With voting for the uefa.com users' Team of 2008 now into its final week, uefa.com has asked some of the game's top stars to select their best XI, starting with FC Barcelona's Lionel Messi. Do you agree with his picks?

Portsmouth FC striker Jermain Defoe is expected to complete his return to Tottenham Hotspur FC today subject to a medical after the two sides agreed terms on an as yet undisclosed transfer fee for the 26-year-old.

Roberto Carlos has told the UEFA Training Ground that his ex-Real Madrid CF team-mate David Beckham is the best free-kick exponent he has ever seen as the England international kicks off his loan spell with AC Milan.

While 2008 was a memorable and momentous year for UEFA on a variety of levels 2009 promises to have a wealth of excitement and innovative developments, with the Nordic nations taking centre stage in the summer.

Supreme in France for the last seven seasons, Olympique Lyonnais owe much of their success to an excellent youth academy, which has spawned the likes of Karim Benzema and continues to feed the club's future.

Zoran Tošić said he would "not waste the opportunity of being a member of the greatest football family" as he aims to emulate compatriot Nemanja Vidić and become an integral member of Manchester United FC's squad.

The prospect of facing Kaká or Ronaldinho is enough to strike fear into any manager, but how do you repel one of the world's best playmakers? There are few better qualified to tackle this than Sweden coach Lars Lagerbäck.

NK Dinamo Zagreb are again facing a spring without European football and, with HNK Hajduk Split breathing down their neck in Croatia, have spent more than €4m on Adrián Calello, Miroslav Slepička and Ilija Sivonjić.

They may be among the Bundesliga's top scorers but VfL Wolfsburg have further boosted their striking reserves by signing Japanese international Yoshito Okubo from Vissel Kobe for a transfer worth in the region of €2m.

UEFA Women's Cup semi-finalists Olympique Lyonnais have shown their intent to take their first European title with the signings of Norway midfielder Ingvild Stensland and Swiss international Lara Dickenman.

Polish international Łukasz Garguła admitted he was looking forward to a welcome rest after Ekstraklasa leaders Wisła Kraków won the race for the GKS Bełchatów midfielder's signature, the player agreeing a five-year deal.

UEFA Futsal Cup semi-finalists Interviú Madrid began 2009 by lifting their first trophy of the year by retaining the Spanish Super Cup at the weekend with victories against Benicarló FS and hosts Caja Segovia FS.

France international midfielder Yoann Gourcuff has been a revelation at FC Girondins de Bordeaux this term, catching the eye during his team's UEFA Champions League campaign following a disappointing spell with AC Milan.

VfB Stuttgart have announced the departure of the experienced Mexican international Pável Pardo with immediate effect after the 32-year-old was offered the chance of returning to his homeland by former side CF América.

While cold weather has hampered preparations on the pitch ahead of the Premijer Liga resumption, off it clubs have been busy, with Mehmed Janjoš's appointment at FK Sarajevo one of a number of coaching changes.

Precociousness has marked Andrew Hogg's career since making his league debut aged 16, though having already established himself as a Malta's No1, the English-born goalkeeper is not about to rest on his laurels.

Real Madrid CF moved into joint-third in Spain as Arjen Robben's goal was enough for the champions to beat Villarreal CF 1-0 while Sevilla FC missed the chance to reclaim second place following a 1-1 draw with CA Osasuna.

Manchester United FC enjoyed a 3-0 success at Southampton FC to reach the fourth round of the FA Cup while their Premier League rivals Aston Villa FC were made to work harder in their 2-1 victory over Gillingham FC.

Bayer 04 Leverkusen midfielder Bernd Schneider, capped 81 times by Germany, has returned to training for the first time in nearly nine months after undergoing back surgery.

Olympique de Marseille fought back from a goal down at fourth-division Besançon RC to eventually win through on penalties in the French Cup and set up a potential round of 32 meeting with holders Olympique Lyonnais.