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The World Cup 2010 finals in South Africa will certainly have many firsts in football - such as the first finals to be staged on the African continent, or the first World Cup to be held in South Africa. What could also happen is for a striker amongst the various countries involved to have his first top scorer award in the competition which the Golden Boot often refers to. However, who would have the ability to deserve such a prize?

There will be many lists drawn up by fans and experts alike that are marking down Cristiano Ronaldo as the most likely player to return home to Portugal with the Golden Boot. The striker first came to the fore on the world stage with Manchester United and scored over 40 goals in one incredible season during his time at Old Trafford. Ronaldo has consistently notched double figures in goals in the past three seasons at club level and is well on his way to another with Real Madrid. While his record with Portugal has not been as notable, he is a player for the big occasion. With the world watching, do not discount Ronaldo from lifting his game and grabbing a chance to cement his status as the best player in the world.

Spain's Fernando Torres has endured a torrid season with Liverpool and injuries but he is due for a huge tournament. The former Atletico Madrid striker has nothing to prove at club level and despite playing only 22 games in the English Premier League this season, Torres still managed to score 18 goals - sometimes taking to the pitch only half-fit. He has averaged only a goal in less than every three games for Spain but Torres might be packing a greater punch as he waits to vent after a year of frustration and unfulfilled potential.

Coincidentally, Torres could be vying for the Golden Boot with international strike partner David Villa. The Valencia hit man topped the charts two years ago in Euro 2008 and is a player that will set the transfer market alight this summer when his club finally allows him to leave. Villa has scored more than 20 goals a season at club level in each of the past five seasons and apart from having the distraction of a possible transfer affecting his concentration, he is all set to show the world again his limitless ability in front of goal.

A discussion on a World Cup top goalscorer will not be complete without any reference to an England striker. There is no mistaking who will lead the line for the Three Lions in South Africa. Wayne Rooney has already been hailed as the player who can win the tournament for his country all on his own and it is certainly a heavy burden to shoulder. But the Manchester United striker is as fearless as the kings of the jungle that are imprinted on his national team jersey. His record goalscoring season with the Red Devils also signals a player that is hitting form at the right time. At only 24, Rooney is not even approaching an age that is often regarded as an average player's peak. One can only wonder how much more he will achieve in the years to come.

There are many more players who have the quality to score enough goals to not only claim the Golden Boot as an individual accolade but also to help their national team to football glory. Established players like the above-named are all proven at both club and international level but who is to say that there would not be an unknown who will rise to prominence when everyone least expects it? Names like Toto Schillaci and Roger Milla were hardly household names before they stirred the imaginations of fans worldwide with their goalscoring exploits in past World Cups. The tournament will not be any lesser if another fairy tale story could be attached to the Golden Boot in the South African World Cup 2010 finals.

Are you expecting to see a news headline like, "Soccer World Cup 2010 Cancelled - South Africa, Not Ready!" What about this one, "SA not Capable of Hosting a Successful Cup!" What about, "2010 Has No Benefit for the Average South African!". Many believe South Africa is not capable of hosting a World Cup, citing a bucket full of problems from lack of infrastructure to Swine Flu! Well the IOC, FIFA & the SA government disagree and they all believe that the hosting of a big even is not only possible but will be the best ever and the answer to our economic woes to boot, and I for one, am pleased, as my woes are increasingly nasty.

What about property? According to the hype, by 2010 and 1 day we will all be retired with fat property portfolios, pretty cool hey? But is it true? Were the Chinese really in an once-in-a-lifetime property-buying opportunity during the Olympics? Karen Robinson in The Sunday Times tells us that - Athens, Sydney, Atlanta and Barcelona - all saw property prices outperform their national markets in the 5 years leading up to the games. Barcelona - most impressive - prices rose 49% than they did in the rest of Spain. The differential in Sydney was 11%, in Athens 9%, and in Atlanta 6%.

No every one is so sure the growth is a given, Emma Thelwell notes that not all the games took place amid ongoing property booms & London games will likely coincide with a property slump, so will London see growth? It seems more likely to be small, and another factor is that prices in east London climbed 40% ahead of the national trend over the past few years, so they are starting from a high. In South Sydney, far from the Olympic stadium, prices rose significantly faster than in the Olympic corridor in the run up to the games and Michael Bounds published a paper on the Games' impact on the property market says it was essentially because the area was already undergoing regeneration.

So if you insist on trying to make your fortune out of SA or London property markets, look for areas that will do best out of regeneration. Sorry looks like it depends where your property lies in the scheme of things. So in South Africa I guess the regeneration of former, "urban decay" areas will probably be a better bet that upmarket areas in terms of % growth, as a result of 2010? Some say the tournament will never happen anyway, they believe SA will not be ready, that Swine Flu or political chaos will kill the dream? Not according to Blatter who said in an interview with the FM, "There is no reason to believe that we will have to re-evaluate the situation of the 2010 World Cup due to any organizational issues... We are convinced that the World Cup will take place in SA."

Is Blatter gambling, I doubt it? Remember that FIFA's makes 86% of its revenue from this single event that is staged every four years, so they leave nothing to chance when it comes to the World Cup and it seems to be paying off. The federation's 2007- 2010 revenue budget is US$3,2bn, and it has already raised $3,1bn through the sale of sponsorship and broadcasting rights for the South African World Cup - double the $1,8bn revenue it made in Germany. So what else will 2010 have in store for South Africa! The truth is that the Soccer World Cup hardly touched German economy at all according to a report released in Germany. "The World Cup's contribution to economic growth has been negligible. It was great fun. Nothing more, nothing less."

Can this be true? Even after consulting firm Grant Thornton said that the World Cup will pump around R21.3-billion into South Africa's economy, generating an estimated R12.7-billion in direct spending and creating an estimated 159 000 new jobs? The short answer is yes, the truth is the capital expenditure always outweighs the income, the stadiums alone are reported to be costing R11- billion, road infrastructure - R14- billion, Airports Company SA - R20- billion, National Roads - R70- billion, Metro rail - R18- billion.

Goolam Ballim, (chief economist - Standard Bank) believes,"...the indirect impact may be more meaningful for a sustainable economic lift in subsequent years... it will help change the perceptions that a large number of foreign investors hold of Africa and South Africa." In the short term the country's tourism industry will benefit from the estimated three million visitors expected for the tournament, while construction and engineering companies will look to a slice of the billions to be spent on infrastructure in the lead-up to the event. So unless you are actually building the stadium, have a guest house or sell beer don't order the yacht just yet. The real good news for South Africa is the legacy of 2010. The improved infrastructure and heightened international awareness, this is the platform for success not the prize.

John Mauldin, recently voted second only to Warren Buffet as an investment guru, after visiting SA had this to say about, "Finding Value in South Africa, "There is much to like about emerging markets. That is where a great deal of the real potential growth in the coming decades will be. And South Africa will be one of the better stories. If you are not doing business there already, you should ask yourself, why not?" Wow, a strong endorsement, so the WC is coming, the stadiums are all but finished and best of all South Africa has just had a peaceful, free and democratic election - WOW!