#3 Raul
At his peak, he was the best striker in the world—bar none. While Ronaldo was still active during that time—and also played alongside Raul—major injuries to the Brazilian meant that the Spaniard took over the throne at one point.
Journalists and UEFA members might have adjudged Michael Owen as the Ballon d’Or winner in 2001, but Raul was equally—perhaps more—deserving of it than the Englishman. The former Real Madrid number seven won every trophy possible at club level but was unfortunate to see his peak not coincide with the golden generation of Spain.
With the heart of a forward and the brains of a midfielder, Raul’s best asset was his ability make plays by linking team-mates while also scoring on regular occasions. Such an elegant player, in today’s market, would have cost a lot, perhaps breaking the £100 million mark.
