Image source, Getty Images

Hungary's great team of the 1950s were known as the Mighty Magyars, and inside left Ferenc Puskas was their captain and greatest player.

Puskas was a pivotal figure in the Hungary side that had humiliated England 6-3 at Wembley in 1953 - his drag back to leave opposing captain Billy Wright chasing thin air, followed by an unstoppable shot past goalkeeper Gil Merrick, is one of the defining football images of the era.

In 1954, Puskas suffered a hairline fracture of his ankle during the World Cup, but played in the final against West Germany in Switzerland despite the injury. Puskas scored the opening goal as Hungary raced into a 2-0 lead after only eight minutes, but the Germans fought back to win 3-2 and take the trophy.

Puskas went on to play for Real Madrid and, in a remarkable act of charity, turned out for English non-league side South Liverpool in 1967 at the age of 40 - playing a friendly organised to raise money for a local community centre. As a coach, he guided Greek side Panathinaikos to the 1971 European Cup final, where they were beaten by Ajax.

Fifa has awarded the Golden Ball to the best player at each World Cup since 1930. As we ask you to nominate your player of the tournament, BBC Sport looks back at the past winners of the award.

Jim R McKerchar:, external Player of tournament for me is James Rodriquez - outstanding in all areas of play scoring, assists and defending.

Stuart Murphy:, external Mascherano been all over the park for Argentina.

Viktor Allen:, external Alexis Sanchez had a great WC, too. Can Wenger turn him into a centre-forward? He did it with Henry, so I guess we'll see.

Brazil president Dilma Rousseff says the nation has proved its doubters wrong by delivering a successful World Cup.

There were concerns that stadiums and airports would not be ready or that protests would disrupt the tournament.

Rousseff said: "We showed that our people know how to have good interaction not only among ourselves but with the foreigners that we received.

"We competently maintained peace and order, as well as having good airport administration among other successes."

Image source, @DFB_team/Twitter

Uwe Seeler is giving his support to Germany as they bid to win the World Cup for the first time since reunification by beating Argentina in Rio de Janeiro tomorrow. Seeler, who played as a striker for West Germany at four World Cups without winning the tournament himself, posed for this picture, posted on the national team's Twitter account., external

It is a special player who could claim to be Pele's childhood idol. Brazil's striker Zizinho was that man.

Yet while Pele continues to be lauded for his achievements, Zizinho's reputation was forever tarnished by the shock of Brazil's failure to win the World Cup on home soil in 1950, as they suffered a shock defeat against Uruguay in their final match.

In subsequent years, he would take the phone of the hook on 16 July, the anniversary of that defeat. "Otherwise it rings all day," he explained, "from people all over Brazil, asking why we lost the World Cup."

And yet Zizinho was the star of that tournament. An Italian newspaper compared him to the artist Leonardo da Vinci, "creating works of art with his feet".

"He was a complete player," Pele once said of Zizinho. "He played in midfield, in attack, he scored goals, he could mark, head and cross."

Fifa has awarded the Golden Ball to the best player at each World Cup since 1930. As we ask you to nominate your player of the tournament, BBC Sport looks back at the past winners of the award.

Jumpers for goalposts, lower-league away trips and die-hard fans. They're a world away from the glitz and glamour of this weekend's action but our friends at BBC Radio 4 Extra need few excuses to celebrate all that is great about the more humble elements of the beautiful game.

Join Robin Ince and Steve Lamacq for Not the World Cup in Brazil from 09:00 BST.

Image source, Getty Images

An agile centre-forward, Brazil's Leonidas da Silva (left) was one of the players credited with the invention of the bicycle kick - and was a star of the 1938 World Cup in France.

The tournament's top scorer with eight goals, the Flamengo striker was denied a place in the final by one of the more bizarre managerial decisions in World Cup history.

Ademar Pimenta, Brazil's coach, dropped Leonidas for the semi-final against Italy in Marseille - claiming that he was saving the forward for the final. Without him, Brazil lost 2-1.

Fifa has awarded the Golden Ball to the best player at each World Cup since 1930. As we ask you to nominate your player of the tournament, BBC Sport looks back at the past winners of the award.

Brazil were without two of their key men for that defeat against Germany, with Neymar injured and Thiago Silva ruled out through suspension.

Neymar broke down in tears as he revealed he was almost paralysed by the incident that kept him out of the tournament.

But Thiago Silva is available to return to the defence as the hosts look to end the tournament on a high.

Who should win the Golden Ball award for player of the tournament?

Indah P Rahayu:, external My heart goes out to Thomas Muller, but Neymar or James Rodriguez after all deserves for the Golden Ball award.

Omar'sky:, external James Rodriguez - best goals and a great team player.

Rober Fassbender:, external 'Hammez' (James) Rodriguez - he has became a world star overnight.

Image source, Getty Images

Giuseppe Meazza was a skilful forward who helped Italy to win two World Cups, the first of which was on home soil in 1934.

Despite struggling with injury, he played a key role for the Azzurri as they came from a goal down to secure a 2-1 extra-time victory over Czechoslovakia in the final in Rome.

After Raimundo Orsi's curled equaliser had saved Italy from defeat, Meazza crossed from the wing for Enrique Guaita to set up Angelo Schiavio to round a defender and fire in the winner.

Meazza spent most of his career with Internazionale and also had a spell with AC Milan, and the two clubs share a stadium that is officially named after him - despite being known informally as the San Siro.

Fifa has awarded the Golden Ball to the best player at each World Cup since 1930. As we ask you to nominate your player of the tournament, BBC Sport looks back at the past winners of the award.

Image source, Getty Images

Much to Brazil's annoyance, tonight's match will be contested in the shadows of tomorrow's final in Rio.

Argentina take on Germany needing for more from Lionel Messi after his somewhat subdued performance in the semi-final.

BBC Sport's Gary Lineker says he expects better things from the brilliant Barcelona forward on Sunday.

Image source, Getty Images

Fifa has awarded the Golden Ball to the best player at each World Cup since 1930. As we ask you to nominate your player of the tournament, BBC Sport looks back at the past winners of the award.

We start with the very first winner - Uruguay's Jose Nasazzi. Born in Montevideo to an Italian father and a Basque mother, full-back Nasazzi captained his country as they won the tournament on home soil, beating Argentina in the final.

With Uruguay trailing 2-1 at half-time, Nasazzi played a key role in inspiring a comeback as his team scored three second-half goals to win 4-2. It was the Bella Vista full-back's only World Cup - as Uruguay refused to defend the trophy in Italy in 1934, in protest at the number of European teams who had declined to travel to South America for the inaugural tournament. Nasazzi retired from international football in 1937 with 41 caps to his name.

David Zotov:, external Kroos for Germany has been inspirational in helping them to the final.

PK:, external Thomas Muller. Still young. Scored a hat-trick v Portugal. Has been fantastic overall.

FunGuyFromNorth:, external Player of the tournament should be James Rodriguez or Keylor Navas. Neuer has been amazing as well.

Image source, @JB17Official

Germany are preparing for their eighth World Cup final, when they take on Argentina on Sunday. Here's a picture posted overnight by defender Jerome Boateng, who said on Twitter:, external "My room-mates and me after today's training."

If you're just waking up or checking in with us for the first time, here's some headlines to get you up to speed:

BBC Sport's Gary Lineker says he has been disappointed by Lionel Messi in the World Cup.

Netherlands coach Luis van Gaal has described Saturday's third-place play off as an irrelevance.

Fifa has announced the 10-man shortlist for the player of the tournament award.

Image source, Getty Images

Louis van Gaal's counterpart, Luiz Felipe Scolari, holds today's fixture in higher regard - perhaps because it could be his last in charge of Brazil.

After the 7-1 humbling by Germany in the semi-final, Scolari is determined to end the campaign on a brighter note.

He said: "I know my career will be marked by this defeat but we have an obligation to move on, thinking about the next goal.

"I know it's a much smaller dream than we all wanted but we have to honour the shirt of the national team."

We're asking who should be named player of the tournament. Get involved on 81111 or via Twitter using #bbcworldcup

Jasper Johns:, external James Rodriguez has to win! Will probably be top scorer and scored the goal of the tournament.

Tom:, external Thomas Muller or Lionel Messi, whoever wins tomorrow.

Ivan Putuhena:, external Toni Kroos, definitely.

Image source, Getty Images

Netherlands coach Louis van Gaal is clearly not a fan of the third-place play-off. The incoming Manchester United manager says today's match is an irrelevance he could do without.

He said: "There is only one award that counts and that is becoming world champions.

"The worst thing is that there is a chance you are going to lose twice in a row.

"And in a tournament in which you have played so marvellously well you go home as a loser."

...while the Telegraph focuses on Argentina's main man:

Image source, Daily Telegraph

The Guardian looks ahead to tomorrow's final, with a lovely picture of the Maracana on the front page of its sport section:

Image source, Guardian