Cristiano Ronaldo World Cup goals

Time to shine! Ronaldo (left) and Messi are the world's best two players and must deliver on the biggest stage

BARREN SPELLS

Messi - 571 minutes, 1 goal (2006 + 2010)

Ronaldo - 754 minutes, two goals (2006 + 2010)

Rooney - 595 minutes, 0 goals (2006 + 2010)

Despite seeming to smash a goalscoring record every other week in La Liga or the Champions League, both Ronaldo and Messi have failed to sparkle in the last two World Cups, while Rooney has fallen foul of his own ill indiscipline and poor fitness.

The trio have played 1, 920 minutes (32 hours) of World Cup football between them but have collectively found the net just three times during that time.

Diop, in comparison, played in just one World Cup - but what a World Cup it was. A colossus in midfield for Senegal on their debut on the world stage in 2002, he was responsible for one of the biggest shocks in World Cup history when he scored the only goal in a 1-0 win over the then-holders France in the opening game.

Two goals in their third group game, a thrilling 3-3 draw with Uruguay, took his tally for the tournament to three but his hopes of adding to that were thwarted by Senegal failing to qualify for 2006 and 2010.

Will this time be different? Wayne Rooney hasn't performed for England at a major tournament since 2004

Have that! Ex-Derby County striker Paulo Wanchope scored for Costa Rica against Brazil in 2002

Sneaking in: South Korea's Park Ji-Sung nets beyond Portugal's Vitor Baia during the home 2002 finals

Then there’s Park Ji-Sung. A former team-mate of Rooney’s at Old Trafford, the South Korean was one of the poster boys of the 2002 World Cup in the Far East and he did not disappoint. He scored once during Guus Hiddink’s sides run to the semi-final, where they were eventually beaten by Germany. He added further strikes at the 2006 and 2010 World Cups.