The best footballers on show at this summer’s Brazilian footballing festival.
50. Mario Mandzukic (Croatia)
Set to leave Bayern Munich but a good showing in Brazil could earn a high-profile switch.
49. Edin Dzeko (Bosnia)
Bosnian has had an excellent season proving priceless during Sergio Aguero’s injury lay-off.
48. Didier Drogba (Ivory Coast)
Veteran still has the ability to make an impact on the biggest stage.
47. Alexis Sanchez (Chile)
Adaptable attacker has had his best season at the Nou Camp thus far.
46. Mario Balotelli (Italy)
Troubled off the pitch but hasn’t stopped scoring for AC Milan.
45. Ivan Rakitic (Croatia)
Cultured Croatian has had an outstanding season with Sevilla.
44. Fernandinho (Brazil)
Strong Brazilian has formed a great partnership with Yaya Toure.
43. Toni Kroos (Germany)
Something of a wanted man and a good display in Brazil may add a few more million on his price-tag.
42. Diego Godin (Uruguay)
Uncompromising defender has had an outstanding season with Atletico and will look to keep things tight at the back this summer.
41. Manuel Neuer (Germany)
Near flawless campaign with Bayern Munich.
40. Hulk (Brazil)
Finally finding his feet in the Russian Premier League.
39. Vincent Kompany (Belgium)
Barely put a foot wrong during Man City’s Premier League title winning triumph.
38. Daniel Sturridge (England)
Scoring goals for fun with Liverpool and will hope to do likewise for his country.
37. Cesc Fabregas (Spain)
Leading assist maker at the Nou Camp but may well be looking for a new club once the finals are over.
36. Mario Goetze (Germany)
Looking for a more prominent role at the Allianz Arena, out to impress Pep Guardiola.
35. Marco Reus (Germany)
Creative forward is sure to be a hugely pivotal figure in Joachim Low’s plans.
34. David Silva (Spain)
Cultured midfielder was back to his best this season providing mouth watering assist after mouth watering assist.
33. Iker Casillas (Spain)
Veteran doesn’t get a look-in in La Liga action but helped Real Madrid to the ‘Decima’.
32. Edinson Cavani (Uruguay)
Powerful forward may be tired of playing second fiddle to Zlatan Ibrahimovic at PSG but seems happy to do so to fellow countryman Luis Suarez.
31. Luka Modric (Croatia)
Superb campaign at the heart of the Bernabeu midfield.
30. Thibaut Courtois (Belgium)
Virtually unbeatable at the Vicente Calderon this term.
29. Gianluigi Buffon (Italy)
Yet another Serie A title for the experienced keeper.
28. Xavi (Spain)
He may be getting on a bit but do not rule out the Spaniard from putting his stamp on the 2014 World Cup.
27. Diego Costa (Spain)
Brazilian born goal machine will look to prove to the Spanish public just what a great addition to their ranks he is.
26. Mats Hummels (Germany)
The rock at the centre of Joachim Low’s defence.
25. Sergio Ramos (Spain)
Another brilliant season for the defender who has developed a knack for scoring crucial goals this term.
24. Bastian Schweinsteiger (Germany)
Midfield pendulum who will be calling the shots in the Die Mannschaft midfield.
23. Andrea Pirlo (Italy)
Midfield maestro seems to get better with age.
22. Arturo Vidal (Chile)
Goals and assists a plenty and will be a key player for potential dark horses Chile.
21. Thiago Silva (Brazil)
PSG man has been pivotal to Laurent Blanc’s Ligue 1 title winning campaign.
20. Steven Gerrard (England)
Veteran midfielder has been the catalyst to Liverpool’s resurgent campaign, finishing the season as the Premier League’s leading assist maker.
19. Oscar (Brazil)
Crafty Brazilian will look to pull the strings in the final third.
18. Paul Pogba (France)
Youngster has been explosive this term, his marauding runs a feature of Juventus’s successful season.
17. Gerard Pique (Spain)
Most dependable defensive option in Vicente del Bosque’s squad.
16. Neymar (Brazil)
Young Brazilian will have a huge amount of expectation on his shoulders but could well still deliver the goods.
15. Thomas Muller (Germany)
Consistent forward who could well cause a wealth of problems for the opposition in Brazil.
14. Philipp Lahm (Germany)
Dependable full-back will be looking to secure international honours to complement his club medal collection.
13. Wayne Rooney (England)
England man will hope to prove himself on the World Cup stage and is going into the tournament an in-form performer.
12. Sergio Aguero (Argentina)
Though sidelined for portions of the last campaign the Argentine still managed to score 28 goals in all competitions.
11. Radamel Falcao (Colombia)
AS Monaco man will hope to be fit and well to lead the Colombian attack after a lengthy spell out.
10. Mesut Ozil (Germany)
German had his fair share of critics in his first season at Arsenal but is certainly a player who has the ability to make a real impact this summer.
9. Arjen Robben (Holland)
Dutchman has been near unstoppable for Bayern Munich this season.
8. Andres Iniesta (Spain)
Barcelona may have had something of a blip this term but don’t expect that to prevent Iniesta from once again making a real nuisance of himself in Brazil.
7. Robin Van Persie (Holland)
Returned from injury just in time and could well be primed and ready to challenge for the Golden Boot.
6. Eden Hazard (Belgium)
Young Chelsea star finished the campaign as the club’s top goal-scorer and leading assist-maker and is sure to have the crowd on the edge of their collective seats this summer.
5. Franck Ribery (France)
French winger will hope to lead Didier Deschamps to the latter stages of the tournament after a poor display in 2010.
4. Yaya Toure (Ivory Coast)
Midfield powerhouse will look to take his club form into the finals and could prove to be a real handful.
3. Lionel Messi (Argentina)
By his own very high standards the Barcelona man had an average campaign but will no doubt be buoyed by the chance to clinch a World Cup crown in Brazil.
2. Luis Suarez (Uruguay)
The in-form Liverpool man is looking to fight back from injury to feature in Uruguay’s opening matches and is a player in the best goal-scoring form of his career.
1. Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal)
Having won the Balon d’Or and clinched the ‘Decima’ the stage is set for Ronaldo to lead Portugal to World Cup glory.
SEE ALSO: The Fastest Players on Fifa 14