by Michael Sawh

Created on: August 22, 2007

Goals, goals, and more goals, the fundamental requisite for a player who's duty it is to be critically the defining difference between two teams. While there is an array of young pretenders making their strides across Europe, these are the individuals who they will aim to emulate and consistently provide the ammunition to propel their clubs and countries to the heights of success in major domestic and international soccer.

Rutgerus Johannes Martinius van Nistelrooij (Ruud Van Nistelrooy) Real Madrid &
Holland

The Dutchman is the epitome of a seasoned striker, who possesses the innate ability to adopt those crucial positions and utilize his clinical finishing ability to dominate the scoring charts at whichever club he has come to grace his presence with. From his native Holland and his scoring exploits at Heerenveen and PSV, his most fruitful spell arose with Manchester United, scoring twenty plus goals in three of his four seasons leading Sir Alex Ferguson's attack. A falling out with Sir Alex and what seemed to be a noticeable deficiency in his sharpness that made the Dutchman such a potent threat saw him move on to Madrid and becoming a vital cog in the side that secured their thirtieth Spanish League title and first title in three years. Nistelrooy contributed twenty-five goals to the campaign earning him the Pichichi award for top goal scorer in the league in his first season. With the phenomenal record that has seen him recognized as top goal scorer in each of the countries he has played his football, he maintains that deadly eye for goal which is sure to see him enjoy a fruitful campaign as Real Madrid look to defend their title.

Thierry Henry Barcelona & France

He is the embodiment of a supremely elegant striker and while supporters of Arsenal believe his departing will loosen the reigns on a side that became over reliant on the enigmatic Frenchman, they will recognize the sheer brilliance that was one of the finest strikers to grace the red shirt of Arsenal and the English Premier League. Now having secured his much-protracted move to Catalan giants Barcelona, the sunshine and the star-studded squad awaits the arrival of one of the most clinical strikers around. His ability to seemingly conjure a moment of magic in such ordinary circumstances make him a constant worry on the minds of defenders. He has the pace, the trickery and apparent ability to push the boundaries of the attacking side of the game to instil fantastically monumental moments of football

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