Most expensive forwards: 12.0m – Lionel Messi, Neymar, Cristiano Ronaldo 11.0m – Harry Kane 10.5m – Luis Suarez 10.0m – Sergio Aguero, Antoine Griezmann, Eden Hazard, Romelu Lukaku

Lionel Messi, Neymar and Cristiano Ronaldo are budget-busters, aren’t they? To accommodate one or more of them, FIFA.com’s McDonald’s FIFA World Cup™ Fantasy scouts have identified three cut-price, good-value forwards.

Falcao (8.5m) Colombia Los Cafeteros scored more than any other team except the Netherlands in the group stage at Brazil 2014, and with Japan, Poland and Senegal dates in wait, they will hope to challenge for the distinction once again. Leading their line, and benefitting from the invention of James Rodriguez and Juan Cuadrado, will be Falcao. Having missed the last World Cup through injury, ‘El Tigre’ is chomping at the bit to impress. Colombia’s all-time leading marksman is fresh from two superb seasons for Monaco, for whom he has hit 50 goals for in 75 league appearances overall.

Same-priced forwards: Iago Aspas, Roberto Firmino, Mario Gomez, Javier Hernandez, Sadio Mane, Arkadiusz Milik, Ivan Perisic, Mo Salah, Jamie Vardy.

Goncalo Guedes (7.5m) Portugal Boasting electric pace and breathtaking tricks, the 21-year-old is a natural winger. Fernando Santos nevertheless stuck him up front in Portugal’s last two warm-up friendlies and Guedes dazzled. The man who spent 2017/18 on loan at Valencia from Paris Saint-Germain scored a brace in the 3-0 win over Algeria last Thursday and linked up admirably with Cristiano Ronaldo. After a showdown with Spain, Portugal will fancy their chances of racking up the goals against Morocco and Iran.

Same-priced forwards: Andreas Cornelius, Marco Fabian, Reza Ghoochannejhad, Paolo Guerrero, Alexsandar Mitrovic, Ahmed Musa, Rodrigo, Moussa Sow, Carlos Vela.

Alexsandar Mitrovic (7.5m) Serbia ‘Mitro’ has incredibly netted 14 goals in his last 16 starts for Serbia. The imposing striker enters the tournament having bagged a hat-trick and got an assist in the 5-1 thrashing of Bolivia in their final warm-up friendly. Mladen Krstajic will unleash the 23-year-old on Costa Rica and Switzerland before a meeting with Brazil.

Same-priced forwards: Andreas Cornelius, Marco Fabian, Reza Ghoochannejhad, Goncalo Guedes, Paolo Guerrero, Ahmed Musa, Rodrigo, Moussa Sow, Carlos Vela.

Alex Iwobi (6.0m) Nigeria The 22-year-old Arsenal man may not function as an out-an-out striker for the Super Eagles, but from the right of an attacking-midfield triumvirate he has netted five goals in his last ten internationals, including a fine finish against England earlier this month. The nephew of Jay-Jay Okocha, who electrified at France 1998, assists are Iwobi’s speciality and he will have the likes of Odion Ighalo, Kelechi Iheanacho and Ahmed Musa to aim for. At that price, a player all but guaranteed to start against Croatia, Iceland and Argentina is a steal.

Same-priced forwards: Martin Braithwaite, Kasper Dolberg, Breel Embolo, Hwang Heechan, Odion Ighalo, Saber Khalifa, David Kownacki, Luka Jovic, Mathew Leckie, Gelson Martins, Andrew Nabbout, Shinji Okazaki, Dimitrios Petratos, Marko Pjaca, Alexsandar Prijovic, Raul Ruidiaz, Taison, Lukasz Teodorczyk, Gabriel Torres, Lucas Vazquez.