Luc Nilis

Ronaldo calling Luc Nilis his best strike partner makes sense when you study the details rather than the reputation. Nilis played with both feet, finished early, combined cleanly and understood how to make a more explosive forward even more dangerous. Anderlecht gave him titles and heavy scoring numbers in Belgium, but PSV revealed the finest version: a technically polished second striker or centre forward who could score, assist, drop between lines and strike the ball with almost effortless purity. He was not physically imposing, and his international legacy with Belgium never fully matched his club elegance, but his game had a rare attacking intelligence. The move to Aston Villa in 2000 ended almost immediately because of a severe leg injury, cutting off the late Premier League chapter before it could exist. Nilis was refined danger: two footed, subtle, clinical and admired most by those who understand forward play beyond raw totals.