Claudio Lopez is a big threat to defences (Allsport).

Position: Forward
Born: 17.07.74
Club: Lazio

The past two years have been exciting times for this exciting forward.

Lopez played a key role in leading Valencia to their first Champions League final, but the 3-0 defeat by Spanish rivals Real Madrid was to be his last big game in a Valencia shirt.

Italian giants Lazio, then bossed by Sven-Goran Eriksson, swooped in a £22million raid for the left-footed sharpshooter.

An injury-hit start to the next chapter in his career did not help Lopez, nor Eriksson's dismissal, but when he was fully fit the goals began to flow once again.

Before then, Lopez was already an established international, having played in all five games at the last World Cup alongside Gabriel Batistuta.

More likely to line-up next to his team-mate Hernan Crespo this year.

Has pace and great dribbling ability, allied to expert finishing skills in front of goal.