World Cup stories: The players who made their name on the World Cup stage

One of the best things about a World Cup finals is seeing a collection of some of the best players on the planet all in the same place on football's grandest stage. 

The tournament has been the setting for many of the game's greats to showcase their talents and add to their lasting legacies, just like Lionel Messi did four years ago.

Yet, it's also been the scene for other players to make a name for themselves, a global shop window to prove they belong among football's elite. 

With 94 days to go until this summer's festivities, DAZN News continues its countdown by looking back at the stars who first shone at football's showpiece tournament.

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Pele

What better place to start than one of football's all-time greats, whose origin story began at the World Cup and forged an iconic career forever linked with the tournament. 

The Brazilian was just 17 when he was included as part of the South Americans' party for the 1958 finals, famously admitting that he couldn't sleep with excitement after making the squad, and it would be a tournament that would change his life forever. 

After missing the first two games with a knee injury, Pele made his World Cup bow against Russia, before scoring the winner against Wales in the quarter-finals. 

He then followed that up with a hat-trick in the semi-final victory over France before netting twice in the final to see Brazil crowned World Champions and send him into superstardom. 

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Toto Schillaci 

A seasoned striker in Serie A, Schilaci got his big move from Messina to Juventus in 1989, and his 15 goals were good enough to see him make the cut for Italy's squad for the World Cup on home soil in 1990. 

Yet, he went into Italia '90 as Azeglio Vicini's fifth-choice forward, with the ridiculously talented quartet of Gianluca Vialli, Roberto Mancini, Roberto Baggio and Andrea Carnevale all seen as ahead of him. 

However, after being summoned from the bench against Austira, the little forward netted the winner and then went on a perfect purple patch for the ages, in front of a watching world. 

Schillaci netted on his first start against Czechoslovakia and then scored further goals in games with Uruguay, Ireland and Argentina, securing the Golden Boot as Italy finished third. 

It proved to be a career high for the hitman, who'd only score one more goal for his country as his career fizzled out following the tournament, but he remains the poster boy for the stage's unlikely heroes. 

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Roger Milla 

Cameroon became everyone's favourite second team at their first World Cup in 1990, as the Africans defied the odds and reached the quarter-finals and the star of the show was their veteran striker - and his iconic celebration. 

Milla was 38 at Italia' 90, but his four goals and famous wiggle round the corner flag made him a national hero and a cult hero in World Cup folklore.

He came off the bench against Romania in the group stage to net a brace and then repeated the trick in the knockout clash with Colombia to see Cameroon become the first African nation to reach the last eight. 

However, he wasn't done there. Four years later, he was still part of the squad at USA 94, with his goal against Russia making him the oldest goalscorer in World Cup history, aged 42. 

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Michael Owen 

England have had their own breakout stars at World Cup finals, whether it be Alan Ball as part of the 1966 side or Gary Lineker's Golden Boot exploits in Mexico, but when it comes to bursting onto the world stage, few did it in more jaw-dropping ways than Owen. 

The teenager gatecrashed the Three Lions World Cup squad in France after a season at Liverpool that had seen him top the goalscoring charts, but even then, he was expected to be a bit-part player - especially in Glenn Hoddle's mind.

However, thrown in against Romania and netting his first World Cup goal, he was given the chance of a starting berth in the second-round match against Argentina, where he literally took on the entire Argentine defence to score one of the most memorable goals ever scored at the finals. 

It announced Owen on the world stage, and although England were cruelly knocked out, a new star was born, one that would go on to score 40 goals for his country. 

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Fabio Grosso 

An understated member of the Italy squad who went to the World Cup in 2006, the Palermo full-back would have a standout showing in Germany. 

He started every game of the competition as Marcelo Lippi's starting left-back, and his performances were key to the Italian's triumph.

Grosso scored the winner against Germany in the semi-final, lashing home in the last minute of extra-time to send his side through to the final, and then it was he who converted the winning spot-kick as the Azzurri celebrated their fourth World Cup win. 

His displays earned him a move to Inter that summer, where he'd go on to add a Scudetto to his achievements.

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James Rodriguez 

In more modern times, when fans are all armed with social feeds and YouTube videos, it's rare for a player to become such a surprise star as the Colombian did in 2014.

He was the gem of the tournament in Brazil, where he was named man of the match in all three of his side's group games as he scored and assisted in each of them.

Rodriguez then netted twice in the round of 16 clash with Uruguay - including a volley that is seen as one of the great World Cup goals -  to send his nation to its first-ever quarter-final. 

He finished the tournament with the Golden Boot and earned himself a mega-money move to Real Madrid from Porto. 

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