Emmanuel Adebayor was coming up through the ranks in the early 2000s, becoming one of the most coveted goalscorers in Europe in 2005. He was a tall striker, which made him incredible in the air but also meant he could use his physique to get around defenders. He may have had a hot streak, but he could combine with his teammates to produce consistent results.
However, on the international level, he had a bit more pressure. A product of Togo, he had set in his mind one goal: lead his nation to the World Cup. For such a small country in the competitive and underrated African confederation, it was a tall task to do, yet at 20 years of age and playing for Monaco, he was the most famous Togolese player in soccer.