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Messi wins Golden Ball; Rodriguez Golden Boot

July 14, 2014 07:31 IST
Manuel Neuer of Germany with the Golden Glove award

Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer won the Adidas Golden Glove award for being the best goalkeeper of the World Cup.

Having won the UEFA Champions League and the FIFA Club World Cup with Bayern Munich, the 28-year-old goalkeeper added the adidas Golden Glove to add to his growing collection.

The Germany No 1, dubbed a 'sweeper-keeper' by sections of the media, displayed brilliant form right through the tournament, conceding just four goals in seven games.

Substitute Mario Goetze scored in extra to help Germany register a 1-0 victory over Argentina at the Maracana and win their fourth World Cup title.

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Messi wins Golden Ball; Rodriguez Golden Boot

July 14, 2014 07:31 IST
Lionel Messi is presented with the Golden Ball award

Lionel Messi was named the best player of the tournament and was awarded the Golden Ball.

Argentina captain Lionel Messi had never scored at the world finals prior to Brazil 2014, a record he emphatically set straight with some lethal finishing in each of Argentina’s three group matches.

Though he was unable to find the back of the net in the knockout rounds including the final, he proved to be an influential figure for his side.

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Messi wins Golden Ball; Rodriguez Golden Boot

July 14, 2014 07:31 IST
James Rodriguez

Young James Rodriguez walked away with the Golden Boot award for finishing as the highest scorer in the World Cup with six goals in the tournament, helping Colombia break new ground in reaching the last eight for the first time.

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Messi wins Golden Ball; Rodriguez Golden Boot

July 14, 2014 07:31 IST
Colombia's players celebrate

Colombia picked up the FIFA Fair Play Award.

The Group C winners who reached the quarter-finals were given this award, not only for collecting just five yellow cards in their five matches at this World Cup, but for scoring highly in the criteria set by FIFA’s Technical Study Group, which includes positive play, respect towards the opponent and match officials, as well as the behaviour of their team officials and supporters.

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Messi wins Golden Ball; Rodriguez Golden Boot

July 14, 2014 07:31 IST
Paul Pogba of France

France's Paul Pogba was awarded the Hyundai Young Player Award.

The France midfielder was considered to be the pick of the players born after January 1, 1993 at this World Cup. The Juventus medio played in all five of Les Bleus' games, having an impact in the 5-2 win over Switzerland by creating a goal for Karim Benzema and then scoring in the 2-0 win over Nigeria, in which he was named as the Budweiser Man of the Match.
In winning this award, he becomes only the second player to be named as the Golden Ball winner at the FIFA U-20 World Cup and the senior equivalent in successive tournaments, following in the footsteps of Robert Prosinecki.

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