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March 28, 2024

Messi wins award as best player at World Cup

World Cup 2014 awards

Natacha Pisarenko / AP

Germany’s goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, recipient of the Golden Glove trophy, stands next to Argentina’s Lionel Messi after he receive the Golden Ball trophy following Germany’s 1-0 victory over Argentina after the World Cup final soccer match between Germany and Argentina at the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Sunday, July 13, 2014. (AP Photo/

RIO DE JANEIRO — Lionel Messi has received the award for best player of the World Cup, minutes after his Argentina team lost the final 1-0 to Germany.

Messi was selected ahead of Thomas Mueller of Germany and Netherlands forward Arjen Robben by FIFA's technical study group of coaching analysts.

Germany's Manuel Neuer collected the best goalkeeper prize.

James Rodriguez of Colombia got the golden boot award as top scorer with six goals. Mueller was second, with five goals.

The best young player award went to Paul Pogba of France.

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