Top Black Players to Watch in 2014 World Cup

The soccer stars everyone should know.

Top Black Players to Watch in 2014 World Cup - An African nation has never won the World Cup, but that's not because there is a lack of incredible players from the continent. In fact, there are soccer stars all over the Diaspora whose names everyone should know and whose feats should be celebrated. Here, the top ones, the stars whose games no one should miss at the 2014 games.  (Photos from Left: Buda Mendes/Getty Images, Claudio Villa/Getty Images)

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Top Black Players to Watch in 2014 World Cup - An African nation has never won the World Cup, but that's not because there is a lack of incredible players from the continent. In fact, there are soccer stars all over the Diaspora whose names everyone should know and whose feats should be celebrated. Here, the top ones, the stars whose games no one should miss at the 2014 games.  (Photos from Left: Buda Mendes/Getty Images, Claudio Villa/Getty Images)

Mario Balotelli (Italy) - Most people who don’t follow soccer only know the greats, like Pele, Maradona and Beckham. But Mario Balotelli (whose parents are Ghanaian but he took the last name of his adopted family) is becoming a household name. And it is not necessarily because of his tricks on the field — of which there are many — but for the nonstop drama that surrounds him. Hijinks include police run-ins in his camouflage-painted Bentley, paternity claims launched over Twitter and accusations that he shot darts at the youth team. Most of the gossip is true, yet the frequently-blond and mohawk-wearing 23-year-old is still in demand — all that crazy is perfect on the field. Balotelli, who plays forward, is fast, determined and strong, and scored five goals in five appearances in Italy’s qualifying games for the World Cup. This past season at AC Milan was shaky, but in in...

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Mario Balotelli (Italy) - Most people who don’t follow soccer only know the greats, like Pele, Maradona and Beckham. But Mario Balotelli (whose parents are Ghanaian but he took the last name of his adopted family) is becoming a household name. And it is not necessarily because of his tricks on the field — of which there are many — but for the nonstop drama that surrounds him. Hijinks include police run-ins in his camouflage-painted Bentley, paternity claims launched over Twitter and accusations that he shot darts at the youth team. Most of the gossip is true, yet the frequently-blond and mohawk-wearing 23-year-old is still in demand — all that crazy is perfect on the field. Balotelli, who plays forward, is fast, determined and strong, and scored five goals in five appearances in Italy’s qualifying games for the World Cup. This past season at AC Milan was shaky, but in in...

Neymar (Brazil) - When Neymar was not selected for the 2010 World Cup team, over 14,000 Brazilians signed a petition demanding his inclusion. It did not work, so this year will be the 22-year-old’s first major chance to show off internationally. Anyone who followed him as a player, first at Santos and this past season at FC Barcelona, has already seen why Neymar is soccer’s new Boy Wonder, on course to be one of the greats like fellow Brazilian Pele. He dribbles fast and with what can look like superhuman precision, scored more than 14 goals in just one season at Barcelona and, last summer, was the star of the Confederations Cup with four goals that helped Brazil win the tournament. He has said that he hopes this year’s World Cup final is between Brazil and Argentina, allowing him the chance to play against — and, he predicts, beat — his Barcelona teammate, Lionel Messi. (Pho...

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Neymar (Brazil) - When Neymar was not selected for the 2010 World Cup team, over 14,000 Brazilians signed a petition demanding his inclusion. It did not work, so this year will be the 22-year-old’s first major chance to show off internationally. Anyone who followed him as a player, first at Santos and this past season at FC Barcelona, has already seen why Neymar is soccer’s new Boy Wonder, on course to be one of the greats like fellow Brazilian Pele. He dribbles fast and with what can look like superhuman precision, scored more than 14 goals in just one season at Barcelona and, last summer, was the star of the Confederations Cup with four goals that helped Brazil win the tournament. He has said that he hopes this year’s World Cup final is between Brazil and Argentina, allowing him the chance to play against — and, he predicts, beat — his Barcelona teammate, Lionel Messi. (Pho...

Samuel Eto'o (Cameroon) - For a number of soccer greats, this will be their last World Cup and Samuel Eto’o is likely on that list. The 33-year-old has been playing professionally since he was 15 and has won more honors than any other African player. The forward has played for Real Madrid, Inter Milan, FC Barcelona and, most recently, Chelsea. Cameroon’s first World Cup match this year will be Eto’o’s 118th international appearance and a chance to add to the 54 goals he has already scored for his country. (Photo: Jamie McDonald/Getty Images)

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Samuel Eto'o (Cameroon) - For a number of soccer greats, this will be their last World Cup and Samuel Eto’o is likely on that list. The 33-year-old has been playing professionally since he was 15 and has won more honors than any other African player. The forward has played for Real Madrid, Inter Milan, FC Barcelona and, most recently, Chelsea. Cameroon’s first World Cup match this year will be Eto’o’s 118th international appearance and a chance to add to the 54 goals he has already scored for his country. (Photo: Jamie McDonald/Getty Images)

Alex Song (Cameroon) - There is a lot of bad hair in soccer — from mullets to conked mohawks. And yet it is Alex Song whose Wikipedia bio makes mention of his “colorful” hair, a hard distinction in a sport of so many questionable styles. Whether he was playing for Cameroon or club teams Arsenal or FC Barcelona, he has tried every blond look possible. It makes it easier to spot him in the midfield, where Song plays with a confidence and daring that makes him one of the sports top defenders. This year will be his second World Cup and could bring his first international goal. Song, who has 27 siblings and moved to France at 16 to play soccer, is also an ambassador for Grassroot Soccer, an organization dedicated to HIV prevention.  (Photo: Clive Mason/Getty Images)

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Alex Song (Cameroon) - There is a lot of bad hair in soccer — from mullets to conked mohawks. And yet it is Alex Song whose Wikipedia bio makes mention of his “colorful” hair, a hard distinction in a sport of so many questionable styles. Whether he was playing for Cameroon or club teams Arsenal or FC Barcelona, he has tried every blond look possible. It makes it easier to spot him in the midfield, where Song plays with a confidence and daring that makes him one of the sports top defenders. This year will be his second World Cup and could bring his first international goal. Song, who has 27 siblings and moved to France at 16 to play soccer, is also an ambassador for Grassroot Soccer, an organization dedicated to HIV prevention.  (Photo: Clive Mason/Getty Images)

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Yaya Toure (Ivory Coast) - It’s been a good year for Yaya Toure. He won the African Footballer of the Year award, his team, Manchester City, won the English Premier League, and he was the third top scorer for the entire league with 20 goals. What he would need to make it a perfect year is if this, his third World Cup, resulted in the trophy. The 31-year-old has also played for FC Barcelona, Monaco and Olympiakos and is considered one of the top midfield players in soccer today because his defensive work is as on point as his ability to score. (Photo: Alex Livesey/Getty Images)

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Yaya Toure (Ivory Coast) - It’s been a good year for Yaya Toure. He won the African Footballer of the Year award, his team, Manchester City, won the English Premier League, and he was the third top scorer for the entire league with 20 goals. What he would need to make it a perfect year is if this, his third World Cup, resulted in the trophy. The 31-year-old has also played for FC Barcelona, Monaco and Olympiakos and is considered one of the top midfield players in soccer today because his defensive work is as on point as his ability to score. (Photo: Alex Livesey/Getty Images)

Vincent Kompany (Belgium) - Although most people are putting their money on Brazil, Spain or Argentina to win the World Cup, the dark horse in the race is Belgium. Not known for being a soccer powerhouse, the team has a few stellar players, including defender Vincent Kompany. The 28-year-old, whose nickname is Vince the Prince, is captain for both the national team as well as Manchester City, who won the British Premier League this year. Born in Brussells, Kompany is involved in a number of philanthropic projects for education in his father’s native Democratic Republic of the Congo. He is also the official FIFA ambassador for the charity SOS Children and the owner of two sports bars in Belgium, Good Kompany.  (Photo: David Rogers/Getty Images)

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Vincent Kompany (Belgium) - Although most people are putting their money on Brazil, Spain or Argentina to win the World Cup, the dark horse in the race is Belgium. Not known for being a soccer powerhouse, the team has a few stellar players, including defender Vincent Kompany. The 28-year-old, whose nickname is Vince the Prince, is captain for both the national team as well as Manchester City, who won the British Premier League this year. Born in Brussells, Kompany is involved in a number of philanthropic projects for education in his father’s native Democratic Republic of the Congo. He is also the official FIFA ambassador for the charity SOS Children and the owner of two sports bars in Belgium, Good Kompany.  (Photo: David Rogers/Getty Images)

Paul Pogba (France) - Even though he is only 21, this is not Paul Pogba’s first World Cup. Last year, he was captain of France’s under 20 team, which won the 2013 FIFA U-21 World Cup. This summer he moves up to the big contest as a French international player. Born in France to Guinean parents, Pogba began officially playing for a youth club when he was six, but alongside his brothers — who are also professional soccer players — it has been a lifelong passion. He joined Manchester United in 2011 and a year later transferred to Italy’s top team, Juventus. Although the move prompted his Man U coach to publicly call him “disrespectful,” the controversy hasn’t hurt Pogba's career at all.  (Photo: Julian Finney/Getty Images)

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Paul Pogba (France) - Even though he is only 21, this is not Paul Pogba’s first World Cup. Last year, he was captain of France’s under 20 team, which won the 2013 FIFA U-21 World Cup. This summer he moves up to the big contest as a French international player. Born in France to Guinean parents, Pogba began officially playing for a youth club when he was six, but alongside his brothers — who are also professional soccer players — it has been a lifelong passion. He joined Manchester United in 2011 and a year later transferred to Italy’s top team, Juventus. Although the move prompted his Man U coach to publicly call him “disrespectful,” the controversy hasn’t hurt Pogba's career at all.  (Photo: Julian Finney/Getty Images)

Tim Howard (USA) - When naysayers claim that the U.S. has not produced any male soccer greats, there is one man that always proves them wrong: Tim Howard. A goalkeeper who recently played a record-making 100 international games, Howard has successfully stopped goals from Argentina’s Lionel Messi and, just as impressively, held top-ranked Spain at bay in last year’s Confederations Cup. The 35-year-old from New Jersey spends the regular season as starting goalie for Everton in England. (Photo: Mark Runnacles/Getty Images)

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Tim Howard (USA) - When naysayers claim that the U.S. has not produced any male soccer greats, there is one man that always proves them wrong: Tim Howard. A goalkeeper who recently played a record-making 100 international games, Howard has successfully stopped goals from Argentina’s Lionel Messi and, just as impressively, held top-ranked Spain at bay in last year’s Confederations Cup. The 35-year-old from New Jersey spends the regular season as starting goalie for Everton in England. (Photo: Mark Runnacles/Getty Images)

France Ousts Nigeria, Altidore a Go Versus Belgium - France kicked off Monday’s World Cup action with a 2-0 shutout of Nigeria, advancing to the quarterfinals of the tournament. The other match on the day, Germany-Algeria, is currently underway and scoreless in the second half. In other World Cup news, USA forward Jozy Altidore will be available to play against Belgium in Tuesday's match. Altidore is coming off a strained hamstring. (Photo: Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

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Jozy Altidore (USA) - Most people believe that if the U.S. is going to win — even just a few games — in the World Cup, it is going to take a miracle. They just may have gotten one, in striker and FC Sunderland player Jozy Altidore. After a serious drought where he didn’t score a single goal since December, the 24-year-old made two this month against Nigeria, in the U.S.’s last game before boarding the plane for Brazil. Altidore, who is from Livingston, New Jersey, is physically stronger and harder to stop than a lot of strikers, meaning he could be the winning touch for the U.S. (Photo: Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

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Marcelo (Brazil) - Born in Rio de Janeiro, and on the Brazilian national team, Marcelo spends most of the year playing alongside his best friend, Cristiano Ronaldo, for Real Madrid. At 26 years old, the defender is fast — as in, so fast he has often dribbled the ball over half of the field before you even know who has possession. He has been playing since he was nine and, at 13, was recruited by local Brazilian club Fluminense for their youth team. This is Marcelo's first World Cup, where he can show why soccer legend Maradona said he is the best player today for his position.(Photo: Scott Heavey/Getty Images)

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Marcelo (Brazil) - Born in Rio de Janeiro, and on the Brazilian national team, Marcelo spends most of the year playing alongside his best friend, Cristiano Ronaldo, for Real Madrid. At 26 years old, the defender is fast — as in, so fast he has often dribbled the ball over half of the field before you even know who has possession. He has been playing since he was nine and, at 13, was recruited by local Brazilian club Fluminense for their youth team. This is Marcelo's first World Cup, where he can show why soccer legend Maradona said he is the best player today for his position.(Photo: Scott Heavey/Getty Images)

Kevin Prince Boeteng (Ghana) - Although Kevin Prince Boeteng has distinguished himself on the field as a midfielder for FC Schalke and a forward on Ghana’s national team, his history-making moment came when he walked off the field. In 2013, when the 27-year-old was still playing for AC Milan, frustrated with the nonstop racist chants from the crowd, he stopped playing and left the field — a direct violation of league rules. Instead of punishment, he was supported by his own teammates, who abandoned the game completely. This summer, in his second World Cup, he will be playing against his brother, who is on the German team. (Photo: Clive Mason/Getty Images)

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Kevin Prince Boeteng (Ghana) - Although Kevin Prince Boeteng has distinguished himself on the field as a midfielder for FC Schalke and a forward on Ghana’s national team, his history-making moment came when he walked off the field. In 2013, when the 27-year-old was still playing for AC Milan, frustrated with the nonstop racist chants from the crowd, he stopped playing and left the field — a direct violation of league rules. Instead of punishment, he was supported by his own teammates, who abandoned the game completely. This summer, in his second World Cup, he will be playing against his brother, who is on the German team. (Photo: Clive Mason/Getty Images)

Pepe (Portugal) - Mario Balotelli gets a lot of attention for being a ticking time bomb on the field, but Portuguese midfielder and Real Madrid player Pepe (born Képler Laveran Lima Ferreira) is no slacker either. The 31-year-old takes his role as defensive midfielder seriously, parceling kicks, shoves and other abuse at will. The list of players he’s turned on is long and includes Lionel Messi and Neymar. There was also a 2009 incident where he pulled another player down, kicked him twice, pushed his head into the dirt — and then stomped on him. For some that might be career ending, but for vital-to-the-team Pepe it was only a 10-game ban. His aggressive tactics could be what Portugal needs to win their group in the World Cup.  (Photo: Jamie McDonald/Getty Images)

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Pepe (Portugal) - Mario Balotelli gets a lot of attention for being a ticking time bomb on the field, but Portuguese midfielder and Real Madrid player Pepe (born Képler Laveran Lima Ferreira) is no slacker either. The 31-year-old takes his role as defensive midfielder seriously, parceling kicks, shoves and other abuse at will. The list of players he’s turned on is long and includes Lionel Messi and Neymar. There was also a 2009 incident where he pulled another player down, kicked him twice, pushed his head into the dirt — and then stomped on him. For some that might be career ending, but for vital-to-the-team Pepe it was only a 10-game ban. His aggressive tactics could be what Portugal needs to win their group in the World Cup.  (Photo: Jamie McDonald/Getty Images)