Greatest team of Brazil 2014 so far, judged by statistics…
According to football statistics aggregator WhoScored, who rank a player’s performances on their overall contribution to a game, these XI stars have outperformed anyone else in their favoured position – and therefore make up the ultimate World Cup side so far!
GK) Vincent Enyeama – 7.81 rating
The Nigerian kept clean sheets in his first two matches, and although he conceded a decidedly dodgy free-kick against Lionel Messi in his country’s final group match, WhoScored still rate him as the best stopper at the tournament so far.
Click through the pages to read the rest of the side!
DR) Serge Aurier – 7.65 rating
The Ivorian assisted two goals during his country’s opening match win verses Japan, but it wasn’t enough – as a defeat to Greece saw his side crash out of the tournament. On a personal note, he’s set to join Arsenal ahead of next season.
DC) Rafael Marquez – 7.87 rating
The legendary Mexican central defender has rolled back the years this summer to help his Mexico side progress to the last 16 alongside Brazil in Group A.
DC) Mats Hummels – 7.67 rating
Two clean sheets against USA and Portugal, Hummels also scored against the latter in the group’s opening match. He’s wonderfully composed on the ball, but equally as aggressive and powerful when off it.
DL) Ricardo Rodriguez – 7.99 rating
Heavily linked to Liverpool, Rodriguez has continued his excellent Bundesliga season with Wolfsburg this summer at the World Cup. Thanks to his brilliant left foot, he has assisted two goals so far.
MC) Jermaine Jones – 8.13 rating
USA’s midfield battler has been superb so far, assisting a goal and providing a combative and consistently solid influence to the middle of the park.
AMR) Arjen Robben – 8.95 rating
Robben’s dribbling has been other worldly so far in Brazil. He’s scored three, and formed a fantastic attacking relationship with Robin van Persie up top.
AMC) James Rodriguez – 8.68 rating
Perhaps the real breakthrough player of the competition, the AS Monaco owned playmaker has mesmerised, scoring a truly beautiful chipped goal against Japan – which helped Colombia top their group with three wins from three.
AML) Neymar -8.39 rating
The Golden Boy of Brazilian football has not let anyone down yet. Four goals in three matches from the left wing for Neymar, make him his country’s primary hope of glory on home soil.
FC) Lionel Messi – 9.17 rating
Almost incomparably good, so far. The brilliant Argentine has scored four goals in three matches, including two mesmeric winners against Iran and Bosnia.
FC) Karim Benzema – 8.57 rating
Benzema is thriving in the absence of Franck Ribery. The forward has scored three times, but it should be five had he converted a penalty, and harshly had a goal ruled out due to a final whistle being blown.
