The hard player: Júlio Baptista
Júlio Baptista started out at São Paulo FC, scoring 18 goals in 103 matches before heading to Europe. It was at Sevilla where things truly took off: 47 goals in 79 matches for the Brazilian attacking midfielder, a stunning return that immediately caught Real Madrid’s eye. Born on 1 October 1981 in São Paulo, he arrived on the continent with something to prove – and he did exactly that.
Time at Real Madrid (13 goals in 76 matches) and then AS Roma (15 goals in 69 matches) followed, but a permanent home never quite materialised at either club. He wrapped up his career back in Brazil with Cruzeiro EC, adding 13 goals in 45 appearances. His international record was limited to just 2 caps with the Brazil under-20 side – a striking contrast to the firepower he showed in club football: a European nomad who shone in bursts.
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PlayThe medium player: Emilio Butragueño
Born on 22 July 1963 in Madrid, Emilio Butragueño began his climb through Castilla CF, where he racked up 40 goals in 82 matches before making the step up. The path to the Bernabéu was already drawn for this son of the Spanish capital.
With Real Madrid’s first team, he played 463 matches and scored 170 goals, anchoring the attack for the club across many seasons. He closed out his career at Atlético Celaya in Mexico, adding 29 goals in 91 appearances – a final chapter far from the Bernabéu for a player whose career was built, almost entirely, in white.
The easy player: Marco van Basten
Born on 31 October 1964 in Utrecht, Marco van Basten announced himself as a lethal striker from the very start. At Ajax Amsterdam, he scored 152 goals in 172 appearances – a ratio that had Europe’s biggest clubs paying close attention. His Dutch roots fed into a national team setup that was very much built around his talents.
The move to AC Milan only raised the stakes: 125 goals in 201 games for the Italian giants, a record that needs no embellishment. With the Netherlands, he added 24 goals in 58 international appearances, leaving a mark on Dutch football that endures to this day. Two clubs, two countries, one constant: a striker who simply didn’t miss.