The prodigy

L'attaquant espagnol du Real, Raul, ballon au pied lors du match Real de Madrid/Espanyol de Barcelone (0-0) en demi finale de la Coupe d'Espagne, le 12 avril 2000 au stade Barnabeu à Madrid. IMAGE ELECTRONIQUE

Long before the arrival of Ronaldo, Zidane, Figo and Beckham, Spanish prodigy Raul was justifying the price of an entrance ticket to see Real Madrid on his own.

On October 29, 1994 Madrid coach Jorge Valdano gave him his debut, cotroversially dropping the then crowd favourite Emilio Butragueno, still just 29.

Raul, 17 at the time, Madrid and Valdano have never looked back

He has since drawn plaudits from all the major figures in world football. Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson tipped him to become a legend, Rivaldo said he would walk into the Brazil side and the great Real Madrid striker from the 50's Alfredo di Stefano (a hard man to please) is an unconditional supporter.

Struck gold

Spanish forward Raul Gonzalez (R) takes a shot at goal as Paraguay's Celso Ayala (L-#5) and Julio Cesar Caceres (top-L) defend in their Group B match at the 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan in Jeonju, 07 June 2002. Paraguay are leading 1-0 in the first half on an own goal by Spanish defender Carles Puyol. AFP PHOTO/Jimin LAI

Raul is a genuine star. His goal-scoring has been instinctive right from the start and his first game must have produced an instantaneous thrill in the chairman's box comparable to the discovery of a gold nugget in a pile of common rock.

Born in Madrid and typifying traditional values, he is extremely popular in Spain, becoming a kind of national mascot (especially for women of a certain age who see him as the ideal son-in-law, a state further enhanced by the birth of his child in 2000).

Record

Spanish forward of Real Madrid Raul Gonzales (C) holds the Champion's League trophy 24 May 2000, following Real Madrid's victory over Valencia in the final at the Stade of France in Saint-Denis, north of Paris, 24 May 2000. Real Madrid won 3-0. (ELECTRONIC IMAGE)

Raul scores a goal every two matches on average and is well on course to beat the Real Madrid all-time goal scoring (216 Liga goals set by Di Stefano) record well before he is 30.

Since Fernando Hierro retired from International football and left Madrid, Raul, at 26, has taken his captain's armband for club and country. He has also beaten Hierro's record for Spanish international goals, with years of play left in his priceless legs.

He has also helped his team win three Champions League titles (the latest coming in 2002), two Intercontinental Cups and four Spanish championships.

If there are no complaints from his club bosses, there is a lingering doubt over his ability to produce his lethal touch at the big international competitions.

Spanish forward Raul misses his penalty shot in front of French goalkeeper Fabien Barthez during the Euro 2000 quarter-final match between France and Spain in Bruges 25 June 2000. Raul missed his shoot. France won 2-1. (ELECTRONIC IMAGE) EPA PHOTO / MICHELE LIMINA

Despite the usual hype, Raul (like Spain) was a shadow of himself at the 1998 World Cup in France.

Spanish forward Raul jubilates after scoring his second goal against South Africa during the Group B match at the 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan, in Daejeon 12 June 2002 while teammate defender Cyril Nzama celebrates. Spain lead 3-2. AFP PHOTO/JACQUES DEMARTHON

He also failed to inspire his teammates at the 2000 European Championship in Holland and Belgium, missing a vital penalty against the eventual winners, France, in their dramatic quarter-final encounter.

But at the 2002 World Cup he finally hit top gear, scoring three goals as Spain raced into the second round.

However he picked up an ankle injury during the thrilling win over Ireland that ruled him out of the quarter-final loss to South Korea.