Jimmy Greaves

Jimmy Greaves was born to score goals. He'd netted 100 league goals before his 21st birthday. He scored on his debut for every club he played for. In total, he scored 422 times in 604 professional matches. Blessed with pace and intelligence, and a sixth sense for being in the right part of the penalty box at the right time, he could waltz through a defence or tuck away a tap-in.

He almost began his career at Spurs in 1955, but manager Arthur Rowe was ill when he was due to sign, and Chelsea stole him away. He soon broke into the first team, establishing himself as a prolific young striker. In 1961 he signed for AC Milan, but hated the lack of freedom in Italy, on and off the pitch, and quickly returned to England with Tottenham. He soon settled into Bill Nicholson's team of 'Super Spurs', helping them win two FA Cups and break new ground as the first English club to triumph in Europe.

For England, he scored goals at a rate never repeated before or since. After retirement, he bravely battled alcoholism, before reinventing himself as an irreverent television pundit.

It's a massive injustice that Greaves' international career is best remembered for the match he didn't play: the 1966 World Cup final, having lost his place to Geoff Hurst following an injury earlier in the tournament.

Greaves' haul of 44 goals in 57 games for England make him the nation's finest international goalscorer of all-time. Gary Lineker and Bobby Charlton may have scored four and five more respectively, but neither could match the amazing rate at which Greaves scored for his country.