Another one of Germanys masterful 2014 world champions, Kroos game has gone up a huge level in the last 18 months or so. He is now the most influential playmaker on the planet, which when you consider the likes of Luka Modric, Xabi Alonso and Andrea Pirlo are still going strong, shows what a great player he is. The 24-year-old finished life at Bayern Munich with a Bundesliga triumph, before heading off to star at the World Cup. His metronomic passing, superb vision and eye for the spectacular were in full flow in South America, and he was particularly brilliant in the aforementioned drubbing of Brazil in the semi-finals. Having moved to Real Madrid in the summer, Kroos has continued to enhance his reputation as one of the most aesthetically-pleasing players in the game today. He has been a joy to watch alongside Modric in the middle of the park for the European champions, and you cant help but feel that he is just at the start of his peak. At 24, he has so many years of him still. Alonso was magnificent before switching Madrid for Munich, but it looks as though los Blancos have found a replacement every bit as good as him. Honourable mention: Xabi Alonso
