CASTROL INDEX FIFA WORLD CUP™ LEGENDS

Brazil’s 1994 FIFA World Cup™ winning team is often viewed as the least exciting in the nation’s footballing history. The rather prosaic Brazilians became the first side to clinch the trophy on penalties after 120 goalless minutes in the final in what was their fifth clean sheet in the tournament. However, in gifted attacker Romario, Brazil had a player touched by Samba magic, and the striker delivered for his country, scoring five goals, attempting the most shots, 33 and hitting the target with 64% of them.

Romario’s team-mates take up six of the Castrol Index Top 10 places, with the central defensive duo of Marcio Santos and Aldair completing the podium and current Brazil manager Carlos Dunga taking 5th place. Losing-finalists Italy boast two players, courtesy of Milan defenders Alessandro Costacurta and the legendary Paulo Maldini

While Maradona disappointed, three other superstars lit up the competition. Roberto Baggio (15th) almost single-handedly led Italy to the final before ironically missing the decisive spot-kick himself while two other gifted attackers also excelled. Georghe Hagi (36th) netted three and assisted three for Romania while Bulgaria’s Hristo Stoichkov (43rd) finished as joint top-scorer with six goals. Baggio’s comparatively low ranking, in particular, is due partly to his failure to provide a single assist in the tournament along with his significantly below-average 46% dribble success rate.