The Barcelona legend and four time Player of the Year was a key part in Argentina’s march to the Maracana stadium, picking up four man of the match performances.
He scored four goals at the tournament, but failed to pick up the one honor eluding him after Germany substitute Mario Goetze’s 113th minute goal dashed the South Americans’ dream of a third title.
Germany’s Manuel Neuer won the World Cup Golden Glove award for the tournament’s best goalkeeper after helping his side to a 1-0 victory over Argentina.
The 28-year-old Bayern Munich player was presented with the award at Rio de Janeiro’s Maracana Stadium moments after the triumph.
He beat off competition from Argentine opposite number Sergio Romero and Keylor Navas of surprise package Costa Rica.
Neuer was beaten only four times in the tournament and kept clean sheets in the 1-0 quarter-final win over France and the victory over Argentina in the final.
He succeeds Spain’s Iker Casillas, who was voted outstanding goalkeeper at the 2010 tournament in South Africa.
Colombia’s young striker James Rodriguez claimed the World Cup’s top scorer honors with six goals.
Despite his country going out at the quarter-final stage the 23-year-old’s haul was never matched.
Among his half dozen goals was the magical chest and volley against Uruguay.
The Monaco forward, who stepped in manfully to fill the void left by Colombia’s injured Radamel Falcao, also scored in the 2-1 quarter-final loss to Brazil.
He got a second against Uruguay in the last 16 game, and one in each of Colombia’s first round matches against Ivory Coast, Greece and Japan.
Germany’s world champion Thomas Mueller ended up in second place with five goals.
Losing Argentina finalist Lionel Messi, injured Brazil star Neymar and Dutch striker Robin van Persie, shared third spot on four.
source: interaksyon.com
