By Chris Wright
Announced via the World Cup matchball’s official Twitter account (yep), here are the ten names that make up the shortlist for the 2014 World Cup ‘Golden Ball’ award (i.e, the “Player of the Tournament” award, by any other name)…
Your #GoldenBall nominees: di María, Hummels, Kroos, Lahm, Mascherano, Messi, Müller, Neymar, Robben & Rodríguez pic.twitter.com/xaUE17EFSR
— brazuca (@brazuca) July 11, 2014
As you can hopefully see, the two finalists unsurprisingly provide the majority of the nominees – Germany with four, followed by Argentina on three.
The winner will announced after Sunday’s final, so there’s still time for seven of the ten to further their respective claims.
Personally, we’d love to see it go to Philippe Lahm – though the German defender’s nigh-on mechanical routine flawlessness is almost certain to go unheeded again, as per.
Who’s your vote with, Pies fans? We’re thinking FIFA are going to go with James.