Emmanuel Adebayor is a striker who serves a lethal cocktail of skill, strength, pace and gravity-defying jumps writes Farayi Mungazi.
The Togolese forward is also a superstar in every sense of the word - his stunning rise aided by a series of scintillating displays for English Premier League side Arsenal.
Born in Togo to Nigerian parents, he cannot go anywhere these days without being mobbed by adoring fans.
Yet, the lanky 24-year-old is not particularly showy and projects himself with consummate ease.
In my view, the winner of the 2007 BBC African Footballer of the Year award is a reminder that not all professional footballers are arrogant millionaires with egos to match the enormous size of their pay packets.
I spent more than a week in his company earlier this year as he sought to use his BBC award to inspire youngsters on a self-styled "tour of hope" that took him to Ghana and his homeland.
But Adebayor is also as famous for his fierce temperament and rebellious spirit as for his phenomenal ability in front of goal.
He provokes adulation and bile in his native Togo in almost equal measure and is often accused by authorities of being a disruptive influence within the national team set-up.
For his part, Adebayor has never made a secret of his disdain for Togo's football authorities, many of whom he accuses of not doing much to advance Togolese football.
But his messianic-like performance in Togo's 6-0 drubbing of Swaziland in a World Cup qualifier in October is one of the reasons he stands an excellent chance of hanging on to his BBC crown.
Although Adebayor has not been prolific in front of goal this season, his displays during the calendar year have helped Arsenal retain their status as one of the Premier League's so-called "Big Four" clubs.
