Player performance: World Cup quarter finals (7th April 2014)

Approaching the latter end of the World Cup, which individuals are standing out? And who's lacking intestinal fortitude? Some Ballsometer™ player ratings from Germany's 1-0 win over France and hosts Brazil's 2-1 elimination of Colombia.

Antonine Griezmann - 8

Couldn’t crack open the German defence, but he ‘megged Sami Khedira, so fair play to the lad.

David Luiz - 8

As well as some PlayStation-esque bursts forward, he also hit a superb free-kick from long range which sealed victory for Brazil.

Benedikt Höwedes - 7

Has looked awkward at left-back in this tournament, but the Schalke player turned in a solid defensive performance today.

Karim Benzema - 7

Kept going despite his team-mates failing to click, getting through a lot of running and testing Manuel Neuer. Bonus points for getting back to retrieve a ball he lost, then dribbling past all of the German attack.

Pablo Armero - 7

Provided real forward thrust down Colombia’s left.

Neymar - 7

Didn’t have his usual impact, but never shies away from physical challenges with bigger defenders. Unfortunately, he’s now injured for the rest of the tournament.

James Rodriguez - 6

While generally Colombia’s dangerman, always looking to breach the defence with through balls, he spent too much time whinging to the ref and lost man points for breaking into tears so readily at the final whistle.

Paul Pogba - 5

Amid much fanfare, from former team-mates among others, turned in an incredible flat and unremarkable performance. Not quite a world-beater yet.

Paulinho/Fred - 5

Both responded to criticism by turning in decidedly mediocre performances. Contrast this with Höwedes’ performance earlier on.

Boo to José Pekerman, who failed to bring Jackson Martinez on for Colombia. This was a big deal in Providencia, Santiago.

Player performance: World Cup Second Round (7th January 2014)

The final day of the World Cup's round of 16 is also the first on which the players' official Ballsometer™ ratings become publicly available.

Argentina v Switzerland

Angel Di María - 8
Kept going, tearing Ricardo Rodriguez apart despite his final ball often going astray, and eventually holding his nerve to slot home the winner.

Lionel Messi - 8
Still determined to orchestrate proceedings despite having approximately 3cm² to play in. When he finally broke free, he made a telling contribution.

Stephan Lichsteiner - 9
Seemed even more determined than his full-back colleague Rodriguez to keep motoring forward despite his team’s obviously defensive set-up late on. The fact that he lost the ball high up the pitch to allow Argentina to score only underlines his ballsy approach. Gets extra man-points for looking like he was about to cry, only to hold it in. 

Diego Benaglio - 8
In a tournament of many fine goalkeeping performances, this was outstanding from Benaglio. Made a string of great saves and kept putting himself in where it hurts.

Fabian Schär - 7
Despite an Argentine onslaught, defended manfully alongside Johan Djourou.

Josep Drmic - 6
I don’t want to be negative on the first day, but he really should’ve done better than lamely chip into Romero’s hands when through. He gets voted down for lack of composure - to differentiate it from Dzemaili’s late miss, that was just bad.

Belgium v USA

Romelu Lukaku - 7
Changed the game by overpowering the USA defence in the build-up to the first goal, before slotting home the second. Fairly manly.

Kevin Mirallas - 6
See Drmic above. The clearest of several Belgian chances in normal time and he blew it.

Tim Howard - 9
An unbelievable performance, even better than Benaglio's

Geoff Cameron - 7
Got a yellow card, so by default was more aggressive than his team-mates.

The rest of the USA team - 5
Way too passive, lacking any counter-attacking threat and completely letting Belgium dominate.


Special mention goes to Luis Suarez, who had the Balls to apologise for his bite on Giorgio Chiellini - after admitting that it was a bite after all - in a very similar vein to his apology for biting Branislav Ivanovic just over a year ago. Can’t call him inconsistent.

A new index, not sponsored by Castrol

With all the analysis, statistics and chalkboards available these days, it can difficult to know just what to make of modern football. This (potentially) award-winning system will give a new way for fans, from the most casual viewers to anorak wearers, to appreciate the game. I'll elaborate on my evaluation methods as I go along, as well as the theoretical root of my ideas. For now,with the World Cup going on, our primary concern is: who's got the Balls?