Lionel Messi

Forward, 30, Barcelona

Without question the greatest footballer of his generation, Messi (above) is a gift to world football. Having moved to Barcelona’s famed La Masia youth academy at an early age, he has spent his entire professional career with the Spanish giants, becoming a global superstar in the process.

Making his first-team debut at 16, Messi broke through into a line-up that often featured an already established superstar – Ronaldinho – on the left side. The young Argentinian thus found himself utilised more on the right – a move that came to define his career. His trademark ability to weave in and out of multiple defenders, and finish with deadly accuracy, has since become world-renowned. Often winning matches by himself, Messi – who turns 31 during the group stage in Russia – has inspired Barcelona to domestic and continental domination for a decade and more.

For Argentina, however, the trophy return has amounted to no more than an Under-20 World Cup win in 2005 and Olympic gold in Beijing three years later. After going down to Germany in the final four years ago, Messi looks more determined than ever to bring home the trophy from what could be his last World Cup.

A left-footed attacking wide player, Messi has sensational balance and acceleration, which enables him to beat even the most stable of defenders. He is also a wonderful passer, often seen cutting in from the right and sliding through balls that can penetrate even the most compact of defences. As a goalscorer extraordinaire who has no modern peer aside from possibly Cristiano Ronaldo, Messi blends incredible power with deadly accuracy. He is in every way the focal point of the Argentina attack.