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Golden boot Drogba ends season on high

Drogba finished as leading league scorer with 29 goals and now turns his attention to 2010 World Cup where Ivorian ‘Elephants’ face a mammoth task to survive a first-round cull after drawing Brazil, Portugal and North Korea.

Ivorian team-mate Salomon Kalou was also on target for Chelsea and Senegal striker and Marseille skipper Mamadou Niang was another African celebrating winning a national championship.

ENGLAND

DIDIER DROGBA (Chelsea)

Drogba claimed golden boot as top scorer in English Premier League with a second-half hat-trick in Chelsea’s title-clinching 8-0 demolition of Wigan. Drogba finished with 29 league goals, three more than Wayne Rooney, and 36 in all competitions.

There was also a flash of the petulant side of the Ivory Coast striker as he got involved in an unseemly spat with team-mate Frank Lampard over who should take the first of Chelsea’s two penalties. Lampard prevailed but let Drogba take the spot-kick when the match was safe and it was all hugs and smiles at the end.

SALOMON KALOU (Chelsea)

Ivorian Kalou also played a central role in Chelsea’s victory, setting up Nicolas Anelka for the Blues’ opening goal and then getting on the scoresheet himself with a deft close-range finish after a neat one-two with Lampard.

EMMANUEL ADEBAYOR (Man City)

The Togo striker produced a listless display in Manchester City’s 1-1 draw at West Ham, in common with his team-mates, who looked distinctly deflated after missing out on a top-four finish. Adebayor now faces a summer of uncertainty over his future with City poised to try and lure Fernando Torres from Liverpool as a strike partner for Carlos Tevez.

KOLO TOURE (Man City)

The veteran Ivory Coast defender was one of Manchester City’s more impressive performers in a match in which neither side had anything to play for.

AYEGBENI YAKUBU (Everton)

The Nigeria striker came on as a second-half substitute in the 1-0 win over Portsmouth and immediately had an unsettling impact on the FA Cup finalists defence. Tested goalkeeper Jamie Ashdown a couple of times before Everton pressure finally paid off with Diniyar Bilyaletdinov’s last-minute winner.

JOHN UTAKA (Portsmouth)

Nigerian striker played all 90 minutes of Portsmouth’s 1-0 defeat at Everton but an ineffective display did little to persuade manager Avram Grant that he should start in Saturday’s FA Cup final against Chelsea. Ivory Coast striker Aruna Dindane, rested on Sunday, could start ahead of him.

AARON MOKOENA (Portsmouth)

Mokoena, the South Africa World Cup captain and defender, was substituted in the 66^th minute of Portsmouth’s defeat at Everton as Pompey boss Avram Grant rested key players ahead of FA Cup final.

STEVEN PIENAAR (Everton)

Compatriot Steven Pienaar returned to the Everton midfield and lasted full 90 minutes after recovering from minor ankle injury.

FRANCE

MAMADOU NIANG (Marseille)

Marseille captain Niang enjoyed highlight of his club career as his crucial goal opened the door for the Mediterranean giants to claim their first French title in 18 years with a 3-1 midweek win over Rennes. Senegalese forward Niang slammed in a rebound in the 76^th minute to put Marseille 2-1 up and send Stade Velodrome into raptures. He also notched a fine goal, his 17^th of the season in the league, in a 3-2 defeat at Lille.

MAROUANE CHAMAKH (Bordeaux)

Morocco striker Chamakh bade an emotional farewell to Bordeaux fans during a 2-0 win over Sochaux. After eight years at the club he is expected to join Arsenal in the close-season transfer window and received a standing ovation when substituted in the 71^st minute of his final home game at Stade Chaban-Delmas.

BOBO BALDE (Valenciennes)

Guinea centreback Balde made an unwitting intervention in the race for Champions League qualification when he gifted Lyon a potentially crucial 2-2 draw with an injury-time own goal. Mid-table Valenciennes were on course for victory when the giant former Celtic defender inadvertently deflected Lisandro Lopez’s shot past his own goalkeeper in the second minute of stoppage time to keep Lyon on course for Europe.

GERMANY

MOHAMADOU IDRISSOU (Freiburg)

Cameroon forward Idrissou scored his ninth goal of the season in the 3-1 win over Dortmund and picked up a yellow card in what could have made his last appearance for the Bundesliga club. His contract runs out at the end of June and although offered an extension, is reported to be disappointed with the terms.

PAPISS CISSE (Freiburg)

After Idrissou put Freiburg ahead, the Bundesliga side’s Senegal forward came off the bench after an hour and scored twice against Dortmund, including an injury-time header, to take tally for season to six goals.

ITALY

SAMUEL ETO’O (Inter Milan)

Tireless Cameroon forward was again used as a wide player in a three-pronged attack as Serie A leaders Inter held off a spirited Chievo fightback to win 4-3 at San Siro. Eto’o did not get on the scoresheet but was involved in much of Inter’s best attacking work. It was his skilful juggling in the box and then fired left-foot cross that resulted in a Chievo own goal to equalise at 1-1. He then provided the pass for Diego Milito to make the score 3-1. And in the second half it was only two brilliant saves from Stefano Sorrentino that kept Eto’o’s name out of the scorers column.

SULLEY MUNTARI (Inter Milan)

Ghana midfielder came on as second-half substitute in win over Chievo to replace Brazilian Thiago Motta. It was a move that could prove significant for the Champions League final on May 22 against Bayern Munich as Motta will be suspended. Muntari had the misfortune of coming on when Inter where cruising and losing concentration when they were 4-1 up although he was not at fault for either of Chievo’s subsequent goals. He almost played in Mario Balotelli as Inter finished strongly and looked threatening.

SPAIN

FREDDY KANOUTE (Sevilla)

Mali international Kanoute scored 11^th league goal of season although it was in vain as 10-man Sevilla crashed 3-2 at home against champions Barcelona. Kanoute scored on 68 minutes to make it 3-1 but Barcelona held on at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan stadium. Despite the defeat Sevilla stay fourth and occupy final Champions League qualifying spot heading into final weekend of season.

SEYDOU KEITA (Barcelona)

Mali midfielder Keita started and played the whole 90 minutes as Barcelona held on to win in Sevilla and took a giant step towards retaining the La Liga title. Keita was full of energy against old club Sevilla and shrugged off a knock in the early stages to complete the match. The 30-year-old left-footer started last six games in all competitions.

MATEUS MANUCHO (Valladolid)

Angola forward Manucho led the line as Valladolid beat relegation rivals Racing Santander 2-1 to keep alive hopes of dodging drop. The 27-year-old, who had a brief spell at Manchester United, has been a key figure for Valladolid since Javier Clemente took charge and the club have lost just one of last seven matches.