Players who turned World Cup heroics into big transfers
BBC Sport looks back at some of the players whose standout performances at the World Cup earned a big transfer.
The World Cup stage has the power to transform players' lives, as demonstrated by numerous cases where standout performances on the global stage led to significant career moves. Vozinha, a 40-year-old goalkeeper from Cape Verde, is the latest example, moving from the Portuguese second division to Chile's Colo-Colo after a stellar World Cup campaign.
Marc-Vivien Foe, aged 40 at the time, made a similar leap from Cameroon's second division to French club Lens following an impressive 1994 World Cup performance, eventually playing for West Ham, Manchester City, and Lyon. Gilberto Silva, at 25, joined Arsenal from Atletico Mineiro after Brazil's 2002 World Cup victory, winning two FA Cups and helping the Gunners secure the Premier League title.
Javier Mascherano, 22 when he starred for Argentina at the 2006 World Cup, moved to West Ham and then Liverpool before spending a decade at Barcelona, winning numerous titles. Mesut Ozil, 21, emerged as a star performer in Germany's 2010 World Cup triumph, leading to a high-profile move to Real Madrid and later Arsenal. Colombian forward James Rodriguez captivated the world with his goal against Uruguay at the 2014 World Cup, earning him a £71m move to Real Madrid and multiple Champions League triumphs with the club.
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