Raul

The prodigy

Real Madrid's Raul Gonzalez (R) vies for the ball with Valencia's Marchena (L) during their Spanish League football match at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, 23 October 2005. AFP PHOTO/ Bru GARCIA

Long before the arrival of Ronaldo, Zidane, Figo and Beckham, Spanish prodigy Raul was justifying the price of an entrance ticket to see Real Madrid on his own.

He has since drawn plaudits from all the major figures in world football. Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson tipped him to become a legend, Rivaldo said he would walk into the Brazil side and the great Real Madrid striker from the 50's Alfredo di Stefano (a hard man to please) is an unconditional supporter.

And with three trophyless seasons behind him at Real and only coming back from a nast knee injury and four month lay off in March 2006, a fully mature Raul will captain a new generation of prodigies at the World Cup in Germany.

Struck gold

Spanish forward Raul Gonzalez (R) takes a shot at goal as Paraguay's Celso Ayala (L-#5) and Julio Cesar Caceres (top-L) defend in their Group B match at the 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan in Jeonju, 07 June 2002. Paraguay are leading 1-0 in the first half on an own goal by Spanish defender Carles Puyol. AFP PHOTO/Jimin LAI

Nineteen year-old Raul Gonzalez from the Spanish soccer club, Real Madrid, poses for a photograph in Madrid, 09 April. Gonzalez signed today a contract of six billion pesetas (42 million USD) with the real Madrid and became the most well paid spanish player. (Electonic image)

Raul is a genuine star. His goal-scoring has been instinctive right from the start and his first game must have produced an instantaneous thrill in the chairman's box comparable to the discovery of a gold nugget in a pile of common rock.

Born in Madrid and typifying traditional values, he is extremely popular in Spain, becoming a kind of national mascot (especially for women of a certain age who see him as the ideal son-in-law, a state further enhanced by the birth of his child in 2000).

Record

Spanish forward of Real Madrid Raul Gonzales (C) holds the Champion's League trophy 24 May 2000, following Real Madrid's victory over Valencia in the final at the Stade of France in Saint-Denis, north of Paris, 24 May 2000. Real Madrid won 3-0. (ELECTRONIC IMAGE)

Raul scores a goal every two matches on average and is well on course to beat the Real Madrid all-time goal scoring (216 Liga goals set by Di Stefano) record well before he is 30.

Since Fernando Hierro retired from international football and left Madrid, Raul has taken the captain's armband for club and country. He has also beaten Hierro's record for Spanish international goals, with years of play left in his priceless legs.

He has also helped his team win three Champions League titles, two Intercontinental Cups and four Spanish championships.

If there are no complaints from his club bosses, there is a lingering doubt over his ability to produce his lethal touch at the big international competitions.

Despite the usual hype, Raul (like Spain) was a shadow of himself at the 1998 World Cup in France.

He also failed to inspire his teammates at the 2000 European Championship in Holland and Belgium, missing a vital penalty against the eventual winners, France, in their dramatic quarter-final encounter.

Spanish forward Raul jubilates after scoring his second goal against South Africa during the Group B match at the 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan, in Daejeon 12 June 2002 while teammate defender Cyril Nzama celebrates. Spain lead 3-2. AFP PHOTO/JACQUES DEMARTHON

At the 2002 World Cup he finally hit top gear, scoring three goals as Spain raced into the second round.

However he picked up an ankle injury during the thrilling win over Ireland that ruled him out of the quarter-final loss to South Korea.

Spanish forward Raul Gonzalez (R) and Russian midfielder Alexey Smertin jump for the ball, 13 June 2004 at Faro stadium, for their first match at the European Nations championship in Portugal. Spain and Russia compete in the group A of the Euro 2004 with Greece and host Portugal. AFP PHOTO ADRIAN DENNIS

Back for another tilt at Euro 2004, Raul came in for unprecedented criticism during the first-round when many questioned whether he should be in the starting line-up.

In the end, coach Inaki Saez showed faith in his number nine but Spain could not avoid the embarassment of a first round exit after losing their group decider against Portugal.