The best Number 10s in the 2014 FIFA World Cup

Among all the numbers worn by footballers, the jersey number 10 is probably held with the highest esteem, most importantly as it was worn by many of the legends of the game, with Pele, Maradona, Zinedine Zidane, Lionel Messi being one of those few.The number 10 is mostly handed to the bestplayerof the team, however, it also marks thetrequartistaposition, where the player filling that role gets to wear the iconic number,The 2014 edition of the FIFA World Cup had a total of 32 players sporting the number 10 shirt, but how many of them were successful in playing up to the numbers legacy?

#10 Wayne Rooney - England

Wayne Rooney finally managed to score his debut goal in the World Cup, and was successful in creating a few chances despite the heavy criticism directed towards him by the media, a perfect trademark for a number 10.

Minutes Played	134
Goals Scored	1
Assists	1
Castrol Index Rating	7.64

England were eliminated in the Group stage itself, thus giving the Manchester United striker very few chances to prove his mettle. He will be looking to increase his tally of one goal in the next World Cup.

#9 Sofiane Feghouli - Algeria

Sofiane Feghouli was one of Algeria’s most feared players in the World Cup, and was successful in racking up one goal and two assists, rounding up an all-around performance in the World Cup.

Minutes Played	390
Goals Scored	1
Assists	2
Castrol Index Rating	7.67

His goal against Belgium during their 2-1 defeat in the team’s opening match was the country’s first World Cup goal in 28 years.

#8 Andr Ayew - Ghana

Marseille’s Andre Ayew was Ghana’s go-to-guy in this tournament, and was fielded on the left side of the pitch with a free-roaming role. It turned out to be a wise move for the Ghanaians as he flourished in that position, scoring twice, showcasing his attacking prowess to the world.

Minutes Played	261
Goals Scored	2
Assists	0
Castrol Index Rating	7.97

A text-book number 10, Ayew finds himself on the eight spot in this list due to his tactical versatility and high energy on the pitch.

#7 Gervinho - Ivory Coast

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Gervinho’s move to Roma has worked wonders from him to that extent where his goal now finds himself in the list of the best number 10s in the game’s grandest stage.

Minutes Played	263
Goals Scored	2
Assists	1
Castrol Index Rating	7.92

His highlight of the tournament has to be his goal from a solo-effort in the second half against Colombia with a brilliant cutback and well placed shot that gave Ivory Coast a fighting chance after being 2-0 down.

#6 Wesley Sneijder - Netherlands

Wesley Sneijder is among the tournament’s most consistent player, and he has managed to lived up his reputation. His 88th-minute equalizer helped the Dutch overcome Mexico in the round of 16, and also made him the second highest joint-goal scorer in World Cup history with six goals, only second to Johnny Rep who has seven goals.

Minutes Played	465
Goals Scored	1
Assists	2
Castrol Index Rating	9.19

A lot will be expected from the Dutch now as the most crucial part of the tournament begins, and he will be looking to emulate his performance four years ago, when he almost single-handedly.

#5 Bryan Ruiz - Costa Rica

Costa Rica may have been eliminated from the World Cup after their penalty shootout defeat to Netherlands in a quarterfinal encounter, however their effort in the tournament has surely earned them, and their captain Bryan Ruiz a sense of pride within themselves. Ruiz, who plays for Fulham, had a tournament that he will have in his memory for a long time.

Minutes Played	494
Goals Scored	2
Assists	3
Castrol Index Rating	8.73

With two goals and three assists, Bryan Ruiz has notched up a Castrol Index score of 8.73, but most importantly, his goal against Italy was the one that knocked the three-time World Cup winner home.

#4 Karim Benzema - France

Karim Benzema arrived at Brazil with a lot of pressure on his shoulder, a condition that has always been troubling his form with Real Madrid. However, he didn’t let it happened as he stood out as France’s best player with 3 goals and 2 assists under his name, rounding up an all-around performance that you would expect from a perfect number 10.

Minutes Played	450
Goals Scored	3
Assists	2
Castrol Index Rating	9.79

France have, however, failed to advance to the semi-finals after they succumbed to a 1-0 defeat against Germany, and thus Benzema’s World Cup campaign has come to an end.

#3 Neymar - Brazil

The poster boy for the tournament, Neymar has lived up to the hype that his admirers were associating him with. The 22-year-old has found the net 4 times, and has managed to set up one goal for his team-mate. Being Brazil’s best player, he was successful in thriving under the pressure, something that is admirable in a player as young as him.

Minutes Played	457
Goals Scored	4
Assists	1
Castrol Index Rating	9.53

Sadly, however, his World Cup campaign has suffered a massive hit after he was injured with a fractured vertebrae when Colombia's Juan Zuniga kneed him on the back. Neymar will miss the rest of the World Cup as he would need four to six weeks to heal, according to his doctors.

#2 Lionel Messi - Argentina

Argentina’s Lionel Messi has achieved almost everything with Barcelona that a footballer could wish for, however, he has often been accused of being not committed enough when it comes to Argentina. His efforts to clear this off his name is very evident in this tournament as he has been nothing short of sensational, with four goals already to his name, and a match-winning assist to Angel di Maria.

Minutes Played	453
Goals Scored	4
Assists	1
Castrol Index Rating	9.41

With Colombia already knocked out of the tournament and Brazil’s Neymar most likely out injured, Messi remains to be one of the front runners for the Golden Boot award.

#1 James Rodriguez - Colombia

The 2014 FIFA World Cup has been a revelation for Colombia's James Rodriguez who has arguably been the tournament's best player until now. The flamboyant Monaco winger has six goals and two assists to his name, putting him on top of the Golden Boot race.

Minutes Played	399
Goals Scored	6
Assists	2
Castrol Index Rating	9.74

Not that it needed any more vouching, but when an opposition manager like Óscar Tabárez calls Rodriguez "the best player in the World Cup" with players like Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Franck Ribery playing, you would realize that it is a big feat to achieve for a player who is just 22, and this was his first ever World Cup.