FIFA has included Lionel Messi and Neymar on a 10-player list of candidates to be named the World Cup's best player.

Seven of the 10 nominees for the Golden Ball come from finalists Argentina and Germany.

Messi is nominated along with Argentina teammates Angel Di Maria and Javier Mascherano. Germany provides four candidates: Mats Hummels, Toni Kroos, Philipp Lahm and Thomas Mueller.

Neymar is the only candidate from Brazil on the list selected by FIFA's technical study group of coaching analysts.

Arjen Robben of the Netherlands and James Rodriquez of Colombia, the tournament's top scorer with six goals, complete the list.

The winner is selected by the FIFA technical group and announced after the final.

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