World Cup 2014: Player profile - who is Miralem Pjanic, the Bosnia and Herzegovina midfielder?

Counting down the 100 players to look out for in Brazil this summer

Miralem Pjanic of Bosnia and Herzegovina (Getty)

The World Cup in Brazil is coming into view and everyone is hoping this summer's carnival can take its place among some of the great tournaments of the past, but who will be the star of the show?

With 89 days to go until things kick-off, check out our latest instalment of 100 players to look out for at the competition below.

89. Miralem Pjanic (Bosnia and Herzegovina)

The former FC Metz and Lyon man has become hot property since moving to Roma in 2011 with his play-making ability attracting the attention of both Barcelona and Manchester United. He has helped the Italian side into second in Serie A, although the trail runaway league-leaders Juventus by 14 points in spite of their sensational start to the season that saw them reel off 10-straight victories.

He’s never strayed far from the media’s microscope, especially since the ordeal he went through to secure a Bosnian passport in 2008. His early international career focused on Luxembourg after he spent most of his teen years with them but his preference at senior level was always with Bosnia. He needed Fifa approval to switch nationalities, and had to wait eight long months before he finally attained a Bosnian passport making him eligible for the national side.

His debut ended in defeat, but his first international goal against Ghana in 2010 was an indicator to everyone that Pjanic had a huge future. He’s gone on to find the net seven more times for his country, and with him and Manchester City striker Edin Dzeko enjoying stellar domestic campaigns, they may well be the surprise package of the last-16 after obtaining a relatively easy draw alongside Argentina, Nigeria and Iran.