Country: Italy

Caps (goals): 33 (15)

Shirt number: 9

Loco Luca…The Late Bloomer

Toni is somehow unlucky to be recognized at a relatively old age. Without doubt, he has become one of the finest strikers on the planet during the past few years.

His recent form with German champions Bayern Munich proved his status as a world-class goal-getter.

International Career

On the international stage, Toni took part in the 2006 World Cup in which he scored two goals in the quarter-finals against Ukraine and also made the 2006 FIFA World Cup All-Star Team

Toni's debut was in an international friendly against Iceland in summer of 2004. He scored 15 goals in 33 appearances for the Azzurri, including five goals in the EURO 2008, to finish as the team's top-scorer.

Club Career

The giant striker (1.95m) played for several clubs in Serie B such as Empoli, Lodigiani and Treviso. He finally moved to Serie A when he joined Vicenza Calcio in 2000.

Toni moved to Brescia the following season and played two years there along with Italy's legendary striker Roberto Baggio.

But the turning point of his career was definitely when he agreed to join Palermo in 2003 despite the club's existence in Serie B.

He scored 30 goals to help Palermo seal promotion to the top flight after over 30 years of playing in the second division.

Toni continued his splendid displays the following term after scoring 20 goals in the Serie A to lead Palermo to a historic place in the UEFA Cup.

Toni's debut season with Fiorentina was his best ever. An outstanding goal-scoring run saw the prolific hitman score 31 goals to help his side finish the 2005/2006 season in fourth place.

The 30-year-old, who was awarded the European Golden Boot, became the first player to score 30 goals or more in the Serie A since the 1958/1959 season.

He also surpassed the previous club record of 26 goals in one season set by Fiorentina legends Gabriel Batistuta and Kurt Hamrin.

Toni stayed with Fiorentina for another season before joining German giants Bayern Munich in the summer of 2007 in an 11 million Euro deal.

He finished the season as the Bundesliga's top-scorer with 24 goals and joint top-scorer of the UEFA Cup with 10 goals.

Qualities

Toni is a fearsome striker inside the 18-yard box. In aerial challenges, he is capable of towering over any marker.

On the ground, Toni's physical attributes, brilliant ball control as well as great finishing abilities help him outmuscle any opponent.