2) Ruud van Nistelrooy – Manchester United
With 44 goals to his name in all competitions, the 2002/03 campaign with Manchester United was the finest season of Ruud van Nistelrooy’s career that has seen him play for top clubs such as Real Madrid and PSV Eindhoven. The Dutch striker was unstoppable and at his peak, as he raced away to the Premier League Golden Boot, pipping Arsenal’s Thierry Henry to the award by a solitary goal.
Nistelrooy had a point to prove with Sam Allardyce claiming that season that defenders knew how to stop him in his tracks. How wrong he proved to be.
The Dutchman’s first hat-trick came in a 5-3 win over Newcastle United at Old Trafford scoring in a 15-minute period split by the half-time whistle. At the time, the Red Devils were nowhere in the picture in the title race.
However, by the turn of the year, they were very much in it and another hat-trick against Fulham in a 3-0 win in March saw United pile on the pressure on Arsenal. One of those goals involved a solo run from the centre circle that saw Nistelrooy skip past five defenders and the goalkeeper to score. It was a goal that breathed life into their title aspirations.
In the penultimate game of the season, United were in the driver’s seat and a hat-trick against Charlton Athletic in a 4-1 win made him a strong contender for the Golden Boot – which he duly won on the final day of the season when he converted a penalty against Everton.
