.
Sven-Goran Eriksson (football) - Former England and Manchester City manager, now technical director at Al Nasr, born 1948.
Gheorghe Hagi (football) - Former Romania and Barcelona striker, now retired, born 1965.
Jose Maria Olazabal (golf) - Double US Masters champion and victorious European Ryder Cup captain in 2012, born 1966.
Marcus Gronholm (motor racing) - Double World Rally champion, now retired, born 1968.
Billy Dodds (football) - Former Scotland striker, born 1969.
Giovanni van Bronckhorst (football) - Former Arsenal and Rangers midfielder, born 1975.
John Aloisi (football) - Australia international and former Coventry striker, now manager of Melbourne Heart, born 1976.
Carlos Tevez (football) - Manchester City and Argentina striker, born 1984.
Cristiano Ronaldo (football) - Real Madrid and Portugal winger, born 1985.
Vedran Corluka (football) - Lokomotiv Moscow defender, formerly with Tottenham, born 1986.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/.

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