20 Best FIFA World Cup Goals Ever

Lionel Messi may have been awarded the Golden Ball as Player Of The Tournament in 2014, but in truth nobody lit up the World Cup in Brazil quite like Colombia's James Rodriguez.

The competition's top scorer, James scored in every one of Colombia's games en route to a quarter final exit against the hosts. In their final group game against Japan, James had turned the opposing defence inside out before gently chipping the ball over goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima.

If that goal was a demonstration of James's deft touch, his even better strike in the next match was all about power.

Uruguay, the previous World Cup's semi finalists, were known for their impenetrable defence. But they hadn't reckoned with James's ability to make something out of nothing.

Less than half an hour into the first half Abel Aguilar headed the ball forward to James just outside the D with his back to goal. Controlling it on his shoulder, James spun round and struck a sublime left-footed volley that smashed against the underside of the crossbar and into the net, leaving Fernando Muslera stranded in the Uruguay goal.

James not only won the Goal Of The Tournament for that World Cup, but also the Puskas Award for the finest goal scored anywhere in the whole of 2014. His World Cup performances secured him a dream move to Real Madrid, but he has never been quite so brilliant as he was that summer in Brazil.