Happy Birthday Stevie G

The man. The myth. The legend.

In speaking about Steven Gerrard, Zinedine Zidane was quoted as saying, "he has great passing ability, can tackle and scores goals, but most importantly he gives the players around him confidence and belief. You can't learn that – players like him are just born with that presence." Present, an apt descriptor for the greatest player of Liverpool's modern generation, one whose impact extends well beyond the stat sheet.

Though he lacks the dramatic style of many of his contemporaries, Gerrard has always made up for it with a mastery of the moment. Whether he's unleashing a bone-rattling tackle or blasting a long distance strike that looks like it was shot of out of foot cannon, he puts the big in big game. I mean seriously? Today, as he celebrates his 32nd birthday preparing for Euro 2012, Liverpool fans are left wondering if they'll ever see their legend in those moments again.