Villa is one of the most feared strikers on the European stage and for both club and country has become a pivotal player. After prolific spells with Sporting Gijon and Real Zaragoza, he joined Valencia in 2005 and elevated himself to the top of the game with consistently excellent displays and bags full of goals.

Both a great goalscorer and a scorer of great goals, Villa is a versatile player who can perform out wide, in behind the forwards or as a lone striker. A goal in a friendly against England in February 2009 saw him set a new record by becoming the first Spanish player to score in six successive games for the national side and it will not be too long before his name supplants Raul's as the country's all-time leading scorer.

Having never played for one of football's elite clubs, Villa made a €40 million move to Barcelona before the 2010 World Cup; just reward for years of hard work. He was joint top scorer alongside Germany's Thomas Muller and Wesley Sneijder of the Netherlands with five goals and was named in the FIFA All Star team alongside five other Spanish players.

With Villa and Messi in tandem, Barcelona were unstoppable, winning the 2011 Chamjpions League final and the La Liga title in his first season, scoring 23 goals for the club. Villa looked even more dangerous in the early stages of the 2011-12 season, only to break his leg in the World Club Cup gainst Al Sadd. He missed the remainder of the season, including Spain's triumph at Euro 2012.

Strengths: Villa is a consummate finisher. His clever movement, excellent touch and deadly aim allow him to exploit any chances granted to this most resolute and determined of characters, but he also selflessly contributes with a number of assists.

Weaknesses: Like many of his international team-mates, Villa lacks height and real physical presence.

Career high: Winning the 2010 World Cup and finishing as the tournament's joint top-scorer with five goals.

Career low: Missing the Euro 2008 final due to a hamstring injury as Torres scored the goal that ended Spain's 44-year wait for an international trophy.

Style: Deadly, elusive, explosive, a born goalscorer.

Quotes: "David is an amazing player - he has mobility, he scores goals and is brave. I would love to have him in my team at Arsenal. He'd be amazing in the English league." Spain team-mate Cesc Fabregas, June 2008.

Trivia: Villa is a natural right-footer but a childhood accident which left his best leg in a cast allowed his father to encourage the young Villa to work on his left, meaning he is now virtually two-footed.