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Goal.com Player Of The Decade: Centre Forward
Who has been the chief marksman of the past ten years? Cast your vote here...
Dec 25, 2009 11:00:19 AM
The Nominees
Didier Drogba
Cote D'Ivoire's inspirational leader moved to Chelsea in 2004, following a single season with Marseille, which culminated in a UEFA Cup runners-up berth. Since moving to London, he has accrued two Premier League titles and racked up an impressive tally of goals. He is widely considered the best forward in the world at the moment and has scored 41 times in 60 internationals for Les Elephants.
Samuel Eto'o
One of the foremost marksmen in world football, Eto'o is a hugely decorated player who has won medals wherever he has played. A Copa Del Rey with Mallorca was followed by three Ligas and two Champions League successes with Barcelona - he netted in both finals. On the international stage, 'Samu' has won two Africa Cup of Nations
titles and is a three-time African Footballer of the Year.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Calciopoli notwithstanding, 'Ibracadabra' has won a league title in each of the past seven seasons, with Ajax, Juventus and Inter. Already among the trophies at Barcelona, the Swede has won the Club World Cup with les Cules. His move to Camp Nou, some €60m plus the services of Samuel Eto'o is working out perfectly for Pep Guardiola's men.
Filippo Inzaghi
One of the last in a dying breed of genuine goal-getters, 'Super Pippo' has scored 68 times in European competition, a record feat shared with Raul. Two of those came in the 2007 Champions League final, a success the striker can put alongside 2003's triumph, a Serie A title and a Club World Cup. Crucially, the striker was a World Cup winner in 2006 too, netting a goal in the tournament for good measure.
Thierry Henry
Integral to Arsenal's scintillating form towards the middle part of the decade, Henry surpassed Ian Wright's all-time scoring record in 2005. Twice a winner of the European Golden Boot, 'Titi' also boasts two Premier League titles from his time at Highbury. More recently, he has been hoovering up the honours with Barcelona, including a Champions League triumph added last season. On the international scene, he helped France win Euro 2000 and to reach the final of the 2006 World Cup.
Raul
A player that has become synonymous with the club he represents, Raul has played more games and scored more goals than any other Blanco. He boasts four La Liga titles and two Champions League this decade and along with Inzaghi, has scored more goals than any other player in European competition.
Ronaldo
'The Phenomenon' has scored more World Cup goals than any other footballer, 15 in all, following his strike against Ghana in 2006. In the tournament previous, he scored the two decisive strikes as Brazil beat Germany to the title of world champions. He is a three-time Ballon d'Or winner and is still among the goals at Corinthians and pushing hard for a World Cup 2010 place. Had injury not hampered his career at various stages, he could possibly have been lauded as the greatest forward of all time.
Andriy Shevchenko
The Dynamo Kyiv striker has seen his reputation dip since moving to Chelsea in 2006 but his form for AC Milan in the early part of the decade was nothing short of awesome. A Serie A title and a Champions League medal are proudly boasted by 'Sheva', who also has the prestigious Ballon d'Or to his credit.
Francesco Totti
Roma's all-time top scorer was the fulcrum of the 2001 Scudetto winning side and moved into a more direct striking role around the midpoint of the decade; he has played more games and scored more goals for his beloved Lupi than any other player. A World Cup winner in 2006, Totti was also named in the official team of the tournament.
Ruud van Nistelrooy
Two Eredivisie titles with PSV, a Premier League title with Manchester United and two Ligas with Real Madrid comprise van Nistelrooy's chief team honours over the decade and the Dutchman's scoring record has remained unerringly consistent throughout. A natural goalscorer with a potent touch inside the area.
Goal.com Player Of The Decade: Centre Forward
Didier Drogba 1.63%
Samuel Eto'o 1.47%
Zlatan Ibrahimovic 1.37%
Filippo Inzaghi 3.12%
Thierry Henry 8.07%
Raul 5.26%
Ronaldo 48.93%
Andriy Shevchenko 16.42%
Francesco Totti 8.21%
Ruud van Nistelrooy 5.52%
Who has been the chief marksman of the past ten years? Cast your vote here...
Dec 25, 2009 11:00:19 AM
The Nominees
Didier Drogba
Cote D'Ivoire's inspirational leader moved to Chelsea in 2004, following a single season with Marseille, which culminated in a UEFA Cup runners-up berth. Since moving to London, he has accrued two Premier League titles and racked up an impressive tally of goals. He is widely considered the best forward in the world at the moment and has scored 41 times in 60 internationals for Les Elephants.
Samuel Eto'o
One of the foremost marksmen in world football, Eto'o is a hugely decorated player who has won medals wherever he has played. A Copa Del Rey with Mallorca was followed by three Ligas and two Champions League successes with Barcelona - he netted in both finals. On the international stage, 'Samu' has won two Africa Cup of Nations
titles and is a three-time African Footballer of the Year.Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Calciopoli notwithstanding, 'Ibracadabra' has won a league title in each of the past seven seasons, with Ajax, Juventus and Inter. Already among the trophies at Barcelona, the Swede has won the Club World Cup with les Cules. His move to Camp Nou, some €60m plus the services of Samuel Eto'o is working out perfectly for Pep Guardiola's
men. Filippo Inzaghi
One of the last in a dying breed of genuine goal-getters, 'Super Pippo' has scored 68 times in European competition, a record feat shared with Raul. Two of those came in the 2007 Champions League final
, a success the striker can put alongside 2003's triumph, a Serie A title and a Club World Cup. Crucially, the striker was a World Cup winner in 2006 too, netting a goal in the tournament for good measure. Thierry Henry
Integral to Arsenal's scintillating form towards the middle part of the decade, Henry surpassed Ian Wright's all-time scoring record in 2005. Twice a winner of the European Golden Boot, 'Titi' also boasts two Premier League titles from his time at Highbury. More recently, he has been hoovering up the honours with Barcelona, including a Champions League triumph added last season. On the international scene, he helped France win Euro 2000 and to reach the final of the 2006 World Cup
. Raul
A player that has become synonymous with the club he represents, Raul has played more games and scored more goals than any other Blanco. He boasts four La Liga titles and two Champions League this decade and along with Inzaghi, has scored more goals than any other player in European competition.
Ronaldo
'The Phenomenon' has scored more World Cup goals than any other footballer, 15 in all, following his strike against Ghana in 2006. In the tournament previous, he scored the two decisive strikes as Brazil beat Germany to the title of world champions. He is a three-time Ballon d'Or winner and is still among the goals at Corinthians and pushing hard for a World Cup 2010 place. Had injury not hampered his career at various stages, he could possibly have been lauded as the greatest forward of all time.
Andriy Shevchenko
The Dynamo Kyiv striker has seen his reputation dip since moving to Chelsea in 2006 but his form for AC Milan in the early part of the decade was nothing short of awesome. A Serie A title and a Champions League medal are proudly boasted by 'Sheva', who also has the prestigious Ballon d'Or to his credit.
Francesco Totti
Roma's all-time top scorer was the fulcrum of the 2001 Scudetto winning side and moved into a more direct striking role around the midpoint of the decade; he has played more games and scored more goals for his beloved Lupi than any other player. A World Cup winner in 2006, Totti was also named in the official team of the tournament.
Ruud van Nistelrooy
Two Eredivisie titles with PSV, a Premier League title with Manchester United and two Ligas with Real Madrid comprise van Nistelrooy's chief team honours over the decade and the Dutchman's scoring record has remained unerringly consistent throughout. A natural goalscorer with a potent touch inside the area.
Goal.com Player Of The Decade: Centre Forward
Didier Drogba 1.63%
Samuel Eto'o 1.47%
Zlatan Ibrahimovic 1.37%
Filippo Inzaghi 3.12%
Thierry Henry 8.07%
Raul 5.26%
Ronaldo 48.93%
Andriy Shevchenko 16.42%
Francesco Totti 8.21%
Ruud van Nistelrooy 5.52%