Twice voted sexiest player at the 2006 World Cup, Blackburn Rovers' Roque Santa Cruz is a model professional in more ways than one.

German magazine Kicker and newspaper Die Welt both gave him the prestigious honour while he was with Bayern Munich.

Equally he attracted a lot of attention during his eight-year spell with the German giants where, despite some rotten luck with injuries, he became one of Europe's leading strikers.

The 26-year-old is the proud owner of a Champions League winners' medal after firing the club to the final in 2001 - although he was left on the subs bench for the famous penalty shoot-out win over Valencia.

"I played in every game up to the final but we were drawing 1-1 so the coach put on the experienced players who could take penalties," said Santa Cruz, who is married to wife Giselle and has two young children, Tobias and Fiorella.

"In the end we were champions so it's hard to argue with the decision, but it's an ambition to play in a European final and hopefully I'll do that with Blackburn.

"I did get a medal at the time. Our squad was big so even to play at all was a big deal, and I felt part of the winning team. But the medal is back home in Paraguay. Perhaps I will sell it one day," he joked.

Blackburn manager Mark Hughes splashed out £3.5million for his services in July and the Paraguay international has made an immediate impact at Ewood Park.

Santa Cruz netted on his Barclays Premier League debut by climbing off the bench and scoring to help Rovers to a 2-1 triumph at Middlesbrough. And a few days later, he celebrated his 26th birthday by getting the winning goal against MyPa-47 in the Uefa Cup.

"To score in my first game, within a few minutes, is indescribable," said Santa Cruz. "The longer you take to get your first goal, the more the pressure. I skipped that pressure.

"I don't feel like I've only been here two or three months but ages. I feel comfortable, and that is also because of the spirit in the dressing room. They're nice guys."

He grabbed further goals against Everton, Birmingham City, Sunderland and Reading in the first few weeks of the 2007/08 season as Rovers made their best start to a Barclays Premier League campaign for years.

Hughes believes Santa Cruz - already the most successful Paraguayan in English football - has overcome the ankle and knee injury problems that dogged him at Bayern and could prove to be one of the bargains of the season.

"There were a number of clubs interested in Roque, but a lot of people ended up looking at all the negatives which was his goal record and the injuries," said Hughes.

"But you have to say both were linked. He missed games and never got a real run in the team so that affected him. But he's really enjoying it here and he has scored goals from the first moment he came here. That's not an issue for him anymore.

"I knew he was a quality player but maybe he has surprised not only his team-mates but me as well with the quality he has shown in the games so far.

"He's been brought in for his European experience, and for his ability, and what he can bring to the party. He's a match winner and he'll score goals for us this year, I'm convinced of that. He will get even better once he gets to know us and we know how to get the best out of him."

Hughes has been especially delighted with the way Santa Cruz and South African striker Benni McCarthy have developed a blossoming partnership.

"Benni and Roque complement each other because Benni is a natural goalscorer who likes to link the play and drop off deep, whereas Roque likes to get on the shoulders of defenders and he gives us an aerial threat," said Hughes. "So the combinations of their qualities will cause teams problems."

Santa Cruz grew up in hillside town outside Asuncion in Paraguay and began his football journey at his local club Olimpia. He was rewarded for his superb form for the youth side by getting called up to the first team squad aged just 15 and made his full debut a year later in 1998.

His goals helped Olimpia win the Paraguayan championship in 1998 and 1999 and not long after he scooped the Paraguayan Footballer of the Year award.

German giants Bayern Munich noticed his talents and brought him to the Bundesliga at the back end of 1999. But injuries and competition for places meant first-team chances were restricted as Santa Cruz finished the season with five goals.

Santa Cruz went on to become a big fan favourite and win four Bundesliga titles with Bayern plus five domestic cups. Then after going top of the scoring charts, he made a name for himself in the pop charts.

The striker with the pop star looks linked up with German rock band Sportfreunde Stiller to sing the words "Ich, Roque" in the Austria and Germany top 40 song of the same name.

During his injury-hit eight-year stay with Bayern, Santa Cruz scored 31 goals in 155 appearances but he was a key figure for his national side, helping them qualify for the 2002 and 2006 World Cups. He is their all-time second highest goalscorer with 16 international goals.

Santa Cruz fell down the pecking order at Bayern behind Luca Toni and Miroslav Klose and his good friend and Bayern team-mate Owen Hargreaves, who helped teach him English, suggested a move to the Premier League.

And when Hughes offered him the chance to come to England and spoke of his plans for the future, Santa Cruz didn't have to think twice.

"He told me his ideas. It was a simple decision after that," said Santa Cruz who lives close to Hargreaves in Manchester.

"Hughes said I would get the opportunity to play and to learn. He said this team is competitive, but that I will only help to make it more competitive. I had a good feeling. I feel fit and strong. I feel like I can do everything now."

So how has Santa Cruz adjusted from the Bundesliga to the Premier League? "It's quite similar, except the speed," he said. "Here is much faster, but I enjoy that. I feel comfortable when the game is like that, spaces opening to move behind defenders.

"It's always been my dream to play in England. In South America, everybody watches it. Being in the Premier League is like a dream and I'm enjoying every moment. I'm very happy to be here.

"The target is to be in the European places. But you never know. What is important for me is to continue playing the way I'm doing now and to stay healthy."

And while pin-up Santa Cruz keeps hitting the back of the net, you can be sure things will be looking good for Blackburn.