As we continue going through ESPN FC's #WorldCupRank, we take a look at three intriguing strikers -- Mario Balotelli, Radamel Falcao and Edinson Cavani -- ranked 20 through 18.
20. Mario Balotelli
"Where will you put the Golden Boot when you win it?" Mario Balotelli asked Mario Balotelli this week. "In the wardrobe," he laughed, "with the rest of my shoes." It was the highlight of a one-on-one with himself.
That playful charisma draws many people in and makes it hard not to like him. It is the self-assurance of a talent who knows that if he puts his mind to it, he can do anything. If only he would do so more often is a common refrain. But for a 23-year-old, Super Mario has given us some moments of brilliance in his career so far.
The "Why always me?" performance in Manchester City's 6-1 win at Old Trafford a few years back. His earth-tremor strikes against Germany in the semifinal of Euro 2012. That tensing of his torso in celebration. The "Grazie Mario" messages on the front of Rome buses.
- #WorldCupRank: Mario Balotelli
It's worth reflecting on how they love Balotelli in Brazil. Recall, for instance, how the people sang his name during the Confederations Cup last year as if he were one of their own. Those from Salvador de Bahia also haven't forgotten how, while still at Inter, the teenage Balotelli spent two Christmases there helping a charity that educates children from one of the city's notorious favelas. He can count on "home" and neutral support in addition to support from the traveling Italian fans.
Frustrating, Balotelli can be. But his goal ratio speaks for itself: 30 in 54 games over an 18-month period at an average AC Milan and 12 in 29 for Italy. That's almost one in two. Not Lionel Messi-like. Not Cristiano Ronaldo-like. Not Luis Suarez-like. Not Radamel Falcao-like. Granted. But you know that, like them, he is also one of the few players on the planet who can win a match by himself.
He's a master of improvisation, a jazz musician in football boots, like Miles Davis with his trumpet and John Coltrane on the saxophone. With Balotelli, the Azzurri are a Blue train, the ticket for which is worth every real (Brazilian currency) this summer.
19. Radamel Falcao
"I'll wait until the last day, until the last hour, the last minute," said Jose Pekerman, the Colombia coach.
He was as good as his word. His final 23 was one of the latest to be released as Pekerman had wanted to give Radamel Falcao every chance of making it. The Colombia striker tore his ACL against fourth-division Chasselay at the turn of the year, and since then Monaco's 60-million-euro signing has been in a race against time to be fit for the World Cup.
Rocky-like montages come to mind. His nickname, "El Tigre," bestowed on him by former teammate Gonzalo Luduena, is entirely appropriate here. Clichéd though it may sound, Falcao would need the eye of the tiger if he were to make it back for this summer's main event.
- #WorldCupRank: Radamel Falcao
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Alas, it has all been in vain. Falcao had said "I won't be 100 percent even if I make the World Cup." And on June 2, he pulled out. It was an honest decision. He didn't want to take the place of a fitter compatriot. Rushing back was a risk too. What if he relapsed?
While Colombia have no shortage of possible replacements for him -- Porto's Jackson Martinez, Borussia Dortmund's new signing Adrian Ramos and Sevilla's Europa League-winning frontman Carlos Bacca -- the weight of Falcao's loss is a heavy one.
The 28-year-old has emerged as one of the world's most complete and consistent centre-forwards. His record at Porto was 72 goals in 87 games. At Atletico it was 70 in 91. Twice he led the scoring charts in the Europa League. Twice he was on teams that won that competition. Colombia's top scorer in World Cup qualifying with nine goals in 13 appearances, his predatory instincts make him worthy of his big cat sobriquet.
Stealthy. Prowling. He induces fear. There is no goal he can't score. In the air, on the ground, inside the box, outside the box, from the spot or a free kick, Chilenas and tap-ins, Falcao is the complete striker.
He'll be dearly missed at this World Cup and 32 come the next one. Let's hope we get to see him then.
18. Edinson Cavani
It was like something from the pages of Ernest Hemingway's "Death in the Afternoon."
Edinson Cavani sidestepped one Bastia defender. Then, with a flash of his cape, he went around the goalkeeper, and as other opponents charged him and the angles closed around him, he stabbed a shot into the net as though he were plunging a sword into a bull. They don't call Cavani "El Matador" for nothing. It was one of the best goals of the season.
- #WorldCupRank: Edinson Cavani
However, his first year at Paris Saint-Germain, after a 64 million euros move from Napoli last summer, has been quite a frustrating one. That might be hard for some people to believe, considering he won the first league title of his career to add the Coupe de la Ligue to the Coppa Italia winners' medal he has at home. His 25 goals in all competitions also makes that assertion a touch more difficult to accept.
But Cavani feels he could have been more prolific had PSG played 4-4-2 as they promised they would when he signed.
Instead, once Zlatan Ibrahimovic disagreed with the formation, Cavani was deployed out-wide and played second fiddle to Ibracadabra, a predictable development given the impression that the Swede runs the club and aspires to be its director of sport when his playing days are over. The World Cup could offer Cavani a release from all that. So too, though he'd never admit to it, could the injury to his teammate and strike partner Luis Suarez. It's a chance to be the main man.
Despite fluffing a huge chance against Chelsea in the Champions League quarterfinal second leg at Stamford Bridge, Cavani rarely misses on the big occasions. In Italy, Cavani scored hat tricks against Juventus, Inter, Milan, Roma and Lazio. Suarez might have eclipsed him this season, but Cavani absolutely shouldn't be underestimated.