Holland 
One of the most prolific and feared strikers in Europe, Ruud van Nistelrooy has proved his scoring credentials at the very highest level throughout his career.
Van Nistelrooy boasts superb predatory instincts and many of his goals have come from sharp close-range finishes, while he is also strong in the air.
His £19million signing by Manchester United, initially scheduled for summer 2000, was delayed by 12 months when he suffered a serious knee injury.
But Sir Alex Ferguson kept faith with the Oss-born forward, who started out with Den Bosch, before joining Heerenveen and then PSV.
Ferguson was richly rewarded, with the Dutchman's goals helping United claim every domestic honour, and he was voted PFA Player of the Year in 2002, while also surpassing the legendary Denis Law as the club's leading European scorer.
A reported training ground disagreement with Cristiano Ronaldo hastened Van Nistelrooy's departure from Old Trafford, with Real Madrid more than willing to secure his services in summer 2006.
Goals and silverware have followed at Santiago Bernabeu, with Real securing a second successive La Liga crown this season and Van Nistelrooy earning an extended contract until 2010.
Van Nistelrooy has not always seen eye-to-eye with national team boss Marco van Basten, and even announced his retirement from international football in January last year.
But the duo managed to broker a peace deal, with Van Nistelrooy back in harness for Oranje during the Euro 2008 qualification campaign, and scoring goals in the wins over Albania and Bulgaria.
