Top 10 world cup players

Top 10 world cup players

1. Lionel Messi, forward, Argentina

Messi goes into the tournament in a very unfamiliar frame of mind, without a major piece of silverware from Barcelona's season for the first time in years. But paradoxically he has a better chance than ever of achieving the success with Argentina that it's long been suggested he needs to achieve true greatness, floating behind Manchester City's Sergio Aguero and Napoli's Gonzalo Higuain in a rampant-looking attack. If Messi isn't too fatigued, he can inspire something special.

2. Cristiano Ronaldo, forward, Portugal

The bad news: Portugal's hopes of making an impression in Brazil lie squarely on one pair of shoulders. The good news: those shoulders belong to a figure who just loves being at the centre of the universe. Ronaldo's performances in the qualifying campaign were incredible, including a play-off hat-trick against Sweden. After finishing the season as Europe's joint leading scorer, you wouldn't bet against Ronaldo using that as motivation to ensure he shines on his own under the global spotlight.

3. Luis Suarez, forward, Uruguay

After a year in which he got his teeth into Liverpool's cause in all the right ways, Suarez was a man at the peak of his powers before suffering a knee injury that has his tournament in some doubt. If his history of controversies suggests his temperament will never be utterly trustworthy, the influence of Reds boss Brendan Rodgers and Suarez's wife Sofia Balbi seem to have made him happier and calmer _ spelling bad news for EPL defences and possibly others in Brazil. Uruguay aim to go better the semifinals of 2010, and Suarez is the central figure in that plan.

4. Franck Ribery, winger, France

Bayern Munich fans have a term for the sheer number of times that Ribery or Arjen Robben are injured or out of sorts - they call it robbery - but the French winger's collapse in form in recent months is seriously worrying his French teammates. With former French stars criticising his lack of leadership and goals, Ribery badly needs to make a better impression in Brazil to avoid perceptions that, at 31, his slide is irreversible.

5. Andres Iniesta, midfielder, Spain

As his hairline recedes in contrast to his list of personal honours, Iniesta's challenge at this World Cup mirrors that of the country to whom he has helped to bring so much success in recent years. The trouble with standing at the top of the world is finding a pathway that doesn't lead downwards; after Barcelona's season to forget, will he and Spain still have the hunger and drive to secure yet another major trophy?

6. Neymar, forward, Brazil

Neymar's ability to beat a defender in a one-on-one situation is phenomenal. He also has pace to burn, an asset best used when he's out wide in attack. At just 18, he scored in his senior debut for Brazil and a year later he was named the South American footballer of the year.

7. Yaya Toure, midfielder, Ivory Coast

Toure is arguably the world's most valuable player and could be in the shop window after a strange falling out with Manchester City. A box-to-box midfielder, Toure can score goals, create opportunities, defend superbly and run for 90 minutes. He is a three-time African footballer of the year, has won domestic titles in England, Spain and Greece, and was part of the Barcelona team which won the UEFA Champions League and FIFA Club World Cup in 2009.

8. Arjen Robben, winger, Netherlands

Robben has a brilliant burst of pace and can destroy teams from the right wing, particularly when he cuts inside to use his favoured left foot. The Dutchman was named man-of-the-match in the 2013 UEFA Champions League final after starring for Bayern Munich in their 2-1 win over Borussia Dortmund at Wembley.

9. Eden Hazard, midfielder, Belgium

Hazard is creative, has pace and is a standout dribbler, as so many defences have found out during his club stints with Lille and Chelsea, and internationally with Belgium. He has been likened to Cristiano Ronaldo but feels he's more like Lionel Messi. He made his senior debut for Belgium at just 17 and was this season named the English PFA's young player of the year.

10. Sergio Aguero, forward, Argentina

Aguero's balance is superb, largely thanks to his low centre of gravity. He can play in a variety of roles in attack and has an incredible burst of speed over a couple of metres that often leaves defenders floundering. He will always be remembered for scoring the stoppage-time goal on the last day of the 2011-12 Premier League season that secured Manchester City their first title in 44 years.