The World Cup's Dark Rider

Individual brilliance is very often understated when it is a part of a tight-knit unit of champions.

Still, FIFA’s staff have to sit down and name the 10 nominees for the Golden Ball which runner-up Lionel Messi took. He shoved off competition from club-mate Neymar, Colombian James Rodriguez and winner Thomas Muller.

But as fans, we must also acknowledge the immense contributions by other players; those whose names might not be up in neon but that were World Cup stars nonetheless. Andre Schurrle is the pick of the lot.

Coming off some very inconsistent form for Chelsea FC - only showing flasehs of brilliance - many believed he would have a showing as poor as Ozil’s, but the young forward got his act together and performed admirably at the 20th World Cup Finals.

Having been used mainly as an impact substitute, Schurrle made sure he repaid Joachim Loew;s faith in him by making stellar contributions at the perfect moments.

His relentless running caused all sorts of trouble for every defence they met and his boundless energy pulled weary defenders out of shape - creating space for his teammates.

His match-winning salvo (1 goal and 1 assist) against Algeria sealed progress to the quarter-finals for them, where they went on to beat France.

When Joachim Loew brought him on against Brazil in what will come to be remembered as the "Mineirazo", his job was simply to keep the Brazilians on their toes and prevent a monumental comeback such as Sweden’s in 2012.

What did he do?

Absolutely finish Brazil off. First, a true poacher’s goal (although ex-club-mate David Luiz can also claim credit) turned the score the wrong side of 5. Then, a sweetly-struck missile crashed off the underside of Julio Cesar’s goal, leaving him rooted to the spot.

It says much about him that at that moment, the entire Brazilian crowd stood up and applauded his surgical precision.

But as the best often do, he saved his best for last.

In a stunning flash of movement that was almost too fast for the eye - as most German attacks are - Andre Schurrle snatched the ball from midfield, tore forward into a packed Argentinian midfield, looked up and played a perfect lob onto Mario Gotze’s chest. The control was stunning, the shot was superb and the game was won. In a single instant, two of Germany’s youngest players had clinched them the title.

Andre Schurrle may not be an all-action superhero covering evry blade of grass, or a fancy dribbler humiliating defenders, but if you give this young man the ball, he will win you the game. He’s just that special, and now he’s got the finest trophy in World sport to show for it.