THE LATEST FIFA World Cup top 10 has been announced ahead of the quarter finals and features a surprise leader.

David Luiz, who has featured in the upper echelons of the rankings all tournament, climbs into top spot after scoring against Chile in the last round. The Brazilian defender also scored in his country’s successful penalty shoot-out and produced a block on a Charles Aranguiz from close range.

All of that was enough for the new Paris Saint Germain player to overtake James Rodriguez [Colombia] at the top of the Castrol Index.

Despite a fallow period of late, Karim Benzema remains third, with Arjen Robben just behind. Two new entries in the top 10 are Belgium’s Jan Vertonghen and Johan Djourou of Switzerland.

Bizarrely, and despite his late assist for Argentina teammate Angel di Maria, Lionel Messi remains outside the top ranked players. The Barcelona star remains in 11th for the second set of fixtures running.

Johan Djourou (right) is in. Lionel Messi (centre) is not so fortunate. Sergei Grits Sergei Grits

Castrol Index top 10

• David Luiz, Brazil (9.79)
• James Rodriguez, Colombia (9.74)
• Karim Benzema, France (9.7)
• Arjen Robben, Holland (9.66)
• Jan Vertonghen, Belgium (9.62)
• Neymar, Brazil (9.59)
• Thiago Silva, Brazil (9.56)
• Ivan Perisic, Croatia (9.53)
• Johan Djourou, Switzerland (9.5)
• Thomas Müller, Germany (9.48)

Life inside the Maracanã media centre, questions through a translator and rejoining the pack

Lionel Messi fails to make FIFA list of top 10 World Cup players