David Villa

There are many people who believe that David Villa is the best striker in Spain and when you consider La Liga boasts the likes of Samuel Eto'o and Ruud Van Nistelrooy to name but a few, that is high praise indeed. Villa started his career in 2000/1 with Sporting Gijon who were in Spain's second tier, he played only a solitary game in his first season but the following term he made 40 league appearances and scored 18 goals. In 2002/3 he enjoyed another good season scoring 20 goals in 39 matches which earned him a move to the Primera Liga with Real Zaragoza. Villas's first season with Zaragoza in 2003/4 was another successful one as he scored 17 goals in 38 league matches and he enjoyed a good season in 2004/5 also scoring 15 goals in 35 league games including goals against Real Madrid and Barcelona.

Valencia's manager Enrique Flores was impressed enough with Villa's performance to sign him in 2005 and Villa repaid the manager's faith by scoring 25 goals in 37 league matches including a hat trick against Athletic Bilbao and goals home and away against league champions Barcelona. Villa just missed out on the Pichichi award to Samuel Eto'o who scored 26 goals but it was a fantastic first season for Villa. Valencia enjoyed a tremendous season finishing third, but they are not a side who create numerous opportunities which makes Villa's goalscoring achievements all the more remarkable.

The 2006/7 season was again a good one for Villa, he opened his account for the new term by scoring the only goal against Atletico Madrid and carried on scoring throughout the season, indeed his form was such by the end of the season he was being linked with a big money move to either Chelsea or Liverpool.

Villa made his international debut in Spain's first match of 2005 against San Marino, though didn't get his first goal for the national team until the last match of the year against Slovakia. Villa alongside Fernando Torres formed Spain's front two for the 2006 World Cup, but typically Spain didn't translate their obvious potential into anything more tangible and headed home after losing to France 2-1 in the last sixteen. Villa scored 3 goals at the finals, albeit 2 were penalties but he generally gave the impression of a man who was suited to playing on the big stage, indeed the way he has been playing for club and country in recent seasons he will be there for some time to come.