Ruud van Nistelrooy was a supreme penalty-box predator, a Dutch striker whose sole purpose seemed to be the scoring of goals, a task he performed with relentless efficiency. Strong, sharp and clinical, he specialised in the close-range finish and the perfectly timed run.
He made his name at PSV Eindhoven before a prolific spell at Manchester United, where his scoring streaks became a hallmark, and later added silverware at Real Madrid. A dependable marksman for the Netherlands, he ranks among the most single-minded and effective finishers of his generation.