Top 3: Premier League Golden Boot winners of the 21st Century

With the season coming to a close and Robin Van Persie odds on to secure a second successive Golden Boot this season, it's time to relive those early 2000's memories and take a look at my personal top three winners since the year 2000.

Third Place : Dimitar Berbatov

It was a close call between two Manchester United players past and present: Berbatov and van Persie. The classy Bulgarian, on a personal level, just pips it because of his effortless first touches, his amazing natural technique and some outrageous feats of skill during his time at Tottenham, Manchester United and now Fulham. A joy to watch and the Premier League is certainly richer for his contribution despite having his critics. Joint Golden Boot winner with Carlos Tevez in United's 2010-11 title winning season with 20 goals.

Second Place : Cristiano Ronaldo

Just wow. Undoubtedly would have been this generation's finest talent if it was not for the pesky presence of Lionel Messi. With 31 league goals and a strike rate of 0.91 goals per game including also winning the European Golden Shoe in the 2007-08 campaign it is no wonder a certain Real Madrid came calling for his services. Unintentionally making it two United players out of two, it will be a relief to hear that the winner has never turned out for Manchester United.

First Place : Thierry Henry

A class act. Nothing more to say. Won the Golden Boot for three successive seasons (2003/04; 2004/05; 2005/06) having scored 30, 25 and 27 goals in each campaign respectively. For those first two seasons Henry also picked up two successive European Golden Shoe awards. Won his first Golden Boot back in the 2001/02 season meaning in total he picked up the award 4 times in 5 seasons. An astonishing feat. An honorary mention should go to Didier Drogba who won the award twice and came very close to making this list but sadly was shunted out by some of the best football players to have graced the English game.

Disagree? Have your own favourite? Join the debate: @footyfriends @tomllew

Tomos Llewellyn @tomllew