Tottenham's Gareth Bale is the newest name on the Icons roster. And after our first exclusive signing session with the 22-year-old Welshman last week in London, we now stock a fantastic range of his signed products. With his electric performances continuing to raise his profile in world football, the reigning PFA Player of the Year is enjoying another sensational season with Spurs. In such devastating form, can the man recently valued at £150million make fair claim to being the world's best winger?

Gareth Bale’s transformation from Tottenham’s not-so-lucky charm to one of the most coveted players in the world has been dazzling. After signing for Spurs from Southampton for an initial fee of £5m in 2007, he featured in a record 24 Premier League games without winning. Fast forward to 2012, however, and the Bale jinx already seems a distant memory.

Manchester City are among a host of clubs to have been linked with a move for Bale, and although the £150million price tag placed on his shoulders by Spurs chairman Daniel Levy is as much a deterrent for hovering suitors as it is a valuation, he certainly merits a mention among the world’s best. The Welshman has a future at the very top of the game, and Spurs are determined to ensure it is staged at White Hart Lane.

Bursting with pace, power and technique - as traditional wingers go - Bale's artillery is second to none in modern football. Real Madrid's Ángel di María runs him close in many departments, but, crucially, Bale carries a far greater goal threat than the Argentinian. Today, Bale's outstanding ability is plain to see, but three years ago few could have predicted such a meteoric rise.

After tasting victory in the Premier League for the first time against Burnley in September 2009, Bale only began to fulfil his abundant potential in the latter stages of that campaign, when he was named Premier League Player of the Month for April as Spurs secured 4^th place Champions League qualification. Having made a name for himself in England, however, it was the following season in Spurs' debut Champion League campaign that he was propelled onto the world stage.

Bale’s magnificent performances on the left flank against reigning European champions Inter Milan encapsulated all that is so effective about his game. His phenomenal athleticism and ferocious finishing landed him a stunning hat-trick at the San Siro and two assists back at White Hart Lane. After a nightmarish 180 minutes with a rampaging Bale, the previously burgeoning reputation of Inter right-back Maicon was reduced to tatters. It was a chastening experience from which the Brazilian has never properly recovered. “Everyone is scared of [Bale],” said his Spurs teammate Rafael van der Vaart at the time. “Maicon is one of the best defenders in the world, and he’s killed him.”

Spurs manager Harry Redknapp’s decision to move Bale from left-back to a more advanced role has proved the making of him. And his positional development has continued in recent months as he has regularly switched wings, and even operated centrally behind the striker. With licence to roam, Bale has thrived. After his brace against Wigan on Tuesday, he already has 10 Premier League goals to his name this season, more than any other midfielder in the division. A total return of 10 goals and eight assists is testament to his outstanding contribution to Spurs’ unfancied title challenge. A player of Bale’s calibre requires exposure to Champions League football, and Spurs fans can delight in the fact that they are on course to provide it next season.

At international level, Bale has scored three goals in his last three appearances for a resurgent Wales. He has also made public his desire to feature for Team GB at the London 2012 Olympic Games. Bale is central to a bright, young Wales squad looking to honour Gary Speed’s legacy under the guidance of the newly-installed Chris Coleman. After making his international debut at the age of 16 and 315 days, Bale’s name has already gone down in Wales’ history as their youngest ever player. As a nation, they have only qualified for a major tournament once, in 1958, but with a fit and firing Gareth Bale, the next decade could represent the best opportunity they ever get to replicate that feat.

Argentinian? Spanish? Dutch? No; the world's best winger is a Welshman.

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You might also like: Inside an Icons signing with Gareth Bale

View our full range of signed Gareth Bale here

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Driven with ferocious power, or curled with accuracy and finesse, a free-kick goal is a beautiful thing. A talented dead-ball specialist is a valuable asset for any side. And in this installment of Icons' Five of the Best series, we bring you five unforgettable strikes from some of the best free-kick takers in the business.

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Roberto Carlos

Is this the best free-kick of all time? Football fans and scientists alike gawped in disbelief at this mind-boggling ‘banana’ free-kick from Brazil left-back Roberto Carlos in 1997. Up against hosts France in international friendly tournament Tournoi de France, Roberto Carlos’ blistering 40-yarder looked to be heading well wide before a remarkable change in trajectory sent the ball curving inside the post past a static Fabian Barthez. Dismissed by cynics as a fluke, in 2010 a team of French scientists developed an equation proving that the flight of the ball was no accident. Take that, cynics!

David Beckham

Is this the best free-kick of all time? David Beckham is a name synonymous with the art of free-kick taking. And this unforgettable effort for England merits inclusion on context alone. And also because we’re English, and therefore biased. Three minutes into stoppage time and trailing 1-2 in this crucial World Cup qualifier against Greece, England desperately need a goal to secure qualification to the 2002 finals. Teddy Sheringham wins the free kick, and Beckham does the rest. “Give that man a knighthood!” bellows the commentator, as Old Trafford erupts.

José Manuel Rey

Is this the best fr-… Ok, you get the point. José Manuel Rey is definitely not a name synonymous with the art of free-kick taking. In fact, you've probably never heard of him. FYI, Rey is a Venezuelan international defender who once played for Dundee (Thanks, Wikipedia), and here he is with an absolute thunderbolt from 45 yards in a World Cup qualifier against Ecuador in 2007. While many go for finesse from a set-piece, Rey takes a rather different approach, with a run-up that starts inside his own half. The South American commentary team enjoy it in typically restrained fashion.

Cristiano Ronaldo

Love him or loathe him (we opt for the former), Icon Cristiano Ronaldo sure knows how to hit a free-kick. Here’s his trademark best for Manchester United against Portsmouth in 2008. Ever the showman, the Portuguese carefully positions the ball 30 yards from goal, takes four measured steps backwards, ignores some advice from Wayne Rooney, exhales with legs splayed, and finally smashes a rasping, dipping missile of a free-kick into David James’ top corner. Before being mobbed by his elated teammates, the Eric Cantona-esque celebration isn't bad either.

Juninho Pernambucano

Never mind Roberto Carlos, Zico or Ronaldinho, the ultimate Brazilian free-kick master is former Lyon midfielder Juninho Pernambucano. Is this swerving effort in a Champions League clash against Barcelona deliberate? You bet it is. But if you need convincing, here’s proof that it wasn’t his first from such an acute angle. Indeed, Juninho, now 37, can score from pretty much anywhere, as shown by this spectacular recent effort for Brazilian side Vasco de Gama.

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See more from our Five of the Best series:

Five of the Best: Penalties

Five of the Best: Goalie Goals

Five of the Best: Penalty Blunders

And follow Icons on Twitter @icons_football

This week at Icons, we held our first exclusive signing session with Tottenham star Gareth Bale. Recently valued at an astonishing £150million by his club, the sensational Welsh winger is one of the hottest properties in football. And in the week he was voted the only British representative in the UEFA.com team of 2011, we are delighted to add the PFA Player of the Year to our prestigious roster of the world’s best players. View our full range of signed Gareth Bale products here, and read on to find out more about our signing together.

A team of three Icons employees went to meet Gareth on Wednesday January 25. In a van loaded with shirts, boots, photos and cameras, we departed Icons’ North London headquarters at midday. The location for our meeting was a conference room in a hotel in Chigwell, Essex, just a stone’s throw from Spurs’ training ground. It was in this hotel that Gareth first lodged after arriving from Southampton as a 17-year-old back in May 2007. He returns - four-and-a-half years later - as one of the world's best players.

Gareth was coming directly from training, where he had been preparing with the rest of the squad for Spurs' FA Cup tie against Watford on Friday night. His agent was first to join us at the hotel, and was soon informed via text message that Gareth would be arriving shortly after some routine physio work. He pulled up at 3pm, and after a friendly greeting and a round of handshakes, he sat down to begin the signing process. Gareth began by signing shirts (pictured below), before moving on to boots and finally photos of him in action.

Personable and relaxed, Gareth was a pleasure to work with. Despite a meteoric rise that has taken him from bit-part squad player to one of the world's elite at the tender age of 22, his feet remain firmly on the ground. Gareth's scintillating performances against then European champions Inter Milan in Spurs' 2010/11 Champions League campaign propelled him onto the world stage, but he is completely unaffected by stardom. Gareth was more than happy to chat all things football throughout the session. He took time and care over every signature, and was patient and professional from start to finish.

The session lasted just over an hour, and after one last round of photos, Gareth and his agent were on their way. We were left to reflect on a good day's work, and head back to the office to get the products online for our customers.

Gareth is pictured here with Dan and Nick, two members of the Icons team.

To view Icons full collection of signed Gareth Bale products, click here

And for the latest news on all our signings, follow Icons on Twitter @icons_football

Spanish giants Real Madrid and Barcelona lock horns in the first leg of the Copa del Rey quarter-final this Wednesday at the Bernabeu. La Liga leaders Madrid have won 22 of their last 23 games, but Barcelona have a psychological advantage over their arch-rivals having lost only one Clásico in eight since José Mourinho took over. The tie will be settled next week at the Camp Nou, and to mark this momentous occasion we have dug out five classic Clásicos from recent years for your viewing pleasure.

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Leo Messi hat-trick

It was on the night of 11th March, 2007 that a 19-year-old Leo Messi became football’s hottest property. Three times Fabio Capello’s Real Madrid took the lead in this pulsating encounter at the Camp Nou, and three times they were pegged back by Messi. The Argentinian’s virtuoso performance overshadowed superstar teammates Ronaldinho and Samuel Eto’o, and in a thrilling finale he sealed his hat-trick with a stunning stoppage time equaliser. Collecting a Ronaldinho pass 30 yards from goal, Messi accelerated away from two defenders and coolly steered the ball past Iker Casillas to level it up at 3-3.

Real Madrid demolish the 'Dream Team'

Messi’s treble in 2007 was the first in a Clásico since 1995, when Real Madrid’s Chilean striker Ivan Zamorano was the hat-trick hero as they demolished Johan Cruyff’s Barcelona ‘Dream Team’ 5-0 at the Bernabeu. 364 days previously, Barcelona had thrashed Madrid by the same scoreline at the Camp Nou, but the crucial difference this time around was that Danish midfielder Michael Laudrup had since switched clubs. The Dane was influential in both fixtures, and it was no coincidence that he won La Liga with each club consecutively. The 1994/95 La Liga title with Madrid was his fifth in a row.

'Match of the Century'

In 2002 Real Madrid proved their dominance over Barcelona with this impressive Champions League semi-final triumph. In a contest billed ‘Match of the Century’ by the Spanish media, Zinedine Zidane inspired Madrid’s Galacticos to a crucial 2-0 win in the first leg at the Camp Nou. The Frenchman gave Madrid the lead with a glorious chip before England winger Steve McManaman added a second late on with another superb lofted finish. The return leg at the Bernabeu finished 1-1 and Real Madrid safely booked their place in the final. With his unforgettable volleyed winner, Zidane would play a pretty crucial role in that game too.

Ronaldinho's standing ovation

A standing ovation from your own fans is one thing, but to receive one from your most hated rivals as Ronaldinho did in November 2005 is practically unheard of. In his glorious pomp, the buck-toothed Brazilian was almost unplayable. Samuel Eto’o opened the scoring for Barcelona in this magnificent 3-0 victory after a probing run from one Leo Messi, but the brilliant Ronaldinho stole the show with two stunning individual goals cutting in from the left hand side. Barca romped to the title that year, finishing 12 points clear of their arch-rivals.

The guard of honour

Barcelona's turn to be humbled here, as they are forced to give newly crowned La Liga champions Madrid a guard of honour before this meeting at the Bernabeu in May 2008. As if that wasn't humiliating enough, Madrid went on to thrash the visitors 4-1 with goals from Raúl, Robben, Higuaín and van Nistelrooy. The day after this dismal defeat, Barcelona manager Frank Rijkaard was sacked. In came Pep Guardiola, and, well, you know the rest.

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To view our amazing range of signed Barcelona products click here

For the Real Madrid range click here

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For Barcelona and Argentina's Leo Messi, life at the pinnacle of his profession is becoming routine. Winner of the Ballon d'Or for the third year in a row, there is no questioning his status as the world's best player. The 24-year-old has signed exclusively for Icons since 2006, and our relationship has gone from strength to strength ever since. The world's best player and the home of signed football memorabilia. It makes for a dream partnership.

We first met with Leo Messi as an 18-year-old on May 5^th, 2006. The little Argentinian made his debut for both Barcelona and his country the previous season, but had made fewer than 30 first-team appearances in total. It was still more than enough to convince us he had a huge future. Below is a photo of Leo at that first ever signing in Barcelona. Since that day we have conducted six more exclusive signing sessions together. (We have also improved our photography skills considerably!)

Messi's footballing brilliance is not easy to put into words, suffice to say he is beyond hyperbole. A devastating combination of breathtaking speed and power, close control, and extraordinary technical ability lands him in a league of his own. For all his talent, even the outstanding Cristiano Ronaldo cannot get close. So inevitable was Messi's Ballon d'Or triumph that the Portuguese didn't even bother to attend at the ceremony in Zurich.

Messi's hat-trick of Ballon d'Or awards coincides with three consecutive La Liga wins for Barcelona. It's no coincidence. Since the beginning of the 2008/09 season, Messi has fired a remarkable 169 goals in 187 Barcelona appearances, with dozens of assists to boot. Never before has a player dominated world football quite like this at the tender age of 24. He has become only the fourth player to win the Ballon d'Or three times, alongside legends Marco van Basten, Michel Platini and Johan Cruyff. Messi will eclipse them all.

Along with dozens of individual accolades, Messi has accumulated five La Liga titles, three Champions League wins and a Copa del Rey. Indeed, the only piece of silverware missing from his sparkling CV is a World Cup with Argentina. At 24, however, he has time on his side. He will get further chances to emulate the feats of Pele and Diego Maradona at international level. In terms of pure ability though, he is more than a match for the pair of them already.

"Off the pitch I am just normal," said Messi in Zurich. And he's right. Humble, unassuming and polite, he is a pleasure to work with. On the pitch, however, he is unlike any footballer the world has ever seen.

Our most recent meeting with Leo came on December 5th of last year, just over a month ago (pictured below). You can view our fantastic range of personally signed Messi products - including home and away shirts, boots and photos - here.

Follow Icons on Twitter and Facebook for news on our signings, and a chance to win amazing signed football memorabilia!

We are delighted to congratulate Icon Leo Messi on winning his third consecutive Ballon d'Or award. The 24-year-old Barcelona and Argentina superstar beat team-mate Xavi and Real Madrid rival Cristiano Ronaldo to land the prestigious title of world's best player. 

After legends Marco van Basten, Michel Platini and Johan Cruyff, Messi becomes the fourth player to win the award three times. And at such a young age, he is perfectly placed to smash the record set by his predeccesors in years to come. 

Messi played the starring role in Barcelona's Champions League triumph last season, and was named man of the match in the final against Manchester United. He also won the Primera División with Barcelona, as well as the the UEFA Super Cup, Club World Cup and Spanish Super Cup. 

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, Brazil legend Pele and UEFA president Michel Platini were among a host of leading football figures to lavish praise on Messi at the awards ceremony in Zurich. 

At Icons we have enjoyed an excellent relationship with Leo, having conducted our first signing with him when he was just 18. We met up with him for our sixth signing session together in December 2011. You can see our full range of signed Messi products here.

We are also proud to say that six of the FIFA 2011 World XI are on the Icons roster. Iker Casillas; Xabi Alonso; Andres Iniesta; Wayne Rooney; Cristiano Ronaldo; Leo Messi - the world's best six-a-side team?!

The rest of the World XI is made up of Sergio Ramos; Gerard Pique; Dani Alves; Nemanja Vidic and Xavi. We are working on adding more of those names to our list, so sign up to our newsletter and follow us on Twitter for the latest news!

2011 has been a whirlwind for Liverpool's explosive striker Luis Suarez. Following his £22.7m transfer from Dutch champions Ajax in January, Suarez has established himself as one of the most dangerous strikers in the Premier League and a worthy proprietor to Liverpool's iconic no7 shirt. This week we met up with the Uruguayan hotshot in London for our second signing session together. 

An unspectacular return of 11 goals in 29 appearances for Liverpool in 2011 does not tell the full story for Suarez. Boundless energy and enthusiasm combined with outstanding skill and technique have made him a Kop favourite. The fiery Uruguayan was an instant hit at Anfield, scoring 16 minutes into his debut against Stoke City in February. He has been Liverpool's shining light all year. He further endeared himself to Kopites with his first Merseyside derby goal against Everton in a 2-0 win in October.

Suarez has never been a character to shy away from the spotlight, and since his move to England he has made for compulsive viewing. Goals continue to arrive sporadically for the Uruguayan, but he has been at the heart of Liverpool's finest moments this year. When the ball is not at his feet, he is usually furiously barking orders at teammates or madly sprinting after lost causes. He has tireless endeavour to match sublime talent, and he has become one of the most entertaining (and controversial) players around.

While trophies at Liverpool remain a work in progress, Suarez has already tasted glory with Uruguay in 2011 at the Copa America in Argentina. One of the stars of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, Suarez was similarly effective this summer in Argentina. He was named Player of the Tournament and scored four goals in total, including a brace in the semi-final against Peru and one in the final against Paraguay. His excellent form at international level continued when he sensationally netted all four of Uruguay's goals as they beat Chile 4-0 in a World Cup qualifier in early November. He now boasts 26 goals in 52 games for Uruguay, and it's surely only a matter of time before the floodgates open at Liverpool too.

We held our first signing with Luis back in March of this year, and we were delighted to catch up with him for a second time this week. Check out our superb new range of signed products from the Liverpool star.

The famous no7 shirt

Brand new Adidas boot

Trademark goal celebration

To view the full range click here

The announcement of FIFA's nominees for the Goal of the Year Award always creates a buzz at Icons. Football is our passion, and nothing gets our juices flowing like sensational goals. Leo Messi, Wayne Rooney, Zlatan Ibrahimovic - this year's list features some stellar names. But there is one man who knew more about scoring goals than any of them... We only wish we could have signed him up at Icons.

Ferenc Puskás was captain and chief magician of Hungary's great 'Magical Magyars' team of the 1950s and the most prolific European goalscorer of all time. Now, you may well be familiar with the name of the Real Madrid legend, but how much do you really know about Puskás? In 2009 the FIFA Goal of the Year Award was renamed in his honour. But before we take a look at all the nominees for the 2011 FIFA Puskás Award, we'll spare some time for the man who lent it his name.

In a remarkable career that lasted from 1943 until 1966, Ferenc Puskás - who passed away at the age of 79 in 2006 - scored 616 goals in 620 club games and 83 in 84 for Hungary. He won an Olympic gold medal, ten domestic titles in Hungary and Spain, and a trio of European Cups with Real Madrid. 

The short, stocky striker made his footballing breakthrough at Hungarian side Kispest, where he scored a remarkable 187 goals in 177 games between 1943 and 1949. Kispest became the Hungarian Army team in 1949 and changed its name to Budapest Honved, hence the nickname 'The Galloping Major' that Puskás later acquired. During the 50s Puskás - who had a sledgehammer of a left foot - scored 165 goals in 164 games for Honved, and thrived in a Hungary side that dominated world football.

The 'Magical Magyars' were Olympic Champions in 1952 and runners-up at the 1954 World Cup, where Puskás played (and scored) in the final against West Germany despite injury. In the years prior to that unfortunate 3-2 defeat, Puskás had been the inspiration behind an unbeaten run of 32 games by Hungary's 'Golden Team'. That run included the 'Match of the Century' against England at Wembley in 1953 in which Puskás scored a brace in a legendary 6-3 win. He scored two more when they hammered them 7-1 a year later in Budapest too. The Magyars were broken up after the Hungarian Revolution in 1956 and Puskás emigrated to Spain. After refusing to return to Hungary he was banned for two years by UEFA but eventually joined Real Madrid in 1958.

For an all-conquering Madrid side, Puskás smashed 242 goals in 262 games, winning the Spanish Pichichi four times in eight seasons. Between 1960-65 Puskás won five consecutive La Liga titles with Madrid. He won consecutive European Cups in his first two years in Spain too, and won it again in 1966. In 1962 he even turned out for the Spain's national side at the World Cup in Chile having taken Spanish nationality. Still a lethal force till the end, he finally retired at the age of 38 in 1966.

Back to the present now, and the list of nominees for the 2011 FIFA Puskás Award features some goals that the great man himself would be proud of. Watch them at the links below and let us know your favourite on Twitter @icons_football

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Benjamin De Ceulaer (Belgium)

Giovani Dos Santos (Mexico)

Julio Gomez (Mexico)

Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Sweden)

Lisandro Lopez (Argentina)

Leo Messi (Argentina)

Neymar (Brazil)

Heather O'Reilly (USA)

Wayne Rooney (England)

Dejan Stankovic (Serbia)

Icons will be conducting an exclusive signing session with Arsenal captain and talisman Robin Van Persie this week. One of the deadliest strikers in the world, we couldn't be happier to have the sensational Dutchman on board. Pre-order signed shirts, boots and photos now and have them in time for Christmas.

Arsenal's Robin Van Persie is blasting his way into the record books. With 31 goals in 29 Premier League games in 2011 – including ten in his last five – the masterful Dutchman is closing in on Alan Shearer's record of 36 goals in a calendar year. 

Van Persie is averaging 1.07 goals per game in 2011. No other player in Premier League history has sustained such a high rate of goalscoring over a full year. Indeed, back when Shearer set the record in 1995, his goals came at the lower rate of 0.87 per game. The same applies for Thierry Henry's 34-goal haul in 2004. In other words, what we are witnessing from the rampant Van Persie is unheard of in the Premier League. Statistically, the 28-year-old can claim to be the best striker the Premier League has ever seen.

Form is temporary but Van Persie – who inherited the Arsenal captaincy from the departed Cesc Fabregas this summer – has maintained this level of performance for nine months now (discounting the close season). This is not simply a man in form; this is a man cementing his status as one of the best players in the world. Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger has always seen Van Persie as the eventual successor to fellow Arsenal and Holland legend Dennis Bergkamp. It is now clear the comparisons are justified.

Van Persie is a graceful player, but the deft touches and subtle movement are complimented by utterly devastating finishing. Van Persie is a master of both power and finesse, and a frequent scorer of stunning goals. His game is varied and unpredictable, and although predominantly left-footed, his right foot – or "chocolate leg", as he affectionately terms it – has become an equally dangerous weapon in recent seasons.

Wenger brought Van Persie to Arsenal from Dutch side Feyenoord at a cost of £2.75m in 2004. He can count that purchase among his very best. While precociously gifted, however, the young Dutchman was temperamental and injury-prone. But Wenger is a man who knows how to extract the absolute best from his players. The ill-discipline has been tempered, and a more mature Van Persie now seems to have put the worst of his injury problems behind him.

Injuries have certainly proved Van Persie's biggest hurdle, and his progress at Arsenal has been stalled on numerous occasions since 2004. Until now, every one of his seasons in an Arsenal shirt has been blighted by injury. He counts a broken toe, a fractured fifth metatarsal, a recurrent knee injury and a twisted ankle among his worst, and has never once finished a season with 30 league appearances. Arsenal will be hoping this is the year that changes.

Injury prevented him from scoring his first goal until January last season, but since the floodgates opened the goals have continued to flow. He finished 2010/11 with 18, equalling the record held by Cristiano Ronaldo and Thierry Henry for goals between the turn of the year to the end of the season. That outstanding run also included goals in nine consecutive away games, and he finished only two behind joint leaders Dimitar Berbatov and Carlos Tevez in the race for the Golden Boot, despite only featuring in 25 games.

This season he leads the scoring charts with 13 goals from 12 games. Since surpassing 100 goals for Arsenal in October he has added another 10. He's now left with seven games to score the six goals required to beat Alan Shearer's calendar year record.

Whether he manages it or not, 2011 is sure to go down in Premier League history as Robin Van Persie's year.

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This week's Forward Friday is a tribute to Celtic legend Henrik Larsson, the Swedish striker who lit up Scottish football for seven glorious seasons in the peak of his long and successful career.

Henrik Larsson's arrival at Celtic in the summer of 1997 was a seminal moment in the club's history. Celtic paid Dutch side Feyenoord a paltry £650,000 for the dreadlocked Swede; it would prove the greatest signing they ever made.

Arriving shortly after Old Firm rivals Rangers had secured their record-equaling ninth consecutive Scottish league title, the talented young Swedish striker reinvigorated Celtic, firing 16 league goals in his debut season as they overturned their Glasgow adversaries to win their first title in a decade. Larsson would go on to score an incredible 242 goals in 313 matches for the Bhoys, making him the third highest scorer in the club's history.

In his seven years in Scotland, Larsson won four titles, two Scottish Cups and two Scottish League Cups. He top scored in five of his seven seasons at the club, and his impact was such that he was voted into Celtic's greatest team of all time and named their greatest ever foreign player. He had spells at European giants Barcelona and Manchester United in his later years but it was at Celtic that he was at his majestic best.

After a calamitous debut in which he inadvertently set up a Hibernian player to score with a stray pass in a 2-1 defeat at Easter Road, few Celtic fans would have earmarked the gangly young Swede as a legend in the making. But in his second season at Celtic Park he set the tone for what was to follow, doubling his goal tally from the previous season from 19 to 38 in all competitions.

After 12 goals in 12 games at the beginning of the 1999/00 season, Larsson suffered a terrible career-threatening injury in a UEFA Cup tie against Lyon. It was initially feared that Larsson had suffered a compound leg fracture, but x-rays showed the injury was not as bad as first feared. He spent eight months on the sidelines nonetheless, but the following season he made an emphatic return, scoring a remarkable 53 goals in 50 games as Celtic secured a domestic treble. In the three seasons that followed he continued in the same vein, scoring 35, 44 and 40 goals.

106 appearances for Sweden - many of which he made as captain - yielded 37 goals in an international career that spanned 16 years. The 'King of Kings' was an idol for club and country, and was worshipped inside Celtic Park for his loyalty and goals. He loved the club as much as they loved him, and when he did finally leave in 2004 for Frank Rijkaard's Barcelona, it was with a heavy heart that he said goodbye to the Parkhead faithful.

At Barcelona, Larsson proved he could cut it at the highest level of club football, and his one-year deal was extended for a second as the Catalans secured back-to-back La Liga titles. It was during that second season that Larsson inspired a famous Champions League final comeback against Arsenal. Barcelona were a goal down before Larsson came on as a substitute and provided assists for Samuel Eto'o and Juliano Belletti to win the game 2-1. That game-changing performance was probably the finest moment of his club career.

Before he moved back to Sweden to play for his old club Helsingborg, his teammate Ronaldinho - then the best player in the world - described his admiration for the striker: "With Henrik leaving us at the end of the season this club is losing a great player, no question. But I am also losing a great friend. Henrik is my idol and now that I am playing next to him it is fantastic," he said. Indeed, Larsson had proved himself one of Europe's deadliest strikers.

After three more years at Helsingborg, and a brief but successful loan spell at Manchester United in 2007, Larsson finally called time on his playing career at the age of 38 in 2009. He scored an overall total of 434 goals in 772 club appearances spanning 20 years. For the 242 of those that came in green and white, he will never be forgotten.

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Take a look at our fantastic signed Henrik Larsson prints here and follow Icons on Twitter and like us on Facebook for your chance to win amazing pieces of signed football memorabilia!