BRAZIL 2014: Top underrated players at 2014 FIFA World Cup

Rio de Janeiro. Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Neymar will be some of the headlining acts in Brazil during the 20th FIFA World Cup, which roars into life on Thursday.

However, there are a number of unsung heroes who will play pivotal roles for their teams in their pursuit of World Cup glory. Here are few that could make a breakthrough in Brazil.

Keylor Navas: Goalkeeper - Costa Rica

The 27-year-old goalkeeper is just beginning to gain wider recognition both in Spain and abroad after a monster season with Spanish side Levante -- his second with the Valencia-based club after joining from Albacete, where he arrived from Costa Rica in 2010 -- where Navas had the highest saves-to-shots ratio in La Liga.

Of course the stats are helped by the fact that he’s kept busy at such a club but he’s still making the saves, and starting to make waves in La Liga. He’s also likely to see a lot of action at the World Cup, with his country being underdogs in their group (Italy, Uruguay and England). That suits him just fine; the more he has to do the better he likes it.

Aggressive and temperamental, his approach is instinctive and he is known for being agile, quick, unafraid to come off his line and is a great shot-stopper. With Costa Rica’s defence not being particularly strong, having such an in-form and inspirational keeper could make a big difference in such a tough group.

João Moutinho: Midfielder - Portugal

Although Cristiano Ronaldo gets all the attention with Portugal, you could argue that João Moutinho is just as fundamental to the national team. A dream player for any manager, the thoroughly reliable 27-year-old playmaker dictates the play and organises the team.

Always available and always looking for the ball, he distributes it intelligently and accurately whether playing long or short passes. Alongside his skilful and sophisticated play is a true competitive spirit which makes him happy to put in a shift defensively whenever necessary. In addition, he’s amazingly consistent, turning in the same high-quality performances week in, week out.

He’s one of a very few midfielders that could walk into the great Barcelona team of recent seasons and take on the Xavi/Andres Iniesta roles with the same vision and success. It must have been a source of huge regret to Tottenham Hotspur that his proposed move there a couple of years ago to replace Luka Modric fell through, such is the impact he can have.

His influence can be seen by the results at his previous club, Porto, who won three titles in his three seasons with them but finished third in the seasons before and after his spell there. Moutinho is now at AS Monaco, who finished second in only their first season back in Ligue 1, qualifying for the Champions League. Moutinho’s form is as crucial as Ronaldo’s if Portugal are to enjoy a successful World Cup.

John Obi Mikel: Midfielder - Nigeria

Though he plays for high-profile Chelsea, Mikel doesn’t enjoy much appreciation in England and is seen as someone who has never fulfilled the early potential that led Manchester United and Chelsea to battle over his signature in an acrimonious dispute in 2005 that ended with the London club paying some 16 million pounds for his services.

In the Premier League, though, Mikel is utilised in a deep holding defensive midfield role, instructed to stay behind the ball and rarely ever allowed to come forward. Kudos, then, to his national team manager Stephen Keshi for bringing out another dimension to his game in his role for Nigeria as more of an attacking force.

In fact, this is akin to his original position which attracted so much attention back in his teenage days and it’s almost as though when he takes off the Chelsea shirt, his offensive spirit comes out. Playing further forward allows Mikel to express himself more freely; he sees much more of the ball and can utilise his strategic abilities to dictate the play.

Not having to stay back -- a role filled here by Ogeni Onazi -- allows him to burst forward with the ball in a way he clearly enjoys, and his playmaking skills are much more evident. As the biggest star in the current Nigeria side it’s up to Mikel to inspire them, so expect to see a more forceful and dynamic side to him than the one he shows at Chelsea.

James Milner: Midfielder - England

Although not the most glamorous member of the England squad, the 28-year-old could well turn out to be the most useful. With just 23 players making the flight to Brazil, the more features, skills and qualities you can compress into that select band the better, and that’s what James Milner gives England head coach Roy Hodgson -- versatility.

But where many “utility” players tend to be versatile because they aren’t talented enough in any one position to make it their own, Milner brings quality wherever he’s asked to play. He actually started life as a striker back at Leeds United before becoming a winger, and he’s now equally comfortable anywhere in midfield.

With his great strength and pace, plus his excellent reading of the game, he could also do a decent job at fullback or centre back if needs must. And while Hodgson must be delighted to have such an adaptable player to call upon, he’ll also appreciate his unselfish mentality.

With no ego to speak of, he’s a model pro who won’t complain if he’s left on the bench but will make sure he’s ready when called upon and always offers something -- as he did so often this past season for Manchester City in their title-winning campaign.

While the starry nature of their squad makes him something of an unsung hero, he has the quality to make a difference even in the big games, is a real team player and always gives 100%.

Arturo Vidal: Midfielder - Chile

Pound for pound, is this the best central midfielder in the world? I’ve spoken to quite a few people in football who’d have his name as their top midfielder on their hypothetical shopping list if money was no object, yet he doesn’t get the recognition he deserves on a worldwide basis. Indeed, he’s only really appreciated in Italy (where he plays for Juventus), partly in Germany and back home in Chile.

Perhaps his early reputation as a hothead still lingers; he was part of the highly-rated U20 team that came in third in the 2007 Under-20 World Cup but were notorious for disciplinary scandals on and off the pitch. Nonetheless, his displays there earned him a move to Leverkusen, where he spent four years in the Bundesliga before moving to Juventus in 2011.

These days “the Warrior” is much more capable of controlling his temper and channel his aggression into his game, while always playing on his limits. Played in a defensive role in Germany, he’s now a true box-to-box midfielder who scores a respectable amount of goals. Not only an attacking threat with his sprints forward, late runs into the box and brilliant finishing, he’s also technically very good and puts in a real shift defensively, tracking back when needed. Chile’s system with three in midfield is ideal for taking advantage of his attacking potential and running capacity -- and while Alexis Sánchez gets all the attention as Chile’s star, Vidal is not only more important to the team but also an overall more valuable player. Perhaps because of his style, looks and past he doesn’t get the accolades of other midfielders, but Brazil 2014 could well be the time Vidal makes his global breakthrough.

Mile Jedinak: Midfielder - Australia

The archetypal unsung hero, Mile Jedinak’s inspirational story shows that a great attitude, dedication to your sport and hard work can transform you from a journeyman to enjoying Premier League success and captaining your country.

At 29 he’s approaching the tail end of his career but his excellent mentality and strong leadership qualities mean that he’s enjoying it at the top, which seemed unlikely from his relatively humble beginnings in the Australian league and a couple of seasons in Turkey.

He joined Crystal Palace in 2011 and was instrumental in their promotion the following season, scoring the last-minute winner in the final league game that secured their play-off place, and then having a colossal match in the final -- the performance that really earned him to wider attention. Committed, hardworking and the kind of player who rallies his team around him, he’s been influential in Palace’s survival this season.

There’s nothing flash about him but as a defensive midfielder he’s outstanding: calm on the ball, does the right thing with it -- rather the simple pass than something fancy -- and is equally effective without the ball in terms of his positioning, tracking opposition runs and winning possession.

With his big frame he’s good in the air; most of his goals come from headers. Tellingly, while Australia cleared out most of the old guard after a terrible qualifying campaign, their new coach, Ange Postecoglu, not only kept him but made him captain.

He’s just what the new, young and inexperienced Australia team needs to lead them on the pitch at Brazil 2014.(AFP)