Manchester United's Wayne Rooney may have 30 goals to his name this season but Didier Drogba is only five shy of that total, giving Chelsea fans every reason to believe that this will turn out to be their season after all.Indeed, it could be argued that the two best forwards the world possesses are currently going head to head for the Premier League prize, with each as vitally important to their team as the other.
Like the race for the title itself, there is little to choose between two men capable of scoring against any defence but there is one crucial difference between the pair: Rooney is 24, Drogba turned 32 today.
Of course, being the wrong side of 30 is no longer the career-ender it used to be up to a decade or so ago.
Then, a 32-year-old was often presented with just two choices whatever his reputation: become a squad player or drop down the divisions.
Now, thanks to advancement in injury prevention and treatment and a greater understanding and acceptance of the need for footballers to refuel like athletes, players can add as many years to that total as nature will allow.
But there is no getting away from the fact that time is no longer on Drogba's side while Rooney, serious injury permitting, can expect to remain at the peak of his powers for long time to come. And, having added headers to his weaponry this season, he might even get better.
Drogba made it clear he was not ready for retirement just yet however, arguing he felt as young as he did a decade ago. So much so, in fact, that Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti often felt the need to remind him of reality from time to time.
"If you put in your head that you are 32 and you are old it is going to be difficult," Drogba reasoned. "I still feel like a kid when I am on the pitch so sometimes he has to pull me back.
"I still have the same passion for the game. I still feel hungry and I am still chasing medals. As I have said in the past, it depends on the injuries you get and this season I can say that I am lucky, or I can say that the few months that I took out last year to get my knee well are now paying off."
Chelsea will be hoping that remains the case for as long as possible, especially as strike partner Nicolas Anelka is also the wrong side of 30.
Indeed, Ancelotti's squad does appear to be lopsided when it comes to the striking department as the other two members, Daniel Sturridge and Fabio Borini are 20 and 18 respectively.
Franco Di Santo, who turns 21 next month, is another option but the Italian has not hit the headlines while on loan at Blackburn this season, having found the net just once all term.
It is no surprise therefore that Chelsea have been linked with a number of blue chip forwards including David Villa of Valencia and Wolfsburg's Edin Dzeko.
Whoever does arrive at Stamford Bridge in the summer is therefore likely to become Drogba's strike partner - and then his eventual replacement.
