Top 16 players to have made their name at the World Cup 2010

This is perhaps more vital than ever before for the transfer market in 2010, as football's economy (or agents, at least) look for something to give business a boost. Andy Brassell from Goal.com UK picks out the players from the group stages in South Africa who have given a hearty hike to their profiles - and some who have done likewise to their prospective transfer fees too. Are they set to be the Franck Riberys of tomorrow - or the next El-Hadji Diouf?

Andre Ayew 

(Ghana & Marseille)

Age: 20

The son of Ghanaian legend and former African Footballer of the Year Abedi Pele, Ayew spent last season in the French second tier, on loan to Arles-Avignon. He helped the club with the lowest budget in Ligue 2 to a shock promotion but will return to parent club Marseille next season, where his father made his name and his younger brother Jordan is also on the books.

A tidy left-winger with good delivery, the middle Ayew could do with adding a few goals to his game but was a major threat against Germany in the final group match, and is thriving on being an important player for Milovan Rajevac's side. His ability to rise to the occasion means Didier Deschamps could face a choice between exploiting Ayew's potential or cashing in while the going's good.

Pre-World Cup value: £2m 

Post-World Cup value: £5m 

Is he worth it? Maybe. He has yet to prove himself a consistent performer in the top flight, whatever his considerable raw talent. He would be a gamble.

Valter Birsa

(Slovenia & Auxerre)

Age: 24

A key figure in Auxerre's shock Champions League qualification, Birsa has brought the confidence gleaned into the World Cup, where Matjaz Kek's side came agonisingly close to qualification for the second round. Their playmaker has been a key figure in this, as authoritative from open play as he is from set-pieces.

With a left-foot that you could use to open a tin of baked beans, Birsa could be said to be among the first to truly master the Jabulani, scoring a majestic long-ranger against the USA in Johannesburg. His range of passing is notable, and his performances against physical opponents in South Africa - not to mention in France during the day job - shows this elegant midfielder can put up with the rough stuff. Modest Auxerre will struggle to hang on in the face of substantial offers.

Pre-World Cup value: £4m 

Post-World Cup value: £8m 

Is he worth it? Yes. Birsa has proved his quality with in less than exalted company for club and country. Imagine what he could do in a top-class team. A bargain waits for one lucky club.

Fabio Coentrao 

(Portugal & Benfica)

Age: 23

A surprise choice by Carlos Queiroz to fill Portugal's problem left-back spot ahead of the more experienced Duda. Coentrao was a left-winger before this season, but Benfica's incredible array of attacking options persuaded coach Jorge Jesus to play him further back, with excellent results. The 22-year-old, who made his national debut in the pressure cooker of the qualification play-offs against Bosnia, has arguably been the team's stand-out performer to date.

Since the World Cup began, Coentrao has been linked with every big name in European football - these have included Real Madrid, Juventus and Bayern Munich to name just three - with his dynamism, crossing ability and versatility all appealing. The new contract he signed at the Estadio da Luz in October set his release clause at a whopping £25m, though a substantial offer could make Benfica think twice.  

Pre-World Cup value: £12.5m 

Post-World Cup value: £20m 

Is he worth it? Without a shadow of a doubt. Whoever buys Coentrao is getting a gifted winger, someone who can create, and who has already developed the defensive side of his game to a remarkably high level. The world is his oyster.

Giovani Dos Santos

(Mexico & Tottenham)

Age: 21

It's remarkable to think that Mexico's star man is still only 21. He has already scored a hat-trick for Barcelona, failed comprehensively at Tottenham and Galatasaray and even played in loan in the English second tier. With this sorry recent history at club level, many thought he was washed up already.

Giovani reminded us of his talent in the opening game of the oturnament against South Africa. A goal threat, he can also run the channels, prompt play and draw rash challenges. He has always been better for his country than his club, but a performance against tournament big-shots Argentina - with a fallible central defence to encourage him - would make people sit up and take notice again.

Is he worth it? Maybe. Giovani has disappointed so frequently in recent times, but Javier Aguirre has perhaps shown that he just needs a coach to invest emotionally in him and believe. The quality is clearly there.

Eljero Elia

(Netherlands & Hamburg)

Age: 23

Last summer's move to Hamburg was seen as a surprise by some, who expected Elia to follow the well-trodden route from the Eredivisie to the Premier League. Nevertheless he flourished early on, before the northern side's floundered amid internal chaos.

A classic, quick, touchline-hugging left-winger, Elia might have expected more chances in this World Cup with Arjen Robben's convalescence, especially after his impressive cameo in the group opener against Denmark. He proved in that game to be a useful pinch-hitter, a role he could reprise deeper into the competition. His style - and Hamburg's lack of European football next season - suggests that he will make that move to England sooner rather than later.

Pre-World Cup value: £8m 

Post-World Cup value: £12m 

Is he worth it? Perhaps. He ticks all the right boxes, but is unlikely to get enough playing time before the end of the tournament to confirm his top-level pedigree. Further stylish vignettes before the end of the tournament could yet provoke a move.

Gervinho 

(Ivory Coast & Lille)

Age: 23

The tricky right-sider has long been linked with a move to England, so it was surprising to some when he plumped for a move inside France last summer, joining Lille for £6.5m. He has been a smash hit, scoring 18 goals from the wing in his debut campaign with Les Dogues.

Gervinho sparkled in his country's World Cup opener with Portugal, switching wings to great effect and drawing a couple of good saves from Eduardo. His relegation to the bench for the following game with Brazil was more a comment on Sven-Goran Eriksson's inherent conservatism than Gervinho's performance. He has proved his mettle at the top level and outshone his better-known team-mates.

Pre-World Cup value: £8m 

Post-World Cup value: £14m 

Is he worth it? Yes. Gervinho has shown his ability to cope with close attention from defenders, and his working over of Portugal's miserly defence was a joy to behold. A great combination of pace and ingenuity.

Marek Hamsik 
(Slovakia & Napoli)

Age: 22

The captain of first-time qualifiers Slovakia, Hamsik's gripping performances for Napoli in Serie A are pretty much the sole reason that some had Vladimir Weiss' men down as dark horses. The 22-year-old has built a formidable reputation in southern Italy on the back of his energy, awareness and goalscoring.

Slovakia - and by implication, Hamsik himself - were a serious disappointment in teh opening two matches, before clicking improbably into life in the match of the World Cup thus far against Italy. Given his exploits in Serie A, the uncharitable could argue that he was simply preaching to the converted but Hamsik was simply irresistible, setting up two and narrowly missing out on grabbing a goal himself. The aging Mark Van Bommel will have his hands full shackling this one when the Netherlands meet Slovakia.

Is he worth it? Probably. Hamsik hasn't quite delivered the World Cup that everyone hoped - yet. But there's still time. Should he catapult himself into the realm of major stars, his status at the Stadio San Paolo will ensure he won't come cheaply.

Keisuke Honda

(Japan & CSKA Moscow)

Age: 25

The central figure in Japan's surprise second-round qualification, Honda's exquisite left-foot has been creating a buzz in Europe for a few years now, ever since he first showcased his goalscoring prowess in the Dutch second tier, with VVV Venlo. His spell in the Netherlands attracted a number of admirers for the wide man - including one Ruud Gullit - and following promotion, he was snapped up by CSKA Moscow after a mere half-season in the Eredivisie for £5m.

Honda underlined his direct free-kick mastery by scoring the tournament's first, in the win over Denmark, but he had already shown his shooting power at the top table, with his rocket for CSKA flummoxing Sevilla's experienced Andres Palop and sending the Russians through to the Champions League quarter-finals. An energetic performer, he is becoming one of European football's worst-kept secrets and CSKA could be tempted into the common Russian practice of selling on quickly at a huge profit.

Is he worth it? Yes. Honda's quick adaptation to an alien culture in Russia, the tempo of the Champions League and now the World Cup shows top temperament to match his aptitude. Years of European stardom await.

Sami Khedira 

(Germany & Stuttgart)

Age: 23

This rangy midfielder joined Stuttgart at the age of eight, and played an important part in their surprise 2007 Bundesliga title win, though his obvious potential has not borne fruit at the rate some expected in the intervening period.

Khedira made his debut for the Nationalmannschaft less than a year ago in the friendly win over South Africa, but has been afforded a chance in this tournament in the wake of Michael Ballack's injury. His athletic, all-action style has been a feature of Germany's play and suggests a future move to the Premier League could work out well.

Estimated pre-World Cup value: £7m 

Estimated post-World Cup value: £12m 

Is he worth it? Maybe. His ability is not in question, but his club form has not been relentlessly consistent. The knockout rounds will give us a better idea of what he is made of.

Simon Kjaer
(Denmark & Palermo)

Age: 21

It's not just the fact that his agent, Mikkel Beck, has extensive playing experience in the Premier League that is pushing this young defender towards England. A boyhood Liverpool fan, Kjaer is a tough yet composed centre-back, with maturity way beyond his age and callow appearance. He has attracted every scout worth his salt to Sicily to watch him in action with his club Palermo over the last two years.

Sadly the world will be denied seeing Kjaer in the knockout rounds of the World Cup, after Denmark's limp elimination to Japan. Still, he had the chance to give us glimpses of his quality in initially stemming the Dutch tide in the group opener, and even more with his superlative cross-field pass to help create Nicklas Bendtner's equaliser against Cameroon. 

Is he worth it? Probably. Denmark's samey showing has not exactly enhanced his reputation, but nor has it significantly wounded it. A big money move beckons imminently.

Raul Meireles 

(Portugal & Porto)

Age: 27

If it seems like he has been around for a while, it's because he has. The winner of four Portuguese league titles with Porto. Meireles also has extensive Champions League experience. Back in 2007 he shocked Premier League champions Chelsea with a stunning strike at the Dragao, though he has often been overshadowed in the interim by more high-profile colleagues such as Lucho Gonzalez and Lisandro Lopez. 

The first indication that he could be Carlos Queiroz's secret weapon in this tournament came in the pre-tournament friendly against Cameroon, when he scored a brace. The opener against North Korea confirmed this potential, with Tiago's replacement of Deco in the Portugal side giving him more freedom to burst forward into the box. These late runs into the area are sure to have Premier League managers linking their greedy lips.

Is he worth it? Probably. Meireles is very consistent, though as Portugal have shown, a side has to be set up quite specifically to get the most out of his attacking gifts. On the other hand, he is a stable, balanced character and a fine passer too.

Mesut Oezil

(Germany & Werder Bremen)

Age: 21

Perhaps the star of the World Cup so far, this elegant left-footer has simply carried on where he left off last summer, which he spent firing Germany to European Under-21 Championship victory in Sweden. England's coaching staff will be well aware of Oezil's quality from his two-goal role in the Malmo final over their own youngsters. Inventive and blessed with tremendous balance, he has shone in central positions as well as out wide in South Africa. 

Oezil has just completed his best season in club football for Werder Bremen, hitting a double-figure goal tally for the first time in helping his side to the German Cup final and a surprise Champions League place. He has helped Thomas Schaaf to make light of the departure of creative fulcrum Diego to Juventus - no mean feat. 

Is he worth it? Yes. The real deal. Oezil's ability to step up each significant challenge suggests we are watching the emergence of a genuine world-class talent. 

Diego Perez

(Uruguay & Monaco)

Age: 30

At 30, Perez may seem to have missed the boat in terms of a really big move. This rugged defensive midfielder has, however, been outstanding in Uruguay's qualification for the last 16. His ball-winning prowess and tactical awareness has been instrumental in Oscar Tabarez's team attaining of perfect defensive record in the group.

He has experience in a physically-demanding league, having been brought to Monaco in 2004 by Didier Deschamps. Perez's priorities are clear - in six seasons in the Principality, he has scored just twice. His leadership qualities and reliability make him a potential bargain, though as the current recipient of a tax-free salary, it would take a substantial wage package to persuade him to jump ship. 

Pre-World Cup value: £2m 

Post-World Cup value: £4m 

Is he worth it? Yes. He has experience, knowledge of diverse footballing cultures, is a fine leader and wouldn't break the bank. What's not to like?

Alexis Sanchez

(Chile & Udinese)

Age: 21

At just 21, the Udinese flyer had already convinced many Serie A watchers of his ability to go to the very top. His performances for Marcelo Bielsa's attractive Chile side have nevertheless been superb. Blessed with a rare combination of pace, balance, close control and awareness, Sanchez has been the wide player of the World Cup. According to Opta, he had completed more dribbles than any other player in the competition after the first two group games - eleven, in case you wondered.

Real Madrid and Lyon have long been sniffing around, but any hopes of them sealing a deal at anywhere near a reasonable price seem to be dead in the water. Another stellar performance in the second round against Brazil will have Europe's finest jostling for position.

Pre-World Cup value: £12m 

Post-World Cup value: £20m 

Is he worth it? Definitely. He could do with scoring more, but his balance is quite astonishing, especially for one so tricky and quick. Destined to dent the Champions League year after year, whatever his next club.

Luis Suarez

(Uruguay & Ajax)

Age: 23

The scorer of 49 goals for Ajax in an astonishing season, Suarez is no mere poacher. He can create, attack from either wing, and is full of nimble wit. Inevitably he has been linked with the Premier League but Barcelona's mooted interest is more of an indication of his very special qualities.

This ability is why so many were disappointed with his initial forays in South Africa 2010. He has on occasion failed to live up to star billing for Uruguay, though hopes are his winner against Mexico will give his tournament lift-off. At least he has the guiding hand of the experienced Diego Forlan beside him.

Is he worth it? Probably. As discussed, he still has much to prove in this tournament, but with Uruguay having a clear route to the semi-finals, he may yet have time to play himself in and become a star of the World Cup. He will need this to fully convince - there must be more than one interested coach who keeps hearing the words 'Afonso Alves' in his head when looking at Suarez. 

Park Chu Young

(South Korea & Monaco)

Age: 24

Having just completed a successful second season in Europe with Monaco, Young has been linked with a move to England, Spain or Germany for some months. He scored at a near-one-in-two rate in Ligue 1 last season, but it is his versatility that makes him an attractive prospect.

Nominally a striker, he has the vision to be effective in deeper areas, so is often used as a '9-and-a-half' or even out on the left. After recovering from his unfortunate own goal in the game with Argentina, it was Young's strike against Nigeria in the final group match which eventually clinched qualification. His stock is continuing to rise as dark horses South Korea impress in the competition.

Pre-World Cup value: £4m 

Post-World Cup value: £7m 

Is he worth it? Yes. Young has proved his ability to make an impact in key matches, and the success of Park-Ji Sung has done much to dispel the - frankly ridiculous - myth that South Korean players are too fragile to survive in Europe, something Young himself has already proved in France. 

Finally, England players can spend time with their WAGs

England star Joe Cole was able to spend some quality time with his family as Fabio Capello relaxed his ban on WAGs.

The Chelsea midfielder was back on daddy duty pushing his daughter Ruby around in her monster pram at the Palace Hotel in Sun City near Rustenburg.

Carly wore skinny jeans and wedges but needed a long-sleeve top to keep warm despite the sunshine in South Africa.

The couple are in good heart after Joe made his first outing at the finals so far in the victory over Slovenia which tees up England's last-16 meeting with Germany.

And he wasn't the only player allowed to spend time with his other half today after manager Fabio Capello gave the nod to allow the team to spend time with their WAGs.

A source has informed the MailOnline that the Italian manager, who turned 64 last week, relaxed his strict regime to give players permission to take visits from the wives and girlfriends who are currently in South Africa.

This may explain why we've seen several England WAGs - including Fabio's own wife Laura Ghisi (above) - in the African nation over the last few days.

He said: 'The players were allowed to drink beer before the game. You can ask them. I changed something, I used my imagination. It was free South African beer.

'For us, it was really important. We had to win. We won. I saw the team really well on the pitch, with the spirit that we’d lost in the games we played before this game.'

But Frank Lampard revealed that none of them team took him up on the offer.

He admitted: 'The offer of a beer was there but no-one took him up on it. A lot has been made about the boredom in the hotel. You can’t come away for a month and live like a monk.

The manager is aware of that and it’s not like that. Sometimes those things are on offer and it’s up to you if you take therm. You just don’t have ten beers, you might have one or two.'

However, players are said to have become bored at their Royal Bafokeng Sports Campus base.

Their performance on the pitch so far has certainly not been up to the standard that many fans will have expected, so maybe this could be the boost that they need.

Some of the WAGs are already in South Africa, taking their place in the stands to cheer the team on.

They include Emile Heskey's fiancée Chantelle Tagoe (above), who arrived in Port Elizabeth with the couple's two sons Jaden, four, and Reigan, two.

They were seen in the crowd at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, with one of their boys proudly wearing a tall St George's Cross hat as they watched England beat Slovenia 1-0.

She was joined in the stadium by fellow WAGs Ellie Darby (below), who is the girlfriend of Matthew Upson, and defender Glen Johnson's wife Laura.

Laura (below) clutched their baby daughter as she watched the match from the stands, while Ellie looked nervously on.

Carly Cole was another WAG that defied Capello's rule as she jetted off to South Africa yesterday.

The wife of midfielder Joe Cole flew out of Heathrow with the couple's baby daughter Ruby ahead of the team's crunch match.

Carly, 26, looked casual but chic in black trousers, a white vest and wedged cotton shoes as she left her west London home on Tuesday morning.

With her mother holding baby Ruby, she checked she had all her bags and everything she needed for her flight.

Actress Sheree Murphy (below), who jetted out to South Africa to cheer on husband Harry Kewell in his matches for Australia is back in the UK.

She was spotted out shopping in Liverpool today as she waited for her other half to come home, after Australia left the World Cup after a defeat to Germany.

Meanwhile Victoria Beckham is also missing out on the World Cup, she decided to give the tournament a wide berth - but husband David made the trip despite being ruled out of playing by a devastating Achilles injury.

Bleakley and Poole arrive in South Africa to cheer their partners

Christine Bleakley and Toni Poole couldn't have looked more excited as they flew out to South Africa today.

The pair had huge grins on their faces as they left London to fly to Cape Town to support their respective partners Frank Lampard and John Terry ahead of England's World Cup match against Germany on Sunday.

Bleakley had previously said she wouldn't be going to South Africa, but it seems she has changed her mind now England have reached the knockout stages of the tournament.

She said recently: 'I'm not going to South Africa, sadly. So of course I'll miss Frank, but he's got a job to do.

'I'll be watching all the matches and supporting him from home though.'

The broad smile on the 31-year-old's face today could also be down to her new job, after she finally decided to leave the BBC and join former One Show co-host Adrian Chiles at ITV.

She said: 'I am looking forward to a brand new experience at ITV albeit with an old friend. I have had the most wonderful three years at the BBC and The One Show.

'It has consumed my life in that time and I would not have had it any other way.'

Meanwhile, Poole left for South Africa with twins Georgie John and Summer Rose and she is not the only WAG to have made the difficult decision to take her children to South Africa.

Carly Cole is currently in Sun City with husband Joe and their three-month daughter Ruby, making the most of her time in the warm weather ahead of the match.

Alex Curran, wife of Steven Gerrard, has made the decision to stay in England until England reach the semis.

Lionel Messi to Real Madrid..ridiculous!!

Real Madrid are planning another record breaking transfer deal this summer with a £120million offer for Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi.

It is a deal which is designed to send shock waves through world football as Real Madrid plan to upset their fiercest rivals by going for their best player.

Real Madrid paid a world record £80m to Manchester United last summer for Cristiano Ronaldo but have struggled to topple Barcelona in La Liga.

The original plan was to make the £120million  offer - which is the buy-out figure written into Messi's contract - during the week of the Champions League final to detract from Barcelona playing in the Bernabeu.

But Barcelona's semi final exit has now meant they will not have to do it in that timescale but president Florentino Perez still intends to make a shock offer to show that Real Madrid mean business again this summer.

Last summer, Real Madrid spent in excess of £220million  on Ronaldo, Kaka, Xabi Alonso, Karim Benzema, Alvaro Arbeloa and Raul Albiol.

But it has failed to deliver the Champions League to Real Madrid and now they plan to steal Barcelona's thunder by making a bid for Messi.

Real Madrid do not expect that Barcelona will agree to the sale and the bid will ultimately fail but it shows that they can still outgun when it comes to spending power.

Alan Shearer's view on England defence, Capello and Heskey!!

Shearer on...England defence

Alan Shearer says he would love to take on the current England defence – and has serious worries about how they will perform in South Africa.

He said: “England, at the moment, haven’t got a good defence.

“Ashley Cole would play but he’s not fully match fit. John Terry would play but he’s not having a good time. Rio Ferdinand’s not playing.

“Glen Johnson, who would play at right-back, has hardly played. There are questions that are going to be asked.

“And goalkeeper, for me, isn’t a strong point.

“So, would I love to have been up against a defence like that, going into a World Cup? Well, at the moment I wouldn’t mind.”

Shearer on..Ledley King

Geordie legend Shearer, who will be working as a BBC pundit during the tournament, wants Fabio Capello to put Ledley King on the plane.

“I am a big fan of Ledley King,” said Shearer. “On his day, I don’t think there are many better.

“But he can only play once a week. By his own admission, he can’t play two games in four, five days. That might have to happen with England.

“But if Capello is true to his word, and he picks players that are in form, then Michael Dawson for the last two or three months has been magnificent.

“Bearing in mind that at the beginning of the season, he probably wouldn’t have been in the team if Jonathan Woodgate and King were playing week-in, week-out.

“So he deserves tremendous credit for that.

“But I am a fan of Ledley King.”

Shearer on..Fabio Capello

“Capello’s been very successful so far with his methods and he’s not going to change, is he?” said Shearer

“His way has been very, very successful – so why would he?”

“There has been talk that he treats the players like schoolkids and they will be bored out in South Africa.

“But you are away with 23 of your mates. If you are getting results, it’s a lot easier.

“And the sooner they get the first game, they start playing, then it becomes a little bit easier.

“Then you are focused on the games. I don’t think that will be a problem at all.

“You are not in a bad hotel, are you? You are in a nice hotel, with a swimming pool and everything else.”

Capello has drawn up an initial list of 40 players, to be whittled down to 30 when the squad head to Austria for a pre-tournament training camp.

Shearer on...Walcott and Heskey

Shearer added: “I would take Theo Walcott because I think he brings something different. And I would play Emile Heskey.

“You have to forget about his goalscoring. He’s not a goalscorer.

“The team scores goals when Heskey plays - that is the most important thing.”