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World Cup 2014: Fifa announce Golden Ball shortlist, but will Lionel Messi beat the likes of Thomas Muller, James Rodriguez and Arjen Robben to the best player award?

Germany lead the way with four nominations while fellow finalists Argentina have three players included

Jack de Menezes

Monday 14 July 2014 01:56 BST

Lionel Messi, Toni Kroos, Neymar, Thomas Muller and James Rodriguez (Getty Images)

With Germany set to face Argentina in the World Cup final, it is no surprise that the two sides dominate he Golden Ball shortlist, made up of 10 of the biggest names in world football.

LIVE: Germany vs Argentina latest

Mats Hummels, Philipp Lahm, Toni Kroos and Thomas Muller all feature on the list as the German's look to win their fourth World Cup with an unbeaten record. In Argentina, they face one of the best individual players in history in the form of Lionel Messi, and the Barcelona great is also included among the 10-man shortlist.

Messi is joined by his Argentina team-mates Angel Di Maria and Javier Masherano, whose contrasting effects on Alejandro Sabella's side show how they have developed into a rather complete team - safe and reliable at the back, with a slick attacking threat when needed.

The rest of the nominees are made up of Arjen Robben of the Netherlands, James Rodriguez of Colombia and the home favourite Neymar of Brazil.

World Cup 2014 - Fifa Golden Ball shortlist

Show all 10

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World Cup 2014 - Fifa Golden Ball shortlist

Angel Di Maria (Argentina)

The Argentinian wing has endless levels of energy that compliments Argentina’s never-say-die attitude, and the South Americans can thank the Real Madrid winger for helping them conquer Switzerland in the second round when the tie looked for all certainty to be heading to penalties. Missed the semi-final through injury, which could have scuppered any chance of winning the award.

EPA

World Cup 2014 - Fifa Golden Ball shortlist

Mats Hummels (Germany)

Germany’s most reliable defender in a back-four that sometimes appears unstable to say the least, but his prowess in front of goal has seen him included on the shortlist. Scored in the comfortable 4-0 win over Portugal, but it was Hummels’ match-winning header against France that stands out as his defining moment, outmuscling Mamadou Sakho to score early on in the quarter-final.

GETTY IMAGES

World Cup 2014 - Fifa Golden Ball shortlist

Toni Kroos (Germany)

Kroos has been the driving force behind the famed German attack, and has arguably been their most influential player throughout the tournament. Chipped in with two goals in the 7-1 demolition of Brazil, but leads the way in assists with two against Portugal, the cross for Hummels’ header against France and one against Brazil.

World Cup 2014 - Fifa Golden Ball shortlist

Philipp Lahm (Germany)

Joachim Loew went against his word to switch Lahm back to his natural right-back berth, but the move has been a masterstroke as Germany kept a clean sheet against France and conceded a late consolation against Brazil when they were seven goals up. The German captain has led by example, and is the model of consistency as he rarely ever makes a mistake that costs his side.

World Cup 2014 - Fifa Golden Ball shortlist

Javier Mascherano (Argentina)

Regularly deployed as a centre-back for Barcelona, Mascherano has flourished in the defensive midfield role that he used to grace, and offered a solid protection in front of the back-four. His commitment to this competition is unquestionable, and can be summed up by his match-saving block on Arjen Robben’s shot, when by his own admission he “tore his anus” in diving to block the ball. “The pain…it was terrible,” he unsurprisingly added. Heroic nonetheless.

Getty Images

World Cup 2014 - Fifa Golden Ball shortlist

Lionel Messi (Argentina)

Regularly deployed as a centre-back for Barcelona, Mascherano has flourished in the defensive midfield role that he used to grace, and offered a solid protection in front of the back-four. His commitment to this competition is unquestionable, and can be summed up by his match-saving block on Arjen Robben’s shot, when by his own admission he “tore his anus” in diving to block the ball. “The pain…it was terrible,” he unsurprisingly added. Heroic nonetheless.

GETTY IMAGES

World Cup 2014 - Fifa Golden Ball shortlist

Thomas Müller (Germany)

Muller will have his eyes on the Golden Boot as well as the Golden Ball, as he trails top scorer James Rodriguez by a single goal heading into Sunday’s final. While he may not be the most gifted footballer in the world, he sure knows how to put the ball in the back of the net, identified by his brilliant hat-trick in the win over Portugal and his further efforts against the United States and Brazil. His ability to float between an attacking midfielder and a striker poses the opposition serious questions about picking him up, and he’s certainly taken his chances in Brazil (just don’t mention that free-kick fail).

Getty Images

World Cup 2014 - Fifa Golden Ball shortlist

Neymar (Brazil)

The poster boy of the World Cup saw his participation curtailed early after he suffered a fractured vertebra, but his influence on Brazil’s first five games illuminated the nation with the belief that they would win the tournament. His four goals early on put him in the hunt for the Golden Boot, and his absence in Brazil’s humiliating defeats in the semi-finals and third-place play-off have actually done him a favour in his hope of taking the award.

GETTY IMAGES

World Cup 2014 - Fifa Golden Ball shortlist

Arjen Robben (Netherlands)

His pace tore apart defending world champions Spain in the opening 5-1 victory, and he was instrumental in Louis van Gaal’s plans to hit teams on the counter attack. He netted the opener in the dramatic 3-2 win over Australia, but it was his tendency to go down easily – he admitted that he dived against Mexico – that infuriated other sides. Ran out of gas when it came to the latter stages, but still tormented the Brazilians on Saturday night, as he won a penalty within the first three minutes after ghosting past Thiago Silva.

GETTY IMAGES

World Cup 2014 - Fifa Golden Ball shortlist

James Rodriguez (Colombia)

The breakthrough star of the tournament – if a 45m euros signing can be a breakthrough, that is. Rodriguez proved to be a revelation in Brazil, as he became the first Colombian to score in each of their group stage matches. Not content with that, he scored both goals in the 2-0 win over Uruguay, and a late consolation against Brazil in the quarter-final exit. His performances in the absence of talisman Radamel Falcao have been outstanding, prompting talk of a move to Real Madrid or Manchester United, and he is a solid outside bet for the Golden Ball award, yet he could still seal the Golden Boot providing Thomas Müller doesn’t score in the final.

AFP

The winner may be taken from the World Cup winners, but the likelihood is that Messi will take the spoils.

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