One. Team Figo defeated Team Iker 5-4 in their Football 7 “hope” charity game last Thursday.  Among the madridista names who participated were Zidane (above right, looking like he could still play professionally), el Buitre (one goal), Sanchís, Miguel Torres (above, left) and el Pirata (two goals, including the game winner) with Luis (one goal), and Guti (two goals), Karembeu, Hierro and Celades with Iker.

The €70,000 raised from the game are destined for Luis’ foundation, Iker’s foundation and the CSD’s (Consejo Superior de Deportes) foundation for their cultural diversity league, to be played next year.

Guti played the game wearing a pair of casual sports shoes, because “I came from Turkey and I didn’t have anything else.  In the end, all you need to do is kick the ball and so any pair of shoes will do.  I’m very happy to be in Madrid.”  Since he scored two goals, maybe he’s on to something there…  And I love the fact that Iker and Luis had little banners to exchange with each other before the game.

Watch some highlights here.  Iker smiled a lot, which is always good to see, because I love his smile lines.

Two. Meanwhile, the next charity game on our schedule is this Wednesday, in the form of the Champions for Africa game co-organized by Sergio Ramos.  He’ll be joined by four of his Madrid teammates at the game, with Gago and Canales playing for captain Sergio, and Lass and Diarra suiting up for the African team led by Frederic Kanouté.  And José Mourinho will also be there, as he’s agreed to coach team Africa.  Will he be taking notes and chewing gum during this game as well?  Tune in to see…

And the game also has the support of Fernando Torres and Pepe Reina!  Too bad El Niño won’t be able to return to play at his old stomping grounds…

Three. Speaking of Mou, in an interview with Portuguese paper Record, he said that Cristiano Ronaldo “surpassed all his expectations” and that Ángel di María had “achieved the most difficult task, winning over the Bernabéu crowd.”  High praise indeed for these two players.

Four. Injury updates:  Kaká is expected to be ready to step on the field again in early January, with the Copa game against Levante on Jan. 6 as a possible target.  Ricky has been out for about half a year since getting knee surgery in August, which was followed by four months of rehab.  He didn’t return home to Brazil over the break, opting to continue his recovery at Valdebebas.  Mou had considered calling him up for the first leg game on Dec. 22, but decided that he didn’t have the necessary rhythm yet, and thus postponed his return for two more weeks.

(Speaking of Levante, watch a cute and entertaining video of the entire team singing the Christmas carol “Hacia Belén va una burra” here.)

And Gonzalo Higuaín will return to Spain from Argentina on Jan. 3, and by Jan. 10, we’ll know whether he needs to be operated on or not for his herniated disc.  Pipita has said that his recovery is going well and that he’s better but also asked for patience.

Five. While we’re on the subject of Pipita, Madrid’s web site has posted a video in honor of his four years with the club.  It’s worth watching just to see how much our Gonzalo has changed (and definitely soooo much for the better) over the past four years, especially in the areas of hair and teeth.

And check out the photo gallery as well, because Gonzalo has been a part of some unforgettable moments in the club’s history, including that famous goal against Espanyol in the 2006-07 season which ended up with RVN parading Pipita’s shirt, and the last minute goal against Osasuna in the 2007-08 season, which ended up with Gonzalo on Fabio Cannavaro’s shoulders.  Both occasions also resulted in a visit to Cibeles.  Good memories, no?

Six. Álvaro Morata gave an interview to web site Defensa Central after the Levante game, and talked about his debut at the Bernabéu.  He said that he never imagined that the fans would chant his name, and that he got goosebumps upon hearing them.  It made him enormously happy, and he’s very grateful to Mourinho for letting him have the opportunity to play at home.  MFC added that he’s very thankful to his family, including his siblings, and girlfriend because they’ve always supported him, especially in the moments when things weren’t going well.  His desires for 2011 are for the club to continue counting on the cantera, and health for himself and the entire world.

Seven. Speaking of MFC, Pepe, who made an appearance on MarcaTV’s Minifutboleros show yesterday, said that “Morata has shown that he has the quality to be on the first team, the same as Pablo Sarabia.”  Meanwhile, both of these canteranos say that Pepe, Cristiano and Marcelo were the players who supported them the most in the days prior to their Madrid debuts.

Eight. Rubén de la Red suited up yesterday for the first time since that tragic incident in Irun, when he participated in a charity game for children with cystic fibrosis that pitted bullfighters against artists in his hometown of Móstoles (Rubén played for the bullfighters).  He ended up on the winning team, as the toreros beat the artistas 7-5, and said after the game, “Of course I haven’t forgotten how to play football!  It’s like riding a bike – once you learn it, you never forget.”  It’s great to see him vestido de corto once more!

Nine. And Xabi Alonso is honored in his hometown of Tolosa.  More on that here, including a special bonus for all of you!!!

Ten. Meanwhile, on Christmas Day, Pedro León was honored in his hometown of Mula (Murcia), where he was bestowed with the privilege of carrying out the saque de honor in a charity game between veterans and current members of Atlético Muleño.