50 players to watch at the World Cup - No 20 David Villa

Our countdown to the World Cup continues with a look at the striker who's on everybody's shopping list this summer, Spain's David Villa. Name: David Villa Age: 28 Club: Valencia International Caps: 55 International Goals: 36 Villa started his career at Sporting Gijon, where his superb finishing and all-round game attracted the attentions of Spain's biggest clubs. In 2003 he moved to Zaragoza for 3 million euros, and in two seasons at the club scored at a rate of almost a goal every other game. Villa was now hot property, and Valencia paid 12 million euros for his services in the summer of 2005. In his time at the club Villa has scored a remarkable 108 goals in 164 appearances, and been courted by the likes of Manchester United, Real Madrid and Barcelona - where rumours suggest he may end up next season. On the international stage, Villa has been equally prolific. A member of Spain's Euro 2008 winning side, he won the golden boot with four goals, but was forced out of the final with injury. The odds will be short on him winning the boot in South Africa this summer, and with Fernando Torres alongside him, he arguably forms half of the most-feared strikeforce in the world. THE STORY SO FAR. No 21: Giorgio Chiellini No 22: Carlos Vela No 23: Diego Forlan No 24: Marek Hamsik No 25: Wilson Palacios No 26: Alexis Sanchez No 27: Tim Cahill No 28: Gonzalo Higuain No 29: John Terry No 30: Andres Iniesta No 31: Maicon No 32: Victor Obinna No 33: Klaas Jan Huntelaar No 34: Ryan Nelsen No 35: Tranquilo Barnetta No 36: Jozy Altidore No 37: Robert Koren No 38: Teko Modise No 39: Simon Kjaer No 40: Jong Tae-Se No 41: Nadir Belhadj No 42: Roque Santa Cruz No 43: Park Ji-Sung No 44: Nikola Zigic No 45: Yaya Toure No 46: Angelos Charisteas No 47: Keisuke Honda No 48: Hugo Lloris No 49: Mario Gomez No 50: Guiseppe Rossi    

Source: DSG