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No. 31 Vincent Kompany, Man City/Belgium
Why he's ranked: Kompany's status as one of the outstanding defenders in the Premier League has long been established with Manchester City, but his reputation on the world stage is set to be enhanced as he makes his first appearance in the World Cup finals. Rugged, fearless and a dominant leader, Kompany's importance to his team is felt when he is not available to play.
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Key stat: Named Premier League Player of the Season in 2012 following City's first EPL title.
What the experts say: "Establishes himself with pure physical force and also superb technique, especially in the air." - Gustavo Hofman, ESPN Brazil
"Strong in defense, useful from set pieces and a leader on the field. Kompany is one of the best of the great Belgian generation." - Leonardo Bertozzi, ESPN Brazil
"Robust, good in the air ball and with a mission to lead the Belgian national team, one of the big bets to be the hit of the World Cup." - Paulo Cobos, ESPN Brazil
Other articles:
- Sam Knight: The rise of the Red Devils
- ESPN FC Blogs: Belgium
- The countdown: Our Top 50 players of the World Cup