Messi, Neymar, Rodriguez among Golden Ball nominees

The 10-man shortlist is dominated by Argentina and Germany, with 4 Germans, 3 Argentines, and one player each from Brazil, Colombia and the Netherlands.

Argentina's Javier Mascherano hugs teammate Lionel Messi after their team's victory over the Netherlands at the end of their 2014 World Cup semi-finals at the Corinthians arena in Sao Paulo July 9, 2014. [Photo/Agencies]

RIO DE JANEIRO - Lionel Messi and Neymar are among the 10 players nominated for the award given to the World Cup's best player.

Seven of the candidates announced by FIFA on Friday play for finalists Argentina and Germany. Messi is nominated along with Argentina teammates Angel Di Maria and Javier Mascherano. Germany provides four candidates: Mats Hummels, Toni Kroos, Philipp Lahm and Thomas Mueller.

Neymar is the only candidate from Brazil among the players selected by FIFA's technical study group of coaching analysts.

Arjen Robben of the Netherlands and James Rodriquez of Colombia, the tournament's top scorer with six goals, complete the list.

The winner is selected by the FIFA technical group and announced after the final.

Both goalkeepers in the final are on a three-man shortlist to be named best of the tournament.

Manuel Neuer of Germany and Sergio Romero of Argentina are joined by Costa Rica's Keylor Navas.

The candidates for best young player are Memphis Depay of the Netherlands, and France pair Paul Pogba and Raphael Varane. Nominees for that award must have been born since Jan 1, 1993.

Previous Golden Ball winners:

1982 FIFA World Cup Spain: Paolo Rossi (Italy)

1986 FIFA World Cup Mexico: Diego Maradona (Argentina)

1990 FIFA World Cup Italy: Salvatore Schillaci (Italy)

1994 FIFA World Cup USA: Romario (Brazil)

1998 FIFA World Cup France: Ronaldo (Brazil)

2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan: Oliver Kahn (Germany)

2006 FIFA World Cup Germany: Zinedine Zidane (France)

2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa: Diego Forlan (Uruguay)

 

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