It has been almost 2 weeks since the FIFA World Cup 2018 started and the group stages are now veering towards an end. There have been some major surprises and some heavyweights have stumbled in the initial matches. Defending champions Germany have suffered the humiliation of bowing out of the group stages and Croatia have taken the world by surprise with a stunning 3-0 win over Argentina.
We have been fortunate enough to watch some very good matches too. Spain and Portugal have split points in a 3-3 classic whereas Germany overcame Sweden 2-1 with the help of an astonishing Tony Kroos free-kick in the dying minutes of the match. Croatia and Uruguay have been imperious with 3 wins from 3 games. Brazil have also impressed with their 2-0 win over Costa Rica.
Naturally, there have been some players who have shone and stood apart from the rest. We would like to take a look at 4 such players who could win the Golden Ball for being the best player of the tournament:
#4 Philippe Coutinho
Philippe Coutinho has been one of the most impressive midfielders in the tournament so far. He has scored 2 goals in first 2 matches and remains the major creative source of Brazil’s free-flowing game. He bailed Brazil out with his stunning shot from outside the box against Switzerland and again showed his opportunism by breaking the deadlock against Costa Rica in the injury time.
Moreover, Coutinho often dropped down to central midfield and pulled strings with his impressive range of passes. He also succeeded in playing numerous passes to the expeditious Neymar and Douglas Costa in the flanks. Neymar might be the biggest star, but Coutinho remains the most vital player in the Brazilian set-up. If Brazil progresses to the semifinal or beyond, Coutinho could be one of the contenders for the coveted Golden Ball.
#3 Isco
The stylish Spanish midfielder has been excellent in this World Cup so far. Spain have scampered through the group stages but Isco has certainly proved his mettle at the biggest stage. He has scored a goal and set up another in the 3 matches Spain have played so far. Moreover, he has taken over the playmaker’s mantle from Andres Iniesta. He averages around 100 passes per match in this World Cup and his passing accuracy remains just a shade below 90%.
Isco’s versatility means that he can play in the wings or behind the striker. He also keeps shuffling between the flanks and the centre of the pitch and as a result, the opposition players find it very difficult to mark him. With striker Diego Costa among goals and Isco showing his class in the midfield, Spain would definitely be among the favourites to win the World Cup.
#2 Cristiano Ronaldo
Ronaldo has done all the right things in the tournament so far apart from missing a penalty against Iran. He scored a superb hat-trick against Spain which included a stunning strike from a free-kick, headed home the winner against Morocco and remained a constant threat against Iran. Ronaldo’s swagger and body language bode well for Portugal and they would definitely fancy their chances in the knock-out stages.
Ronaldo has started as the centre forward in all the 3 matches so far but kept switching to the flanks frequently. His speed and strength have enabled him to frequently beat the opposition defenders and get near their goal. His aerial prowess makes him a dangerous proposition from the set-pieces as well. Overall, Ronaldo’s transformation to a lethal goal-scoring machine seems to have been completed in this World Cup.
#1 Luka Modric
Modric has been the most influential player in this tournament so far. He has been imperious in the Croatian midfield and annihilated their oppositions with his superb performances. He has scored 2 goals and set up another in the 3 group matches he has played and promises to deliver more for the Croatians.
He has completed 87% of his passes successfully. Modric’s passing range and vision have made him the talisman for Croatia and he remains the primary reason behind his country’s fabulous performances.
Croatia looks like a sure bet to make it to the semifinals at least. This would also mean that Modric gets more opportunities to demonstrate his enviable abilities. The likes of Rakitic, Rebic and Perisic have all performed exceptionally for Croatia but Modric remains their most important player and the favorite to win the Golden Ball at this stage of the tournament.