His name is Archie Thompson and he has done more than anybody else to make the A-League what it is today.

The New Zealand-born striker has never played in the FIFA World Cup, the English Premier League or Italy's Serie A.

But he's been one of the A-League's most consistent performers and he has been banging in the goals – 84 of them – for Melbourne Victory ever since he opened his account in the club's first match in season one against Sydney FC.

Nine years down the track he was at it again when he notched a splendid hat-trick against the Sky Blues in a classic 3-3 draw at Etihad Stadium at the weekend.

It was Thompson at his vibrant, pugnacious and dangerous best: you just know when he is in the mood because he wants the ball all the time and whenever he gets it there is always going to be one thing on his mind.

Thompson, who has played 54 times for Australia, is one of the true characters of Australian football.

Would of preferred the win but I'll take a hatty any day ☺️#bleedblue http://t.co/SHdGkplm5O — Archie Thompson (@10Archie) December 14, 2014

He also is a records man.

He still holds the world record for the highest number of goals scored in an international match when he helped himself to 13 of them in a World Cup qualifier against American Samoa which the Socceroos won 31-0 in front of a paltry crowd of 3500 at Coffs Harbour in 2001.

There were 55,000 people crammed into Etihad Stadium to witness his next major scoring feat when he hit the net five times in Victory's 6-0 demolition of Adelaide United in the A-League grand final in 2007.

No other man has scored so many goals in an A-League match.

His hat-trick on the weekend took his tally to a staggering 84 goals from 194 games.

He is the all-time leading scorer in the A-League, ahead of that other goalscoring machine Shane Smeltz.

Thompson should play his 200th game for Victory a month or so after the AFC Asian Cup but, at 36, it will be very hard for him to reach the magic mark of 100 goals.

Although Thompson's predatory instincts in the penalty box have become the stuff of legend it would be completely wrong to dismiss him as a mere goalscorer with the knack of being in the right place at the right time.

Apart from the fact that it requires a degree of skill and experience to be able to do that consistently over many years, Thompson brings much more to Victory than goals.

His pace, directness, positivity and, let's not forget, his dribbling ability provides Victory with an avenue for its attacks.

His effervescent play often makes him a target for the opposition but he never complains.

Whenever he is pushed, kicked or sent flying by some unscrupulous defender he just takes it on the chin, gets up, dusts himself off and gets on with the job.

He must be one of the referees' favourite players.

Thompson is also a favourite with the media. The man who has described Brazil prodigy Neymar as "overrated" may not be in the human headline class of John Kosmina or Miron Bleiberg but he is always available to journalists with his wit and willingness to tell it the way it is ... or the way he thinks it is.

Like his football, with Thompson it's always a case of what you see is what you get.

He is always happy to do whatever it takes to promote his club or his game.

Some players might go to corporate functions or promotional activities with reluctance or reservations and only because they have to.

But not Thompson. He knows his responsibilities as a professional footballer and loves the interaction with the fans, which might explain why the Victory fans love him to bits.

Ernie Merrick, his former coach at Victory, still regards Thompson as a special player.

"I have always believed Archie was an exceptional talent since first seeing him play as a teenager at Morwell Falcons," Merrick says.

"Gary Cole and I recruited him from Lierse in Belgium in 2005 and he continues to be an exceptional player and matchwinner in 2014. He is a bit special."

When you put together all these attributes, it is easy to hail Archie Thompson as a genuine marquee.

He is a player whose achievements on and off the field have enhanced the competition and the game he adorns.

Australian football will be much poorer when this true champion gives his deadly boots a well deserved rest.

Follow @MicallefPhilip