Emmanuel Ginóbili

Argentina, home to famous futbolero Diego Maradona, has its eyes set on a new sports legend in the making – but this one dribbles with his hands. Emmanuel “Manu” Ginóbili, a sinewy six-foot-six shooting guard from Bahía Blanca, has made a name for himself with his clutch shooting and frenetic style of play. In a span of three years, Manu led the San Antonio Spurs to two NBA championships and his native country to an Olympic Gold Medal.

Obsessed with Michael Jordan as a child, Manu learned to play basketball from his father, the coach of Estudiantes de Bahía Blanca, one of Argentina's pro basketball teams. In 1996, Ginóbili played for his dad after being traded to Estudiantes, before moving on to a pro team in Italy. Although the Spurs drafted Ginóbili in 1999, he remained in Italy for another three years, winning multiple championships with Kinder Bologna.

In 2002, Ginóbili finally joined the Spurs, impressing sportswriters and fans alike with his unpredictable attack: slashing dunks, behind the back moves and reverse lay-ups. Manu's quick transition to the more aggressive NBA style helped the Spurs win championships in 2003 and 2005.

His achievements have prompted San Antonio’s Latino community to turn out in droves to support the player who is sometimes called the people’s MVP. Manu-mania is in full effect back home in Argentina, where he runs several charities. In an arena dominated by hip hop swagger, Ginóbili's humility is as endearing as his taste in music: “I'm not Mick Jagger, but I'm pretty popular.”