There are footballers par excellence with great records at league and continental levels too but to be counted among the true greats of the game, a player must leave an indelible mark at World Cup. It is every footballer’s dream to get the Golden Boot or the Golden Ball. Call it what you will, every World Cup does produce at least one super star player who simply outshines the rest with his brilliance. Who will it be this time? We take a look at the top 10 players with most possibilities.
No. 10
Marco Reus
Team: Germany
Position: Midfielder/ winger
Jersey No. 21
He is versatile. He is swift. And he has great technique flowing alongside blood in his veins. 25-year old attacking midfielder/ winger Marco Reus is yet another immense talent from the Germany’s football powerhouse. Named German Footballer of the Year 2013 and ranked by Bloomberg as the 4th Best European Footballer in 2013, Marco plays for the German Bundesliga club Borussia Dortmund at league level. He debuted for the German National Team in 2011 and has since shot 7 goals in 19 matches. Can Marco make his mark at World Cup 2014?
No.9
Eden Hazard
Team: Belgium
Position: Midfielder/ winger
Jersey No. 10
The pundits of football have likened him to contemporary greats like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. A superb passer and an explosive attacking midfielder and winger, Eden Hazard is both fierce and fearless on the field. A key member of the Belgian squad and the EPL Chelsea team, he is seen as a game changer who makes full use of his creativity, speed, and technical ability. Two more great thing about Hazard, he is just 23 and he is good with both his feet. Could Hazard be the next football supreme star?
No. 8
Wayne Rooney
Team: England
Position: Striker
Jersey No. 10
England’s second youngest debut player ever and its youngest ever goal scorer, Wayne Rooney is also the youngest goal scorer in the history of the European Championship. Now 28, Rooney is a World Cup veteran with the 2006 and 2010 tournaments already under his belt. Many regard him as his country's best current player. He was twice England Player of the Year (2008 and 2009). He is also England's fifth highest goal scorer ever. Another dubious honour, with 2 career red cards, Rooney has the highest send offs for England, a dishonour he shares with David Beckham. Can Rooney win some real glory this time?
No. 7
Andrea Pirlo
Team: Italy
Position: Midfielder
Jersey No. 21
At the age of 35, Pirlo is certainly the oldie of the tournament. He is neither super fast in pace, nor solid in physique, yet he can be absolutely breathtaking as a deep-lying playmaker. He has amazing touch, technique, control, dribbling, incredible vision, inventive play and accurate passing ability. Skills that are much valued by both the Italian national team and his club Juventus. Pirlo is also a set-piece and penalty-kick specialist much acclaimed for his long distance shooting and passing. His Italian teammates refer to him as l'architetto or the architect because his long passes often lead to goal-scoring opportunities. His Juventus fans have nicknamed him il professore or the professor and Mozart for his sheer genius. Can Pirlo prove that oldies are the real goldies by taking home the Golden Ball?
No. 6
Diego Costa
Team: Spain
Position: Striker
Jersey No. 10
Costa is the hulk with the bulk. His game is as much physical as it is psychological. Taunts, stares, temper tantrums, Costa will do anything to take his rivals down. Extraordinarily gifted at dribbling, making key passes and finishing, he is all aggression and testosterone on the field. Born and brought up in Brazil, he started his career as a Brazilian player but now at the age of 25, plays for his adopted country Spain. His club is also Spanish, the newly crown La Liga champs Atletico. Can Costa dribble the Golden Ball in Brazil?
No. 5
Karim Benzema
Team: France
Position: Striker
Jersey No. 9
Immensely talented Karim Benzema is France’s key striker who is quite at home as a winger too. The key weapons in his arsenal include passing, finishing and long shots. He is great at counter attack and powered by his great technique and power packed play, gets blazing finishes from inside the box. Benzema’s club is the one and only Real Madrid where he is highly valued for his prowess. Can Benzema strike bull’s eye in Brazil?
No. 4
Neymar
Team: Brazil
Position: Striker
Jersey No. 10
Another player with the amazing ability to play with both feet, Neymar has been praised by Pele, ‘The King’ himself as ‘an excellent player.’ A humble Neymar believes himself to be just a kid playing football. Of course, football aficionados find him to be quite the wonderkid. Another great player Ronaldinho find him the best in the world. Neymar is known for his fabulous acceleration, speed, dribbling, finishing and ambidexterity. He won the 2011 South American Footballer of the Year award at age 19. Now at 22, can he crown his nation the World Champs for a record sixth time?
No. 3
Luis Suarez
Team: Uruguay
Position: Striker
Jersey No. 9
Six months ago, The Guardian ranked him the ninth best footballer in the world. In the 2010 World Cup, he scored 3 goals and was instrumental in taking his nation right up to the semis Uruguay's fourth place finish. With 4 goals, he was also the Player of the Tournament in Copa America 2011 where his team was the crowned champion for a record 15th time. Uruguay's top goal scorer ever with 35 goals and Liverpool FC’s blue eyed boy with 31 goals in this season, Uruguayan Suarez is considerable hot property right now. Can the dribbler extraordinaire carry his devastating form into World Cup 2014?
No. 2
Lionel Messi
Team: Argentina
Position: Striker
Jersey No. 10
Brilliant technique, flawless execution and awe-inspiring achievements, Messi combines them all. Just 5’7” tall and 25 years of age, Messi has already secured his place among the pantheon of football greats. By 21, he was already a nominee for both Ballon d'Or and FIFA World Player of the Year. In 2009, he won his first Ballon d'Or and FIFA World Player of the Year awards, and calmly continued to gather them successively three times more in 2010, 2011 and 2012. That’s world record, by the way. He also won the 2010–11 UEFA Best Player in Europe Award. At 24, Messi became Barcelona's all-time top scorer. At 25, Messi became the youngest La Liga player to score 200 goals. The roll of honours goes on. Can Messi add the Golden Boot/ Golden Ball crowning glory to his achievements?
No. 1
Cristano Ronaldo
Team: Portugal
Position: Striker
Jersey No. 7
29- year old Cristiano Ronaldo (or CR7 as he has been nick named) is not just Portugal’s top scorer and captain; he is also currently world’s top footballer. Since his debut for Portugal in 2003, has been capped 110 times and has scored 49 goals. Blistering pace, breathtaking calisthenics and blasting goals, he has it all in his armoury. Legendary Coach Jose Maurinho memorably once said, ‘if Messi’s world’s best, Cristiano is universe’s best’. The great Maradona too has given him a hefty thumbs up. It is CR7’s third World Cup; can he be third time lucky?
There you have it ,the top 10 players to watch out for in the brazil world cup 2014. feel free to share this article. did we miss anyone?leave a comment below
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