It's been a whirlwind 2012 for Icons in which we've conducted signings with old friends Leo Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, met with legends like Eric Cantona and Brazilian Ronaldo and struck up new partnerships with the amazing Pep Guardiola and Neymar. And on top of all that, we've just had our busiest Christmas ever. But what does 2013 have in store?

We're kicking off the new year in style this evening (a little early, we know) with the launch of our January Sale, slashing prices on our stunning range of signed memorabilia from the world's best players by up to 50%. Check back from 6pm GMT tonight (24 December) for:

• £50 off signed signed Leo Messi Barcelona 2012-13 season shirts and boots
• Up to £150 off signed Cristiano Ronaldo products
• 20% off our entire Preframed selection including signed framed items from the likes of Gareth Bale, Luis Suarez and Olympian Jess Ennis.
• £100 off selected Andres Iniesta signed memorabilia

Is there a more exciting player to have emerged from 2012 than Neymar? The 20-year-old has packed more into three years as a top level professional than most players manage in their entire careers, this year making the leap from next big thing status to global superstar. Here's a reminder of his biggest and best moments from the past 12 months...

Goal of the year winner (8 January)

When Neymar was named winner of the 2012 FIFA Puskas award at the start of the year, beating a Leo Messi chip and that Wayne Rooney bicycle kick to the prize, it made a household name of the young Brazilian, putting him firmly on the radar of Chelsea, Barcelona, Manchester United and Real Madrid, who continued to track him across the year. (Find on YouTube)

100th career goal (vs Palmeiras, 5 February)

Neymar joined the 100 club in February, scoring Santos' only goal in a 2-1 Campeonato defeat to Palmeiras, despite his tender age. The match was his 186th appearance for club and country, giving him a strike rate of 0.53 goals per game - astonishing for a player still in development. To celebrate the landmark, his team mates opted to not make him a cake, but cover him in cake ingredients in the changing room after the match. As you do. (Find on YouTube)

Hat trick hero (vs Internacional, 7 March)

On the same night that Leo Messi scored his famous five goals in one game against Bayer Leverkusen, his Brazilian counterpart was not about to be outdone, smashing home a sensational hat trick to deny Santos' fiercest rivals Internacional the points. It was a performance so big even Neymar himself was dumbfounded. "I cannot explain what I did tonight. I need to watch the TV to see what I did on the field. I knew I dribbled past a lot of rivals. That's the only thing I know," the 20-year-old told Globo TV. (Find on YouTube)

Olympic star (vs Mexico, 10 August)

Neymar scored three times in six games to propel Brazil to a final at Wembley in front of 86,000 people at London 2012. He may not have been able to stop a determined Mexico from a suprise win in the final but that was little to detract from what was an excellent tournament for the youngster, unleashing some dazzling tricks on mesmerised British crowds and further cementing his reputation as one of the fastest rising football talents around. (Find on YouTube)

Another goal of the year award awaits... (vs Flamengo, 13 September)

A wonder strike against Ronaldinho's Flamengo for Santos, featuring a deft flick around an opponent and a mazing run through the opposition defence, is the hot favourite for this year's Puskas prize, rounding a brilliant 2012 for Neymar. Can the 20-year-old win two in a row? The bigger question, as 2013 looms, however, is how long till a move to Europe where his incredible talents will really be put to the test... (Find on Youtube)

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Check out Icons' amazing range of signed Neymar memorabilia, available in time for Christmas - click here to buy!

Follow Icons on Twitter for all the latest football news, chat and competitions: @icons_football

Boas Festas! For the non-Portugese speaking among you, that's how you'd say Merry Christmas in Brazil (according to a quick Google search, anyway). The festive season is fast approaching, a time during which signed memorabilia from our fantastic roster of Brazilian superstars is always a big seller at Icons. But where to start? Here's just a few of the great Brazil products we have on offer...

Neymar

What a year it's been for the 20-year-old striker Pele predicts is going to dominate global football over the next decade. The rising star began 2011 by winning the FIFA Puskas Goal of the Year award before going on to help his club to their third consecutive title, scoring 44 goals in 41 appearances en route. Then of course he starred in the London 2012 Olympic Games and earned the attention of Chelsea, Barcelona and Real Madrid, if newspaper reports are to be believed. Icons flew to Sao Paulo to meet with Neymar in October and came back with a limited edition collection of signed memorabilia including Brazil shirts and photos, not to mention autographed pictures of the player in action for Santos.

View our entire Neymar range.

Ronaldo

There's a reason people talk about Ronaldo as the greatest striker of all time. The record World Cup goalscorer is as loved today as he was when he was tormenting defences wearing the famous yellow and green of Brazil. In 2012 Icons conducted our fourth signing with the legend, who spent spells at Barcelona, Inter Milan, AC Milan, Real Madrid and more. Check out our signed Brazil shirts and photos or for those wanting to commemorate his incendiary time at Camp Nou, we have sublime signed photos of the man during his Barca days.

View our entire Ronaldo range

...and there's plenty more where that came from. Check out our entire collection of signed Brazil memorabilia, including names like Pele and Kaka.

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Follow Icons on Twitter for all the latest football news, chat and competitions: @icons_football

Goals. We've not been short of them in 2012. Between Leo Messi's 76 strikes to date this year and a frenzied 88-goal  European Championship it's been a vintage year for goalscorers. But which one of 2012's many glorious strikes should be named Goal of the Year in FIFA's annual Puskas prize on January 7?

The nominees have been announced - now let the Icons team guide you through who they each think deserves to win..

Ben Soley - Neymar (Santos vs. Internacional)

"His pace looks blistering and he shows great control at that speed. Falcao is a close second just because he looked like he meant it and it was on his laces."

Javier Urrutia - Radamel Falcao (Atletico Madrid vs. America de Cali)

"It's amazing skill. I think he deserves the recognition because he's having an exceptional season. But Zlatan Ibrahimovic's goal against England should be in the list - it's maybe the best overhead kick in history!"

Al Horner - Leo Messi (Argentina vs. Brazil)

"The most amazing thing about the nominated Messi strike is it's the sort of thing he pulls off week in week out. Otherwise, I love Neymar but Hatem Ben Arfa's goal pips the Brazilian's for me - he travels further and beats more players."

Margaret Plunkett - Santi Cazorla (Arsenal vs. West Ham)

"Call me biased but I can't believe no Arsenal goals have been nominated. Santi Cazorla's goal against West Ham was something special. From the list, I'd pick Neymar or Falcao."

Dan Jamieson - Neymar (Santos vs. Internacional)

"I love it when people dribble the length of the field. Diego Maradona, George Weah... and Bruno off my Sunday League team of course."

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Follow Icons on Twitter for all the latest football news, chat and competitions: @icons_football

We, like you, can't wait for the new season. The transfer window brings with it some modicum of excitement, but there are only so many "Xavi Loves Fabregas" headlines we can digest before we start pining for some footy.

But since it is the speculation season, we've decided to embrace the rumour mill. After all, it pays to know who you want to see Icons secure the signatures of, so we did a bit of our own scouting and found out which players have been linked with the top English clubs. Last week, we posted a poll on our Facebook page to find out who our followers would like to see gracing our shores come August. 

The results were interesting, but hardly surprising. The most in demand player amongst fans this summer is Inter Milan's Wesley Sneijder. He's been linked with a big money move to Manchester United as a replacement for this week's Icons Legend of the Week, Paul Scholes.

Sir Alex Ferguson has since tried to distance himself from the reports, but we all know that means nothing. Don't be surprised if the Dutch midfielder is plying his trade at Old Trafford next season.

Here is the top ten:

1. Wesley Sneijder (Inter Milan and Holland)

2. Sergio Aguero (Atletico Madrid and Argentina)

3. Neymar Santos (Santos and Brazil)

4. Juan Mata (Valencia and Spain)

5. Eden Hazard (Lille and Belgium)

6. Radamel Falcao (Porto and Colombia)

7. Diego Forlan (Atletico Madrid and Uruguay)

8. Sergio Canales (Real Madrid and Spain)

9. Kaká (Real Madrid and Brazil)

10. Javier Pastore (Palermo and Argentina)

Keep looking out for more polls and fun giveaways on our Facebook and Twitter feeds!

Tim Vickery, the BBC's South American correspondent, has a surefire way to avoid being wrong, with his oft recited adage of: "Always make your predictions after the event." Well call us foolhardy, but we in the Icons office love a good prediction and having built up towards tonight's Copa America opener all week, we've been itching to throw in our two cents. Not only that, but we've been rifling through our battered old contacts book (well, Twitter) and enlisting some of the most respected names in sports journalism and blogging to offer theirs, too. They're a brave lot, unafraid of eggy faces and we'd like to thank them all for participating. Why don't you let us know your thoughts on the footballing carnival of the summer? Tweet us, or get us on Facebook, but before doing so, you might want to brush up on your tournament knowledge with Parts One, Two and Three of our Copa America 2011 preview. Also, don't forget to check out our fantastic Copa America competition, where you can win a signed Messi boot and the Copa America section of our online store. Now, let's get on with it.

Dan Jamieson 

Dan is the Managing Director of Icons. He is also player / chairman of Grantchester Road and a lifelong Liverpool fan.

Winner: Chile
Runner Up: Uruguay
Top Scorer: Luis Suarez (Uruguay)

Ben Soley 

Ben is the Icons Marketing and Promotions Executive and another Liverpool fan (they're everywhere!).

Winner: Brazil
Runner Up: Argentina
Top Scorer: Neymar (Brazil)

Finbarr Bermingham

Finbarr is the editorial intern at Icons, the guy who mans the Twitter desk and an Arsenal supporter.

Winner: Uruguay
Runner Up: Argentina
Top Scorer: Radamel Falcao (Colombia)

Follow Finbarr on Twitter

Jonathan Wilson

Jonathan is the author of three books about football, Behind The Curtain: Travels in Eastern European Football, Inverting the Pyramid: A History of Football Tactics and The Anatomy of England: A History in Ten Matches. He is the editor of The Blizzard and writes regularly for The Guardian, Sports Illustrated, The Independent and many more. He is an occasional guest on the Guardian's Football Weekly podcast and the BBC's World Football Phone In.

Winner: Brazil
Runner Up: Uruguay
Top Scorer: Alexandre Pato (Brazil)

Follow Jonathan on Twitter

Kat Petersen

Kat is a sub-editor of the aforementioned Blizzard and is currently accompanying Jonathan at the Copa America.

Winner: Brazil
Runner Up: Uruguay
Top Scorer: Alexandre Pato (Brazil)

Andy Brassell

Andy is a football journalist and an expert on European football. He works for the BBC as their European football correspondent, appearing regularly on the World Football Phone In on 5Live and on BBC World's World Football Review. He also writes for ESPN Soccernet, The Blizzard, The Independent and many more. He is the author of the book All or Nothing: A Season in the Life of the Champions League.

Winner: Brazil
Runner Up: Mexico
Top Scorer: Falcao (Colombia)

Follow Andy on Twitter

Luke Moore

Luke is a writer, producer, broadcaster and pundit. He is a co-founder, co-producer and co-presenter of The Football Ramble and has appeared on ESPN's Talk of the Terrace, BBC Radio London, BBC 5Live, ITV.com and Sky News.

Winner: Brazil
Runner Up: Argentina
Top Scorer: Humberto Suazo (Chile)

Follow Luke on Twitter

Marcus Speller 

Marcus is the presenter and broadcaster of The Football Ramble. He has occasionally appeared on Sky News as a pundit and is also a stand up comedian.

Winner: Argentina
Runner Up: Brazil
Top Scorer: Humberto Suazo (Chile)

Follow Marcus on Twitter

Dan Brennan

Dan is the owner of Libero Language Lab, which provides translation services to the sports industry. He also writes for FourFourTwo, When Saturday Comes, Champions, World Soccer Digest and other publications.

Winner: Argentina
Runner Up: Brazil
Top Scorer: Leo Messi (Argentina)

Follow Dan on Twitter

Guillem Balagué

Guillem is a football journalist and a regular pundit of Sky Sports' Revisita de la Liga. He has contributed to The Times, The Observer and The Metro and is renowned for breaking transfer stories via his personal website

Winner: Argentina
Runner Up: Brazil
Top Scorer: Leo Messi (Argentina)

Follow Guillem on Twitter

Paolo Bandini

Paolo works for the Guardian's sports desk and writes weekly columns on Serie A and the NFL. You can hear him regularly on the Guardian's Football Weekly podcast

Winner: Argentina
Runner Up: Uruguay
Top Scorer: Edison Cavani (Uruguay)

Follow Paolo on Twitter

Rupert Fryer

Rupert is a journalist and a South American football expert. He is the editor of the South American Football website and writes for the Guardian, The Observer, The Football Ramble, Goal.com, Sport 360 and Fox Soccer

Winner: Brazil
Runner Up: Uruguay
Top Scorer: Neymar (Brazil)

Follow Rupert on Twitter

Iain MacIntosh

Iain is a football journalist who writes for the New Paper (Singapore), Sports Illustrated, The Irish Examiner and OPM. He appears on the Red, White and Blue podcast.

Winner: Brazil
Runner Up: Uruguay
Top Scorer: Neymar (Brazil)

Follow Iain on Twitter

Adrian Clarke

Adrian is a former Arsenal player and a football journalist. He is the former news editor of Icons and has co-commentated for Arsenal TV. He is the owner of Sport Media Solutions.

Winner: Uruguay
Runner Up: Brazil
Top Scorer: Neymar (Brazil)

Follow Adrian on Twitter

Scott Wilson

Scott is the Chief Sports Writer for The Northern Echo

Winner: Brazil
Runner Up: Uruguay
Top Scorer: Alexandre Pato (Brazil)

Follow Scott on Twitter

Huw Davies

Huw is a staff writer, blogger and sub-editor at Four Four Two and the author of The Week Spot blog.

Winner: Argentina
Runner Up: Mexico
Top Scorer: Alexis Sanchez

Follow Huw on Twitter

John Timmins

John is a Senior Designer for London 2010 Olympics and the goalkeeper for Grantchester Road FC.

Winner: Argentina
Runner Up: Mexico 
Top Scorer: Neymar (Brazil)

Dr Lee Watson

Dr Watson is the agent of Guillem Balagué.

Winner: Uruguay 
Runner Up: Argentina
Top Scorer: Edison Cavani (Uruguay)

Simon Jalie

Simon is a freelance journalist and La Liga expert who writes for Soccer International.

Winner: Argentina
Runner Up: Brazil
Top Scorer: Leo Messi (Argentina)

Follow Simon on Twitter

Daniel Colasimone

Daniel is a football writer and the editor of Argentina Football World.

Winner: Argentina
Runner Up: Unspecified
Top Scorer: Leo Messi (Argentina)

Follow Daniel on Twitter

James Appell

James is a sports writer, travel journalist and Russiaphile. He writes for ITV and The Football Ramble.

Winner: Argentina
Runner Up: Brazil
Top Scorer: Edison Cavani (Uruguay)

Follow James on Twitter

David Hartrick

David is the co-editor of the football website In Bed With Maradona.

Winner: Brazil
Runner Up: Argentina
Top Scorer: Neymar (Brazil)

Follow David on Twitter

Sam Kelly

Sam is a Buenos Aires based football writer who contributes to ESPN Soccernet, When Saturday Comes and In Bed With Maradona. He is also the producer of the Hand of Pod podcast.

Winner: Brazil
Runner Up: Argentina
Top Scorer: Luis Suarez (Uruguay)

Follow Sam on Twitter

David Cartlidge

David is a Spanish football expert and co-editor of Spanish Football.

Winner: Brazil
Runner Up: Uruguay
Top Scorer: Neymar (Brazil)

Follow David on Twitter

Mark Sylvester 

Mark is a freelance football journalist who writes for BT Vision. He was the ghostwriter of Henrik Larsson's biography

Winner: Argentina
Runner Up: Chile
Top Scorer: Carlos Tevez (Argentina)

Carl Lyons

Carl is the Marketing Director of Top Table

Winner: Argentina
Runner Up: Uruguay
Top Scorer:.Leo Messi (Argentina)

Dale Robinson

Dale is a Global Marketing Executive for TOFFS, the world's leading supplier of retro football shirts.

Winner: Uruguay
Runner Up: Colombia
Top Scorer: Radamel Falcao (Colombia)

James McDaid

James is the editor of the 2Footed football blog.

Winner: Brazil
Runner Up: Argentina
Top Scorer: Diego Forlan (Uruguay)

Follow James on Twitter

Ghost Goal

Ghost Goal is a football website edited by Oli Baker and Adam Bate. The pair started the site after growing frustrated at the perceived narrow scope of the mainstream football media. Ghost Goal was named as one of the Guardian's 100 Best Football Blogs and the pair have written for ITV, When Saturday Comes, CalcioItalia, Soccerlens, In Bed With Maradona and more.

Winner: Argentina
Runner Up: Brazil
Top Scorer: Edison Cavani

Follow Ghost Goal on Twitter

Laura England

Laura is the main buyer of Sports Endeavours, the US soccer partner of Icons

Winner: Argentina
Runner Up: Uruguay
Top Scorer: Falcao

Yesterday, we kicked off our coverage of the Copa America with a preview of Group A, featuring Argentina, Colombia, Bolivia and Costa Rica. Today, the focus shifts to Group B, featuring bookies' second favourites Brazil. Let's see what the group has in store. Don't forget, you can view our full range of Copa America merchandise by visiting our main site. 

Brazil

The history: Despite being the most successful nation on the global stage, Brazil have historically flattered to deceive at continental level. They've won just eight Championships, compared with 14 each for Uruguay and Argentina. That said, four of those eight have come in the last five editions, with the Brazilians winning each of the last two. They will be going into the tournament with every intention of improving on a disappointing 2010 World Cup in South Africa, so write them off at your peril.

The star players: All the talk in the run up to this one has been about the boy wonder, Neymar Santos (pictured above after scoring recently against Scotland). As he looks set to seal a big money move abroad, the Copa America could prove to be the perfect shopping window. Along with captain Lucio, Robinho, whose early career followed a similar trajectory to Neymar, is the most experienced member of the squad. He has just undergone a season of rejuvenation under Massimiliano Allegri at AC Milan and the pair together could be dynamite.

One to watch: Scouts had been flocking to Brazil to see Paulo Henrique Ganso turn out for Santos until a long term knee injury struck him down last summer. On the comeback trail, he's been linked with a big money move to Milan in January. Tall, elegant and with a sublime touch, we're hoping Ganso will show us what all the fuss is about in Argentina.

Impress your mates: Brazil's former coach Dunga is so called because that's the Portuguese for Dopey. His uncle coined the name when Dunga was a kid as he believed he'd never grow beyond the size of Snow White's favourite Dwarf.

Ecuador

The history: Not only have Ecuador failed to win the Copa America, they've never even made the final. Their best performance was reserved for 1993's tournament, when they reached the last four as the hosts. The statistic is surprising, considering the Ecuador side of the past ten years is widely regarded as their best ever. But with many of them now in retirement, it's a team in transition.

The star players: The squad is largely home based, but there are a couple of names that fans of European football will recognise. Luis Antonio Valencia (above) is their star man and having impressed on his return from injury towards the end of Manchester United's season, he'll be hoping for a busy tournament. Top scorer Christian Benitez, too, has a point to prove, following an indifferent spell on loan at Birmingham City two seasons ago. 

One to watch: Eyebrows were raised when Sven-Goran Eriksson splashed out £5million on Felipe Caicedo in 2008. He failed to make an impact at Manchester City, but has impressed many since his move to Spain, where his goals kept Levante in La Liga. Keep your eyes peeled for the big front man.

Impress your mates: Ecuadorian football was rocked in the build up to the 2006 World Cup when the team's doctor was found to be 'people smuggling' by issuing fake visas to people trying to escape the country, under the national team banner. 

Paraguay

The history: Paraguay have won the Copa America twice: way back in 1953 and 1979 and have failed to make the Semi Final since 1989. After making the World Cup Quarter Final last year, though, they will be hoping to maintain their good tournament form.

The star player: Despite his stalled career in England, Roque Santa Cruz is the darling of the Paraguayan faithful. We're excited to see Lucas Barrios (pictured), though. Born in Argentina, he gained Paraguayan citizenship just before the World Cup and has just had an excellent season in Germany, helping Borussia Dortmund waltz to the Bundesliga title.

One to watch: Paraguay have triumphed at the Milk Cup, one of the world's premier youth tournaments, three times in the last ten years and the current squad is built around those teams. Having spent his formative years in Germany, we're looking to Nelson Valdez (now 27) to make good on the promise of his youth.

Impress your mates: One of Paraguay's star players, the prolific Salvador Cabanas, was shot in the head in the run up to the 2010 World Cup, whilst in a bar in Mexico City. Cabanas has not played since.

Venezuela

The history: Venezuela have traditionally been the runt of the South American litter, having never qualified for a World Cup and only making out of the Copa America group stages once (2007 - as hosts). Development of football in the northerly nation has been impressive, though, with investment in infrastructure coinciding with real progression in player quality.

The star players: The undisputed star of Venezuelan football is Juan Arango, who is now plying his trade with Borussia Monchengladbach having spent five successful years with Real Mallorca in Spain. As captain and talisman, Arango will need to be at his inspired best if Venezuela are to progress.

One to watch: Well, two actually. Our attention has been drawn to a couple of starlets in the Venezuelan squad: namely José Rondón and Yohandry Orozco. Rondón was one of the bright sparks in a disappointing season for newly minted Malaga in Spain's La Liga, whereas Orozco has been snapped up by Felix Magath's Wolfsburg in Germany.

Impress your mates: Between their initial entry to the series in 1966 and their defeat of Ecuador in 1994, Venezuela registered only one victory in South America's World Cup Qualifiers. The win came over Bolivia in 1982.

Keep reading to get our final group preview tomorrow and don't forget to enter our fantastic Copa America competition this way.