1 Maicon: The right-back started a Brazilian party, which many pundits believed would end only after the final on July 11, with a stunning goal against North Korea. The angle was almost zero when Maicon pulled the trigger from the right byline. But the sheer power he was able to pack into his shot reduced the Korean custodian into a spectator.

2 Luis Suarez: South Korea surprised Uruguay with a stellar comeback in pouring rain at Port Elizabeth in the round of 16 encounter. Uruguay appeared to be losing grip of the match after South Korea made the score 1-1. But Suarez had other ideas. The Ajax forward scored a winner with a superb curler from inside the box. The spin he had imparted on the ball was astounding. His wild celebrations were equally good.

3 Giovanni van Bronckhorst: The veteran Dutch defender scored a 40-yard screamer against Uruguay in the semi-final that a top-class striker would be proud to own. In his last tournament before retirement, Van Brockhorst came up with a goal that he will never forget in his life. The classy left-footed strike gave the Uruguayan goalie no chance at all as it bounced in off the far post.

4 David Villa: After a shocking loss at the hands of Switzerland, Spain desperately needed a win against Honduras. The Hondurans parked a bus in front of their goal and Spain's frustration grew with each passing minute. It was when Villa decided to go alone. He cut in from the left as if no defenders existed in that area and beat the Honduran goalie with aplomb. Villa was at it again in the next match against Chile with a 40-yard effort after Chile's custodian had abandoned his goal.

5 Mesut Oezil: Germany struggled to break Ghana’s resistance in their final Group D match. In the absence of suspended Miroslav Klose, the Germans lacked a pivotal figure up front. But Oezil calmed the fraying German nerves with a beauty from just outside the box. The winner had all the best qualities of a perfect long- range effort.

6 Kevin-Prince Boateng: The Portsmouth midfielder with myriad tattoos had scored an excellent solo goal against the US in the round of 16 even before the fans settled in their seats. He covered nearly half the length of the pitch for the collector’s piece.

7 Carlos Tevez: After having scored a goal from an offside position, the Argentinian forward went for the jugular from distance against Mexico in the second round. His gamble paid off handsomely as the ball hit the net like a bullet.

8 Robinho: Felipe Melo and Robinho made Brazil's goal against the Dutch look ridiculously easy. But it was one of the well-worked goals of the tournament. Melo found Robinho with a sumptuous through ball and the Santos forward did the rest with a majestic first-time shot. Awesome.

9 Keisuke Honda: The Japanese forward showed why he is such a rage in his homeland with a superb free-kick against Denmark. Honda’s effort should be preserved for posterity as a prototype from 35 yards. Yasuhito Endo’s right-footed free-kick in the same match was a perfect foil to Honda’s left-footed freekick. Endo couldn’t have done anything better to beat a host of defenders and the Danish goalie.

10 Diego Forlan: The Uruguayan talisman's blockbuster freekick against Ghana rejuvenated his team. Forlan’s missile from just outside the box on the left wing reached its intended target __ the far corner __ in a flash. Ghanaian goalkeeper had no idea about the direction of the ball. In the semi-final against the Netherlands, Forlan scored another excellent long-range goal from open play.