Players who could yet upstage Totti

If Francesco Totti fails to become the star of the tournament, here are the likely contenders to get their hands on the Golden Ball in 2002...

Pablo Aimar (Argentina) The baby-faced kid with dancing feet and quicksilver skills has just helped Valencia win La Liga and, if coach Marcelo Bielsa trusts in him to be the fulcrum of Argentina's assault rather than another gem, Ariel Ortega, the 22-year-old could be a sensation in Japan. "He's the player most capable of exciting Argentina," says Maradona.

Michael Owen (England) With his 1998 explosion, he was our sensation, but still only did enough to earn a place on the bench in the voting for the tournament's all-star XI. This time, after winning an FA Cup single-handedly, hammering a hat-trick against Germany and winning European Footballer of the Year, you would hope that he could write even more preposterous tales.

David Trezeguet, Thierry Henry (France) The top scorer in Serie A, or the leading marksman in the Premiership? Take your pick. Such are French riches that one of this exceptional pair, but probably not both, could win the World Cup for their country, just as they did so much to land league titles for their clubs.

Michael Ballack (Germany) If Germany are to make any serious headway with their prosaic squad, they will need a few of the towering performances and crucial goals which have become the Bayer Leverkusen man's trademark this term. His country will be looking for him to be as commanding for them - and as full of himself - as Lothar Mattaus was.

Ronaldinho (Brazil) With Rivaldo facing an apparent race for fitness and Ronaldo feeling his way back, it could be the attacking flair of the Paris St-Germain player which takes centre stage. He warmed up nicely with two goals in Brazil's game against Catalonia at the weekend.

Raul (Spain) Like his underachieving football nation, it's time for Madrid's young God to unwrap his true brilliance on the biggest stage. The most prolific scorer of crucial goals the world's top club has seen, he has the ability - and such a plethora of talent abetting him - to exorcise the wretched memory of his penalty miss in Euro 2000 which gifted victory to France.