Christian Vieri became the most expensive player in the world when he left Lazio for Inter for £32m in 1999, a fee branded "disgusting" by the Vatican.

That record has of course now been beaten, but Inter knew what they were doing when they splashed out that much money.

Vieri is undoubtedly one of the greatest strikers of his generation.

At France 98, with all the attention focused on team-mates Alessandro del Piero and Roberto Baggio, Vieiri scored five goals. Only Croatia's Davor Suker scored more.

Well-travelled

But the former Juventus and Atletico Madrid striker has had his fair share of injuries and missed out on Euro 2000 altogether.

However, when he is fit and on form there are few better.

During his one season in Spain in 1997/98 he finished as La Liga's top scorer with 24 goals.

But he left for Lazio amid rumours of a falling out with new Atletico coach Arrigo Sacchi.

He was the Rome club's top scorer in his single season there before Inter shelled out to take him to Milan in the summer of 1999.