CASTROL INDEX FIFA WORLD CUP™ LEGENDS

The 1974 edition of the FIFA World Cup™ saw the Netherlands’ brand of “total football” unleashed on the world. However, this great side would go on to lose the final to a well-drilled West German side. However, the Dutch can, at least, boast the player of the tournament, with Johan Cruyff lighting up Germany with his innovative skills. The attacker scored three goals and provided three assists while his total of 29 chances created in open play was a tournament-high, as was his haul of 55 dribbles.

The Dutch influence is highlighted by Cruyff’s four team-mates who join him in the Castrol Index Top Ten. However, the two main men behind the hosts’ success also rank highly, with Gerd Muller and Franz Beckenbaur taking fourth and fifth place. Interestingly, Poland, who finished third, boast the second and third-best players, courtesy of Golden Shoe winner Grzegorz Lato, who netted seven goals and Kazimierz Deyna, who scored three from midfield.

Brazil’s poor defence of the trophy is highlighted by the lack of Samba stars high up in the Castrol Index, with defender Luis Pereira the highest-ranked in 16th. Sepp Maier, the German ?keeper, ranks at 22, some way behind the tournaments’ top glovesman, Sweden’s Ronnie Hellstrom who is 6th.