Top 10 Greatest Players of the 2014 FIFA World Cup
James David Rodríguez Rubio, known as James Rodríguez, is a Colombian professional footballer who plays for Mexican club León and captains the Colombia national team as an attacking midfielder or winger. James Rodriguez just turned 23 and he already earned the Golden Boot for the six goals he made for Colombia. David Beckham himself said he was impressed by James and he has the qualities to be one of the best players in the future. Cristiano Ronaldo? Seriously? Portugal didn't even get to the Round of 16 and he only scored one lucky goal.
Young player with a bright future. His passion for the game is electrifying. He definitely gave his all at the World Cup and did an outstanding job.
By the way, it is Colombia, not Columbia.
Lionel Andrés "Leo" Messi was born on June 24, 1987. He is an Argentine professional footballer who plays as a forward for the American club, Inter Miami CF, in the MLS. Messi is widely regarded as one of the greatest football players of all time. His birthplace is Rosario, Argentina. I am so glad Messi is Argentinian. He keeps leaving us with such wonderful goals! Thanks to him, we passed the group stage and the match against Switzerland. He also collaborated with great passes later, though his fatigue and effort were evident. He showed he is still the best player in the world with the support of a team reaching the final match. The reason why he didn't do more is because he is human. Thanks for everything, Lionel Messi!
Lionel Messi got that award for a reason! He scored the game-winning goal against Iran in stoppage time, the goal off the post against Bosnia-Herzegovina, and the assist against Switzerland. He can dribble through players like they're nothing! He also helped win the shootout against the Netherlands and scored from outside the box against Nigeria.
Arjen Robben is a retired Dutch professional footballer who played for Bayern Munich and the Netherlands national team.
He won the UEFA Champions League with Bayern Munich in 2013 and was a runner-up in the 2010 FIFA World Cup with the Netherlands. If we consider only the 2014 World Cup, he was the best player. He was not only the very heart of the Holland team, but despite his 30 years, he showed great stamina, willpower, technique, and craving for victory. A great example for all those 23 players of the Brazilian squad who were humiliated in the semi-finals, and then again in the 3rd place game by Robben himself.
Being Mexican, it's hard for me to say this, but damn, Arjen Robben was the most balanced player in the World Cup. Lio Messi? Cristiano Ronaldo? Come on, people, be objective. Ángel Di María did more for Argentina than Messi, and Cristiano didn't even play. Arjen Robben was the best player in the World Cup.
Thomas Müller is a German professional footballer who plays for Bayern Munich and the Germany national team. I am not a fan of Germany, but I admit he was awesome. He excelled himself. I don't think Cristiano Ronaldo should be on this list. Sure, he may be a great player, but he completely sucked. I mean, he and his team didn't even make it to the top 16.
Thomas Müller should be 2nd or 3rd because he is better than Cristiano Ronaldo and James Rodriguez. He made 3 goals on Portugal and won the Golden Boot. James won the Golden Boot this year.
Wow. Müller is just great. Hat trick vs. Portugal, he scored twice vs. Brazil, and had the game-winning goal vs. USA. When Pepe hit him in the face, he deserved a red card.
Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior (born February 5, 1992), commonly known as Neymar or Neymar Jr, is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays as a forward or winger for Campeonato Brasileiro Série A club Santos and the Brazil national team. He is also the captain of the national team... read more Absolutely one of the best players of the 2014 World Cup! He played way better than some players on here like Cristiano Ronaldo, who should be lower because if he was so great, he could have at least pulled Portugal to the next round.
He is the best player. To be honest, he shows immense skill and is very talented. It was only his unfortunate injury that led to the downfall of Brazil. Get well soon.
I was very surprised when I watched Brazil's game against Colombia. I was shocked when I saw him get kneed in the back. That had to hurt.
Manuel Peter Neuer is a German professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Bayern Munich and the Germany national team. The best player and the Golden Glove winner. Many claiming to be football fans didn't even see the brilliance and genius he provided on the pitch. Sure, Tim Howard and Guillermo Ochoa did their job once. None were as consistent as him. Seeing him in 7th makes me sick...
Neuer should be in the top 5 because he was the best goalkeeper in the 2014 FIFA World Cup. He got the Golden Glove award and made a lot of saves. He was one of the players who helped Germany reach the finals. Congrats, Neuer!
Robin van Persie is a Dutch coach and former professional footballer who played as a striker. Regarded as one of the best strikers of his generation, he is the all-time top scorer for the Netherlands men's national team. He is currently an assistant manager at boyhood club Feyenoord in his first managerial... read more Seriously!? #7!? He deserves to be #1! Sure, James was awesome, but van Persie was better! Without him, the Netherlands would have no attack except for Robben. Therefore, Arjen would have to do all the offensive work.
He could have led his country to win the World Cup if he hadn't been injured. I love his Superman header against Spain.
That was an amazing header against Spain! Casillas didn't see it coming!
Even though the US offense could not deliver, Tim Howard had the single most impressive game and effort of the World Cup. He deserves to be a new American hero.
But Tim Howard is the best. He broke the record for most goals defended in a World Cup game. And goalkeeping is half of the game. Don't disrespect him just because he is a goalie. 16 saves!
Great goalkeeper, but that doesn't matter when you have a team that can't score.
Come on! He should at least be in the top ten! He is an incredible goalie!
Rising star. He may be the best after Casillas!
Miroslav Josef Klose is a German professional footballer who last played as a striker for Serie A club Lazio. He is 36 years old and still plays pretty well. He scored a goal against Brazil and has 16 overall World Cup goals. He is a legend.
He now holds the record for most goals in World Cup history. Germany couldn't have won without him.
The Newcomers
Thibaut Nicolas Marc Courtois is a Belgian professional footballer who plays for English club Chelsea and the Belgium national team as a goalkeeper. Courtois is awesome! He denied the USA, allowing only one goal.
He's also awesome for Chelsea and Belgium.
Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro (born February 5, 1985) is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays as a forward for Saudi Pro League club Al-Nassr and captains the Portugal national team. Ronaldo is amazing. He inspired me to play soccer and now I'm the top scorer on my own soccer team. I would not be playing if Ronaldo did not play soccer. Ronaldo is the finest person to watch play soccer. I was at the Real Madrid game vs Manchester United and he was incredible. Ronaldo is too good for soccer.
Nobody can say Ronaldo is not good because he scored the most goals in the 2014 season. If Ronaldo can do that, then he is the best player of 2014. Ronaldo is the best at skill, headers, free kicks, and scoring goals, so I do not think anybody can call Ronaldo a bad player.
Mario Götze (born 3 June 1992) is a German footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for Eredivisie club PSV Eindhoven. He scored the golden goal in extra time for Germany to win the World Cup. Unforgettable!
He scored the tournament-winning goal. Cristiano Ronaldo should not even be on the list.
Not my favorite team, but the goal was made like a champ.
He was a lone warrior for his team, Australia. If his team had been better, Cahill would have made the most of it.
Not Australia's best World Cup, but it could've been worse, right? Without Tim and Maty, they would've been shut out all three games!
Total stud. He almost took on the Netherlands by himself.
Keylor Antonio Navas Gamboa, known as Keylor Navas, is a Costa Rican professional footballer who plays for Spanish club Real Madrid and the Costa Rica national team as a goalkeeper. The best goalkeeper of the cup. All those saves and winning Man of the Match 3 times in a row. How did he not get the Golden Glove award?
The best goalkeeper of the World Cup. He should've won the Golden Glove.
He took his team to the quarter-finals. No player in this World Cup has been more useful for his team than this guy.
Toni Kroos is a German professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Spanish club Real Madrid and the German national team. He plays mainly as a central midfielder, but has also been deployed as a deep-lying playmaker in his career. Known for his vision, passing, creativity, crossing and set-piece... read more
Thiago Emiliano da Silva, commonly known as Thiago Silva, is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays as a central defender for Ligue 1 club Paris Saint-Germain and the Brazilian national team. His suspension and Neymar's injury led to Brazil's unforgettable defeat.
Karim Mostafa Benzema is a French professional footballer of Algerian descent who plays for Spanish club Real Madrid and the France national team as a striker. All hail King Benzema! He scored many goals. France would've lost everything without him and Nasri. Lloris was not good.
He is good and will always be better than James Rodriguez. James is a child compared to him.
Philipp Lahm is a German professional footballer who plays as a right back or defensive midfielder for Bundesliga club Bayern Munich. Versatile, with a team-first mentality. He epitomizes the reigning champions and retired a legend.
Bastian Schweinsteiger is a retired German professional footballer who usually played as a central midfielder. He is the real leader of the World Cup winners!
He deserves a higher place. He was at the heart of everything that Germany did.
Javier Alejandro Mascherano is an Argentine professional football coach and former player who is the head coach of the Argentina national team. The most consistent and solid performer the World Cup has seen. Battered and bruised, but still gave 100% in every tackle.
He gave everything he had until he was empty. He is a hero.
Mats Julian Hummels (born 16 December 1988) is a German professional footballer who plays as a central defender for German Bundesliga club Borussia Dortmund and the German national team. One of the many stars of a brilliant Germany team. He scored a crucial goal against France in the quarter-finals and was a solid defender!
Luis Alberto Suárez Díaz, born on January 24, 1987, is a Uruguayan professional footballer. He currently plays as a striker for Inter Miami CF, an American club competing in Major League Soccer (MLS)... read more I love this guy. A true master of technical ability.
He's great. I just want him to stop biting, seriously.
He scored two goals in his first game, and he was only 70% fit. However, his biting was the worst and an unforgettable incident in FIFA 2014.
Paul Labile Pogba is a French professional footballer who plays for Premier League club Manchester United and the France national team.