Bayern Munich’s Germany international Mario Gómez (left) has been impressive in the past month, in contrast to his near-disastrous start to the season. He now has a realistic opportunity to end the year at the top of the FTBL world ranking of strikers.

Gómez assumed the leadership after Valencia's David Villa, the former leader, dropped 14 rating points in the goalless draw against Deportivo La Coruña in La Liga and was pushed down a notch.

Only English Premier League and French Ligue 1 players still retain a chance, in theory, of demoting the German, given that all other top leagues are now in the holiday break. In reality, only Manchester United’s Wayne Rooney has enough potential (he trails by approximately 20 points) to mount a challenge. But to make it happen, he will have to earn an incredible 66.64 rating points in the FTBL system in the remaining 2 games before the holidays.

True, the Red Devils could take out their frustration on their next two opponents after the humiliation at the hands of Fulham and manage two huge wins, especially since the opponents will be lowly Wigan Athletic and Hull City. But even then Rooney will still have to score 3 to 4 goals. Gómez, therefore, appears quite secure at the top at least until the end of this year.