Grafite

Grafite reached his highest level late, then made the delay look almost theatrical. Powerful, mobile and technically sharper than his frame suggested, he was a centre forward who could hold the ball, attack space and finish with the confidence of someone enjoying a private argument with gravity. His 2008 to 2009 season at Wolfsburg was extraordinary, a perfect storm of form, chemistry with Edin Džeko and ruthless Bundesliga efficiency. That famous solo goal against Bayern captured the best version of him: strength, balance, improvisation and a little bit of Brazilian mischief at full volume. He was not a long term global superstar, but his peak was genuinely elite. A late blooming striker, physical, inventive and briefly almost unstoppable.