RIO DE JANEIRO, July 14- Lionel Messi, who lost out on the World Cup title after Argentina’s 1-0 loss to Germany in Sunday’s final, was named the Golden Boot player of the tournament.
Germany keeper, Manuel Neuer and Colombia star, James Rodriguez, picked the Golden Glove and top scorers award with his team named the winners of the Fair Play award as France’s Paul Pogba picked the young player of the tournament accolade.
Messi, the Barcelona legend and four time Player of the Year was a key part in Argentina’s march to the Maracana stadium, picking up four man of the match performances.
He scored four goals at the tournament, but failed to pick up the one honour eluding him after Germany substitute Mario Goetze’s 113th minute goal dashed the South Americans’ dream of a third title.
Neuer won the World Cup Golden Glove award for the tournament’s best goalkeeper after helping his side to a 1-0 victory over Argentina in Sunday’s final.
The 28-year-old Bayern Munich player was presented with the award at Rio de Janeiro’s Maracana Stadium moments after the triumph.
He beat off competition from Argentine opposite number Sergio Romero and Keylor Navas of surprise package Costa Rica.
Neuer was beaten only four times in the tournament and kept clean sheets in the 1-0 quarter-final win over France and the victory over Argentina in the final.
He succeeds Spain’s Iker Casillas, who was voted outstanding goalkeeper at the 2010 tournament in South Africa.
Colombia’s young striker Rodriguez claimed the World Cup’s top scorer honours with six goals.
Despite his country going out at the quarter-final stage the 23-year-old’s haul was never matched.
Among his half dozen goals was the magical chest and volley against Uruguay.
The Monaco forward, who stepped in manfully to fill the void left by Colombia’s injured Radamel Falcao, also scored in the 2-1 quarter-final loss to Brazil.
He got a second against Uruguay in the last 16 game, and one in each of Colombia’s first round matches against Ivory Coast, Greece and Japan.
Germany’s world champion Thomas Mueller ended up in second place with five goals.
Losing Argentina finalist Lionel Messi, injured Brazil star Neymar and Dutch striker Robin van Persie, shared third spot on four.
Best Player of the Tournament:
1) Lionel Messi (ARG)
2) Thomas Mueller
3) Arjen Robben (NED)
Top scorer
1) James Rodriguez (COL) – 6 goals
2) Thomas Mueller (GER) – 5 goals
3) Neymar (BRA – 4 goals
Top goalkeeper
Manuel Neuer (GER)
Young Player of the tournament
Paul Pogba (FRA)
Fair Play award
Colombia
