The Golden Shoe

One topic that is always intriguing in any major tournament, but especially the Fifa World Cup, is the race to take home the Golden Shoe. Germany's Miroslav Klose took the prestigious award last time out in Germany but the big German front man isn't considered as one of the favourites to finish as top marksmen in South Africa.

Instead the Spanish strikers Fernando Torres and Valencia talisman David Villa are the surest bets, and who can argue, Villa, the top scorer in the European Championships in 2008, hit 28 goals this term for Valencia whilst Torres found the back of the net 22 times in all competitions in a struggling Liverpool team. In addition to their goal scoring prowess, they have the unstoppable creative force behind them that is the Spanish Midfield, consisting of Xavi Hernandez, Andrés Iniesta, Cesc Fabregas and Xabi Alonso to name a few.

Elsewhere England's Wayne Rooney is a hot contender as he comes into the tournament on the back of his best goalscoring season, having hit 34 goals for Manchester United this season. His former Red Devils team mate turned Real Madrid "Galactico" Cristiano Ronaldo will also be in contention. The world's most expensive footballer scored 33 times in his first season in Spanish football. Ronaldo finished top scorer at Madrid but he was pushed all the way by Argentine Gonzalo Higuaín who netted 29 times, and he too will be looking to stake a serious claim to take home the Golden Shoe. However another Argentine will have something to say about that as the World's greatest player Lionel Messi, struck an incredible 47 goals this year, helping Barcelona to another La Liga victory.

More obscure contenders will be Uruguay's deadly front men. Diego Forlán, formerly of Manchester United and Luis Suárez, linked with a summer move to Old Trafford scored a combined 78 goals for Ajax and Athletico Madrid this season. Suárez was the only man to out score Messi this year, firing an almost unbelievable 49 goals for the Amsterdam club, whilst Forlán enters the tournament fresh from his match winning brace in the Europa League final against Fulham.

Didier Drogba cannot be ruled out either, having already taken home the Premier League Golden Boot, the big Ivory Coast man will be keen to add another personal award to his trophy cabinet. Whilst the Brazilians have Luis Fabiano and Alexandre Pato who will hope to end the competition as top marksmen. The French strikers Nicholas Anelka, Thierry Henry and Djibril Cissé, providing he makes the final squad, will want to have their say, in what promises to be an intriguing sideshow at the Fifa World Cup.

Paul Seed