With the 2022 World Cup in Qatar approaching, HITC Sport look back at the 2014 Team of the Tournament in Brazil and where they are now with Lionel Messi and James Rodriguez.
Brazil hosted the footballing world for the 20th edition of the Fifa tournament eight years ago. It was the second time that the South American nation had hosted the event, having also been the venue for the 1950 edition that Uruguay won for their second and last title.
Germany would emerge victorious in 2014 as Mario Gotze volleyed in to beat Argentina 1-0 after extra-time in the final. The midfielder’s attempt returned Die Mannschaft’s fourth World Cup win, pulling the country level in second with Italy – behind only Brazil, who have five.
Joachim Low was blessed with a squad stacked with stars as he led Germany to World Cup glory. The champions boasted five of the Team of the Tournament at Brazil 2014, along with Gotze, with Brazil, the Netherlands, Colombia and Costa Rica also seeing their stars shine.
So, with that in mind, who made the Team of the Tournament for the World Cup in Brazil, and where are the 11 best players who excelled at the 2014 Fifa event now eight years on?
Manuel Neuer (GK): 2014 Brazil World Cup saw Germany goalkeeper at his best
The 2014 Brazil World Cup saw Manuel Neuer play at his best to guard the net on route to winning the title with Germany. He was a formidable presence throughout the tournament for four clean sheets over his seven games, to also merit winning the Golden Glove award.
Brazil marked the 36-year-old’s second World Cup after taking over Die Mannschaft’s No.1 shirt ahead of South Africa 2010. But unlike 2010, which preceded a move from Schalke to Bayern Munich in 2011, Neuer is still in Bavaria while he prepares for his fourth World Cup.
Philipp Lahm (RB): Perfect farewell to international football for Munich man
Brazil marked the perfect farewell to international football for Philipp Lahm as the 113-cap star retired from Germany by lifting the World Cup as captain. He was a perfect presence at right-back – and he remained a perfect player with Bayern Munich until he retired in 2017.
Giancarlo Gonzalez (CB): Towering unit kept underdogs Costa Rica formidable
Giancarlo Gonzalez provided Costa Rica with a towering presence at centre-half, who kept the underdogs fighting above their ranking at Brazil 2014. The 6 ft 1 enforcer led his team by example to top Group D ahead of Uruguay, Italy and England and reach the quarter-finals.
The Netherlands would beat Costa Rica on penalties, but Gonzalez had made his mark on the World Cup. He also made an impression on Palermo, who bought the 87-cap star from Columbus Crew in August 2014, and he remained at the Stadio Renzo Barbera until 2017.
Bologna would buy Gonzalez to further his stay in Italy through to 2019, before the centre-half returned to MLS with LA Galaxy. His time soaking up the sun in Los Angeles continued to July 2021, when he went home to his former academy side LD Alajuelense in Costa Rica.
Mats Hummels (CB): Inspiration at the heart of Germany defence in Brazil
Mats Hummels was the inspiration at the heart of a Germany defence that only conceded three goals with the 76-cap brute on the pitch. He also scored once in wins over Portugal and France – the winning effort of the quarter-final tie before humiliating hosts Brazil 7-1.
The centre-back’s performances in South America underlined his claim to being one of the best around at the time. Two more seasons at Borussia Dortmund also led to his return to Bayern Munich in 2016, before heading back to BVB in 2019 and he remains there today.
Daley Blind (LB): Van Gaal took defender with him to Man Utd after World Cup
Daley Blind was the dynamo that drove the Netherlands on the left-flank at the 2014 Brazil World Cup. His efforts under Louis van Gaal in South America also tempted his compatriot to pay Ajax £14m following the tournament to take him with him to Manchester United.
The 32-year-old would outlive Van Gaal at Old Trafford, who the Red Devils fired in 2016, as he remained there to 2018. Ajax spent up to £18m to re-sign the midfielder-cum-defender, who is still in Amsterdam today, following 141 games, an FA Cup and a Europa League title.
Javier Mascherano (CDM): The rock of Argentina’s bid to win 2014 World Cup
The rock of Argentina’s spine in Brazil was Javier Mascherano, as he battled relentlessly to try and establish their control in games. No World Cup title would follow, though, nor did it at Russia 2018, when the now-retired anchor called time on a 147-cap run in the last 16.
Bastian Schweinsteiger (CDM): Battled Argentina to the last to win in Brazil
If Hummels was the heartbeat of Germany’s defence in Brazil, Bastian Schweinsteiger was the engine powering the train toward a World Cup title. His efforts in the last 10 minutes of the final with Argentina where the perfect example of what he always offered in games.
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Schweinsteiger would spend one more year with Bayern Munich after the 2014 World Cup before he joined Manchester United as an eight-time Bundesliga and one-time Champions League winner. Two seasons followed before Chicago Fire called up to him retiring in 2019.
Lionel Messi (RW): Argentine icon took nation to the final as Golden Ball winner
Lionel Messi carried a nation to the World Cup final as Argentina pinned their hopes on the little magician from Rosario. He would end the tournament with the Golden Ball under his arm, if not a World Cup trophy, having dragged out wins that La Albiceleste did not merit.
His efforts in South America highlighted why Messi is among the greats as he captained by example. The 162-cap icon will now go for global glory at the fifth attempt at Qatar 2022 – hoping his Paris Saint-Germain work after leaving Barcelona in 2021 gives the momentum.
James Rodriguez (CAM): Real Madrid bought Colombian as World Cup top-scorer
James Rodriguez got tongues wagging at the Santiago Bernabeu after lighting up the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. The Colombian captivated to take the Golden Boot with six goals, plus two assists, after which he left AS Monaco for Real Madrid in a transfer worth up to £71m.
The 86-cap maestro’s spot in the 2014 World Cup Team of the Tournament was more than earned by scoring in all five of his games in Brazil. But life in Spain was not as successful up to joining Everton for free in 2021 – where he stayed for a season before joining Al-Rayyan.
Neymar (LW): Brazil talisman the heartbeat of home World Cup hopes
Neymar was the life and blood of Brazil’s hopes for home World Cup glory, but an injury in the quarter-final kept him from being humiliated at the hands of Germany. Still, his efforts returned a Bronze Shoe, after soaking up the pressure as their poster boy to hit four goals.
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Brazil sorely missed the talisman in the semi-final, before which their squad paid tribute to Neymar by holding aloft his jersey. The 30-year-old – then of Barcelona and now with Paris Saint-Germain after a £200m move in 2017 – will play in his third World Cup at Qatar 2022.
Thomas Muller (ST): Germany hero captivated as a false 9 to win World Cup
Germany hero Thomas Muller captivated in Brazil with his performances as a false No.9 to win the 2014 World Cup as part of the Team of the Tournament. He ended the event with the Silver Ball as the second-best player and with the Silver Shoe, after striking five goals.
Muller also laid on three assists and will look to add another World Cup to his trophy-laden cabinet come Qatar 2022. The 32-year-old, 116-cap icon has won 11 Bundesliga titles, two Champions Leagues and six DFB-Pokal titles over a 22-year and counting spell in Bavaria.