Brazil
A former winner of the Under-20 World Cup, Nilmar is another player who has steadily grown in stature over the past couple of seasons.
Still a teenager when he made his senior debut for Brazil against Mexico in July 2003, injuries ensured the striker did not play for his country for four years.
Having started out at Internacional, Nilmar joined Lyon in 2004, but he struggled to make an impact for the French outfit and spent a couple of seasons on loan at Corinthians before rejoining his first club in 2007.
He scored the winner in the 2008 Copa Sudamericana before securing a second stab at European football with Villarreal last summer which has helped cement his place in the Brazil squad.
Nilmar scored the winner at home to Paraguay in a World Cup qualifier before going on to make just one appearance at last year's Confederations Cup.
After banging in a hat-trick in the qualifying victory over Chile, Nilmar went on to head home the only goal of Brazil's friendly encounter with England in November.
His clever movement and keen eye for goal mark Nilmar out as a candidate for a starting spot in South Africa, particularly if there any concerns regarding Luis Fabiano's fitness.
