Why Colombia’s James Rodriguez will win the World Cup Golden Ball award for the 2014 competition’s best player.
READ THE CASE FOR THE OTHER CONTENDERS:
Lionel Messi (ARGENTINA)
Thomas Muller (GERMANY)
Neymar (BRAZIL)
Arjen Robben (NETHERLANDS)
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Why James Rodriguez should win the Golden Ball
Currently leading the way with five goals, the 22-year-old has undoubtedly been the star of the tournament so far, lighting up his way to the last eight.
Many tipped the Colombians to be dark horses for the tournament, but with Rodriguez in this kind of form they look more like favourites as the Monaco ace appears to improve with every passing game.
In the group stage, he scored one and created one against Greece and found the target too against the Ivory Coast and Japan. He scored a genuine contender for the goal of the tournament against Uruguay before following that strike up with a tap in to round off a comfortable 2-0 victory.
Why James Rodriguez Won’t win the Golden Ball
With Colombia facing hosts Brazil on Friday, they have what will arguably be the toughest game of the round despite the hosts being nowhere near their best.
Though Rodriguez can do little about what the other contenders do between now and the final, he is up against some much more natural goal scorers than himself, like Germany’s Thomas Muller, who currently sits behind him with four goals.
This is his first taste of the World Cup, too, and his inexperience could catch up with him at any point over the coming week.
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