most recognisable face of the Brazil
side. The 22-year-old carries the hopes
of a nation as he attempts to inspire his
country’s first World Cup triumph on
home soil.
Eto’o
The young striker was the star of
Brazil’s victory in the Confederations
Cup last year, finishing with four goals
and the Golden Ball as player of the
tournament.
The latest holder of Brazil’s coveted
No.10 jersey, previously worn by World
Cup greats such as Pele, Neymar had a
mixed first season in Europe after
joining Spanish giants Barcelona in a
controversial transfer from Santos
valued at more than 100 million dollars.
He suffered a foot injury at the end of
the season which ruled him out for
several weeks, but has looked sharp in
Brazil’s games leading into the
tournament.
Javier Hernandez – Mexico
Born: 1/6/1988 – 61 caps
The 26-year-old Hernandez, known as
‘Chicharito’ (Little Pea) is Mexico’s
best-known player after spending the
past four years at English giants
Manchester United and catching the
eye at the 2010 World Cup.
His youthful promise was first put on
display at the World Cup in South Africa,
where he bagged goals in games against
France and Argentina.
Football is part of a proud family
tradition however. His father and
grandfather played in the World Cups
for Mexico.
Hernandez quickly became a fans
favourite at Manchester in his first
season, contributing key goals during
the club’s march to the Premier League
title and run to the Champions League
final.
Luka Modric – Croatia
Born: 9/9/1985 – 75 caps
The diminutive attacking midfielder
arrives at the World Cup in the best
form of his career after establishing
himself as a key part of Real Madrid’s
Champions League-winning side.
The 28-year-old’s vision and creativity
will be key to Croatia’s chances of
progressing to the knockout rounds,
although he has sometimes been
deployed in a deep-lying defensive role
by coach Niko Kovac.
A veteran of the 2006 World Cup,
Modric started his career with Dinamo
Zagreb before signing for English side
Tottenham Hotspur in 2008 when he
also emarged as one of the stars of the
European Championship.
Modric’s childhood was scarred by the
Balkans conflict. His family became
refugees to escape the Croatian war.
Samuel Eto’o – Cameroon
Born: 10/3/1981 – 115 caps
The grand old man of Cameroon football,
Eto’o, 33, will be playing in his fourth
World Cup in Brazil, after making his
debut one day before his 16th birthday
in a 5-0 defeat to Costa Rica. As a 17-
year-old, he scored at the 1998 World
Cup finals in France.
He is Cameroon’s most successful
player, having won African Footballer of
the Year a record four times while
winning the Champions League three
times with Barcelona (2) and Inter Milan
(1) during a stellar career in European
football.
The 33-year-old, reunited with Jose
Mourinho after joining Chelsea in 2013,
is also a polarizing figure in Cameroon
football.
He has twice retired from international
football only to be persuaded back by
the country’s president.
Thiago Silva – Brazil
Born: 22/9/1984 – 45 caps
Arguably the world’s best centre back
and with his dual role as team captain
will become a national hero if the team
pull off their sixth title.
Silva converted from right winger to
central defender while playing in Brazil,
signed for FC Porto in Portugal but was
mainly kept in the reserve team and
then caught tuberculosis when he
moved to Dynamo Moscow. That kept
him out for six months.
Silva returned to Brazil and became a
defensive star with Fluminense and his
career took a meteoric turn. In 2008, he
joined AC Milan for 10 million euros and
in 2012 made a 42 million euro move to
Paris St Germain where he is also team
captain.
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