The most consistent goalscorer in the German Bundesliga, Mario Gomez will be eager to shine for his country at UEFA EURO 2012 following disappointing showings at the last two major tournaments. Six goals in as many qualifying games suggests he can successfully transport his exceptional productivity for FC Bayern München to the international stage.

• Born in south-west Germany to a Spanish father and German mother, Gomez made his breakthrough in 2005/06 with six goals for VfB Stuttgart; was leading scorer the following season with 14 in the club's shock Bundesliga triumph and named German footballer of the year.

• Registered 19 Bundesliga goals in 2007/08 plus three in four UEFA Champions League games to earn a place in the Germany team at UEFA EURO 2008, where his form strangely deserted him and he failed to score.

• Replaced Luca Toni as the focal point of Bayern's attack in 2009/10 after moving for a Bundesliga record €30m; scored in five successive top-flight games before Christmas and registered ten league goals − plus three in the German Cup − in total during the club's double-winning campaign.

• A late substitute during Bayern's loss to FC Internazionale Milano in the 2010 UEFA Champions League final, he made four appearances at the FIFA World Cup in South Africa a few weeks later − all from the bench − as Germany reached the last four.

• Finished top scorer in the 2010/11 Bundesliga with 28 goals − a total which included five hat-tricks, one of which was against Stuttgart − but his efforts were in vain as Borussia Dortmund beat Bayern to the title.

• Scored UEFA Champions League hat-tricks the following season against SSC Napoli (3-2) and, in the round of 16, FC Basel 1893, the latter as he equalled Dado Pršo's record for the quickest four-goal haul in the competition (23 minutes).

UEFA honours
UEFA European Championship: runner-up 2008
UEFA Champions League: runner-up 2010, 2012