Rio de Janeiro: Brazil’s injured star Neymar is on a shortlist for the World Cup’s best player which also includes seven names from Sunday’s World Cup final between Germany and Argentina.
Lionel Messi, Javier Mascherano and Angel Di Maria from Argentina are on the list announced by FIFA on Friday.
Captain Messi has scored four goals heading into the final.
Germany have four representatives, led by skipper Phillip Lahm, five-goal goal scorer Thomas Mueller, and the impressive Toni Kroos, and Mats Hummel.
Neymar, who scored four goals before he suffered a fractured vertebrae, Colombia’s hot shot James Rodriguez, with six goals, and the Netherlands’ veteran forward Arjen Robben make up the 10.
Past winners of the Golden Ball award for the best player include Uruguyay’s Diego Forlan (2010), Zinedine Zidane (2006), German goalkeeper Oliver Kahn (2002), Brazil’s Ronaldo (1998) and Argentine legend Diego Maradona (1986).
The top goalkeeper award will be chosen from Keylor Navas of Costa Rica, Germany’s Manuel Neuer, and Sergio Romero, the Argentine who saved two penalties in the semifinal shoot-out with the Netherlands.
The young player of the tournament will be decided between Dutch starlet Memphis Depay, and French duo Paul Pogba and Raphael Varane.
The winners, to be chosen by FIFA’s technical support group, will be announced after Sunday’s final. (AFP)
