World Cup Stars: 20 Electrifying Players You Need to Know

October 24, 2015 "world cup", Entertainment, soccer, sports

Italy’s Mario Balotelli shoots by England’s Joleon Lescott during the Euro 2012 soccer championship quarterfinal match between England and Italy in Kiev, Ukraine, Sunday, June 24, 2012.

Image: Kirsty Wigglesworth/Associated Press

After months of anticipation, the 2014 World Cup finally kicks off this Thursday when host Brazil takes on Croatia. That will be followed by 63 additional matches, culminating with the World Cup final on July 13 at the legendary Maracanã in Rio de Janeiro.

We’ve already previewed all eight World Cup groups, as well as the tournament’s most dramatic storylines and most epic names. Now it’s time for a look at 20 of the World Cup’s most exciting players.

These are the names you need to know to this summer.

1. Lionel Messi, Argentina

Cristiano Ronaldo may be in the best current form, but most fans and pundits will still tell you Messi is the world’s top player. Messi is not the biggest or most powerful guy, but he has savant-like skills and is a goal-scoring machine for FC Barcelona. His play for Argentina has never matched his quality at Barca, however, and leading La Albiceleste to its third World Cup title would put him in the conversation with Pele for greatest soccer player of all time.

2. Sergio Aguero, Argentina

Messi’s running mate at the front of the Argentine attack, Aguero is an extremely dangerous scorer in his own right. With opposing defenses doing all they can to key on Messi in Brazil, look for Aguero to put in a strong — and prolific — performance.

3. Mario Balotelli, Italy

Balotelli’s antics are the stuff of Internet legend and his tempestuous nature can get him in trouble. But the big, strong forward is one of the world’s best players — as well as the Italian most responsible for scoring goals this summer in a tough Group D. He also takes a lot of selfies.

4. Andrea Pirlo, Italy

At 35, Pirlo doesn’t have the burst he once did. But his game was never based on athleticism — guile, skill and remarkable passing ability are how he made his name and led Italy to the 2006 World Cup title. Even at a relatively advanced age, Pirlo is still key to Italy’s attack. Judging by these excerpts from his autobiography, he also may be the world’s most interesting footballer.

5. Paul Pogba, France

Just 21 years old, Pogba is an explosive and skilled midfielder. He’ll be even more important to Les Bleus after established star Franck Ribery was recently ruled out of the World Cup with a back injury. Pogba isn’t yet known to the casual soccer fan — but that will change this summer.

6. Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal

Ronaldo was named the world’s best soccer player for 2013, finally ending Lionel Messi’s four-year monopoly on the award. Fresh off leading Real Madrid to the Champions League title, Ronaldo will now look to get Portugal out of its Group of Death. He’s skilled, strong, fast and a fearsome scorer — just the type of player capable of putting a team on his back to lead a deep run into the knockout stage.

7. Yaya Touré, Côte d’Ivoire

Touré has quietly become one of the world’s top 10 players. He’s equally menacing on offense and defense. With Ivorian legend Didier Drogba in the twilight of his career, Touré will be critical to Côte d’Ivoire’s chances of reaching the knockout stage.

8. Luis Suarez, Uruguay

A true striker who’s singularly obsessed with scoring goals — something he does extremely well — Suarez is just a hair behind Messi and Ronaldo in the debate for world’s best player. Knee surgery on May 22 jeopardized his World Cup chances, but he looks on track now. That’s great news for him, Uruguay and soccer fans the world over. It’s bad news for Uruguay’s opponents in Group D.

9. Neymar, Brazil

Neymar is only 22 years old, but he’s seen as the next in a long line of thrilling, creative offensive stars from Brazil. Can he lead the Seleção to glory on its home soil? Doing so would make him nothing short of a national hero.

10. Eden Hazard, Belgium

Belgium has long been touted as a dark-horse contender this summer — and living up to the hype will hinge on Hazard, the team’s most dynamic player. The 23-year-old midfielder should be able to guide Belgium out of Group H, but how far it can go after that is anyone’s guess.

11. Shinji Kagawa, Japan

Japan faces a tall order in getting out of Group C. But behind the dynamic Kagawa — an attacking midfielder who plays professionally for Manchester United — the team definitely has a shot.

12. Clint Dempsey, USA

Jozy Altidore is the USA’s chief goal-scoring threat, but Dempsey may be its most creative player. He’s skilled, tough and — as coach Jurgen Klinsmann’s captain — will need to provide strong leadership to guide the Americans out of a deadly Group G.

13. Jozy Altidore, USA

Altidore was US Soccer’s player of the year in 2013, then went on an epic goal scoring drought for both club and country that began Dec. 4 of last year and only ended this Saturday in the USMNT‘s final World Cup tuneup against Nigeria. He was still a quality player during his scoreless streak, but we’ll see if his two goals against Nigeria can lead to a hot streak in Brazil. The Americans could certainly use that.

14. Andrés Iniesta, Spain

Iniesta isn’t the quickest player. He’s not the biggest. And he’s certainly not the most athletic. But the Spanish hero — his late goal clinched La Furia Roja‘s 2010 World Cup title — is truly a footballer’s footballer. He comes up huge in the most important moments, beautifully sets up teammates for scoring strikes and generally plays soccer in the most aesthetically pleasing way possible.

15. Bastian Schweinsteiger, Germany

Schweinsteiger has one of the World Cup’s funnest names to say, and is arguably Germany’s most dangerous threat on goal. The German squad is stacked with offensive threats, meaning opposing defenses can’t load up against Schweinsteiger and — at least in theory — he’ll find plenty of scoring chances in Brazil.

16. Mesut Özil, Germany

Schweinsteiger’s running mate in the German midfield is another of the highly skilled offensive players who make Die Mannschaft a nightmare to defend against. Özil starred for Germany as just a 21-year-old at the 2010 World Cup, so we’ll see what he has up his sleeve this time around.

17. Edin Džeko, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Bosnia and Herzegovina qualifying for its first World Cup after a war-torn past is one of the tournament’s most powerful stories. But it’s largely on Dzeko to lead the team out of Group F and into the knockout stage. A physical striker, Dzeko scored 10 of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s 30 goals in its 2014 World Cup qualifying campaign.

18. Wesley Sneijder, Netherlands

Dutch midfielder Sneijder is equally adept with both feet, quick with the ball, a pinpoint passer and one of the world’s top dead-ball specialists. After reaching the World Cup final in 2010, many have written off the Oranje‘s chances of doing so again this time around — some say they won’t even make it out of a tough Group B. Can Sneijder help prove the doubters wrong?

19. Xherdan Shaqiri, Switzerland

Just 22 years old, Shaqiri is another young player who will likely be much, much more well-known after this World Cup. Stuck behind Franck Ribery at Bayern Munich, he’ll be able to unleash his full arsenal in looking to steer Switzerland out of Group E and into the knockout stage.

20. Javier Hernandez, Mexico

“Chicharito” hunts goals with an assassin’s eye. Equally dangerous with his head and feet, his scoring hasn’t exactly been up to par for Mexico in recent national team appearances. But Hernandez will need to be in top form if El Tri is to advance out of Group A.

Uniforms of the World Cup, from best to worst

1. Brazil

When Brazil looks to win its sixth World Cup on its home soil this summer, it’ll do so in the utmost style. The yellow and blue numbers above stick close to the blueprint for the seleção‘s respective home and away kits. Meanwhile, the dark green alternate jersey provides a nice change of pace, right down those subtly striped shorts. To mix our sports metaphors, Brazil (with some help from Nike) knocks it out of the park. Final score: 10/10

Image: Nike
2. Spain

Adidas does a top-notch job of balancing tradition with innovation. The red home numbers reflect the look you expect from Spain, while the away versions offer something else entirely: A black base with neon green trim. Not every nation could pull this off, but the look fits perfectly with Spain’s stacked squad of fearsome attackers and creative ball-handlers. Final score 9.6/10

Image: Adidas
3. Portugal

Another excellent study in contrasts. Portugal’s red home kit is all fire and strength, while the away kit features a clean blue and white look. The Portuguese Football Federation’s excellent patch, meanwhile, is a welcome addition to any shirt. Final score: 9.5/10

Image: Nike
4. Italy

Italy has one of the game’s classic kits, year in and year out. Puma does that heritage justice here, with two equally excellent outfits. From the tiny collar on the blue home shirt to the light gray pinstripes on the white away kit, little details make a difference. Final score: 9.4/10

Image: Tom Oldham Photography/Puma
5. Germany

Another great contrasting look. The white home kit is clean, simple and traditional, while the away kit’s deep red and black stripes give the attacking German squad some fearsome style. Final score: 9.2/10

Image: Adidas
6. Argentina

Argentina’s vertically striped home kits are among the most iconic in soccer. Adidas does good job of not messing with tradition here, while the albiceleste‘s darker away duds look sharp too. Final score: 9.1/10

Image: Adidas
7. Netherlands

The Netherlands signature orange home shirts and excellent lion crest give Nike plenty to work with here. But it’s the subtle designs on the blue away kit that really win us over. Final score: 9/10

Image: Nike
8. Mexico

Adidas does El Tri justice here with a killer green home kit (moving the Federación Mexicana de Fútbol Asociación’s crest to the middle of the shirt is a nice touch). The blood-red away kits should look awesome in Brazil as well. Final score: 8.8/10

Image: Adidas
9. France

Less is more with France’s 2014 kits from Nike. The blue home kit is classic and timeless, while horizontal gray striping takes the white away shirt to another level. Final score: 8.7/10

Image: Nike
10. Cameroon

Puma pulled out all the stops for Cameroon’s green home jersey. The relief designs, vivid coloring and traditional lion crest (the squad’s amazing nickname is the Indomitable Lions) add up to a classic. That gold away number isn’t shabby either. Final score: 8.5/10.

Image: Puma
11. Japan

Another excellent balancing act between tradition and boldness. Japan’s blue home kits don’t contain any huge surprises, but that neon away uni is something else entirely. Both look mighty fine, however. Final score: 8.4/10

Image: Adidas
12. England

Nike goes for a classic look on both England’s home and away kits. Neither takes any real risks, but they both look pretty sweet. That yellow goalie shirt isn’t bad either. Final score: 8.2/10

Image: Nike
13. Croatia

Those checkers! We have a feeling you’ll either love or hate Croatia’s unique national team kits, but we are definitely in the pro-check camp. The red and white checks look even better when used as trim on Croatia’s blue away shirts. Final score: 8/10

Image: Nike
14. Belgium

Belgium’s three looks offer plenty of variety but it’s the big crown in-lay that goes a long way for us. Final score: 7.8/10

Image: Burrda Sport
15. Cote D’Ivoire

Puma deserves credit for letting the Ivory Coast’s lovely green and orange colors do the heavy lifting here. The country’s elephant crest is also among the coolest in soccer. Final score: 7.6/10

Image: Tom Oldham Photography/Puma
16. Ghana

Ghana’s red away kits are sharp, but it’s the creative trim around the collar of the home whites that will have the Black Stars looking extra-super in Brazil. Final score: 7.4/10

Image: Puma
17. Greece

Nike stuck to simplicity for Greece, and the result is a smooth look. Then again, that simplicity doesn’t offer anything far out of the ordinary, landing these uniforms in the middle of our power rankings. Final score: 7.2/10

Image: Nike
18. United States

When Nike unveiled the multi-colored USA away kits this spring, many snarkily denigrated them for looking like a summer popsicle. We think they look mighty fine — but those home white jerseys look too much like something you’d see at a Florida retirement village. Final score: 7/10

Image: Nike
19. Russia

Not bad, but far from transcendent. The white away kits do feature a unique design that we like. Final score: 6.7/10

Image: Adidas
20. Australia

Points for simplicity — but not too many points. Final score: 6.6/10

Image: Nike
21. Switzerland

These are … fine. Final score: 6.3/10

Image: Tom Oldham Photography/Puma
22. Uruguay

The blue-on-black home kits are kind of sweet, but this is the World Cup — we’re looking for greatness, not goodness. Final score: 6.2/10

Image: Tom Oldham Photography/Puma
23. Colombia

Again, good but not great (in our humble opinion, of course). Final score: 6/10

Image: Adidas
24. Algeria

Some nice touches — the crescent moon and light green color give a good starting point — but, overall, not a lot going on. Final score: 5.8/10

Image: Puma
25. Chile

Chile is an interesting dark-horse contender in Brazil, but its uniforms won’t be generating a ton of buzz. We do like the red home kit’s blue collar though. Final score: 5.7/10

Image: Tom Oldham Photography/Puma
26. Costa Rica

Ehhhh, these are okay. Final score: 5.6/10

Image: Lotto Sport
27. Ecuador

They definitely don’t suck. But they definitely aren’t that memorable, either. Final score: 5.5/10

Image: Marathon Sports
28. Nigeria

Nigeria’s green and white flag offers a rich starting point, but we wish there was more going on here. Final score: 5.4

Image: Adidas
29. Honduras

Cool T-shirt? Yes. Cool World Cup jersey? Less so. Final score: 5.3/10

Image: Joma
30. South Korea

Pretty pedestrian, plus those differently-colored shoulder stripes on the white away kits look a little odd. Final score: 5.1/10

Image: Nike
31. Iran

That’s a cool in-lay, but these are otherwise pretty meh. Final score: 5/10

Image: uhlSport