Former Nuremberg, VfB Stuttgart and Germany striker Cacau has tipped Borussia Dortmund Marco Reus to win the adidas Golden Ball award for best player of the tournament at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.
Borussia Dortmund forward Reus is set to make his World Cup debut after injury denied him his place at the 2014 World Cup, which Germany won, and UEFA Euro 2016.
"I'm delighted that Marco Reus will finally get to play at a World Cup, and I hope he'll stay fit," Cacau, who played for Germany in South Africa in 2010, told t-online.de. "For me he's one of the best players in the world: a great dribbler, extremely quick and exceptionally good in front of goal. Reus will be the player of the tournament."
Cacau (r.) was part of the Germany team that finished third at the 2010 World Cup. © gettyimages / Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images
Reus missed over half of the 2017/18 season through injury, but scored seven goals in 11 Bundesliga appearances between February and May - enough to earn him a ticket to Russia. He was also Germany's standout performer in their World Cup warm-up win over Saudi Arabia last weekend, registering an assist. The game was only his 31st senior international since making his debut in October 2011.
After retired goalkeeper Oliver Kahn - who scooped the award in 2002 - Reus would become the second German in World Cup history to get his hands on the Golden Ball. Thomas Müller (2014), Lothar Matthäus (1990), Harald Schumacher (1986), and Franz Beckenbauer (1974) all won the Silver Ball - the prize given to the tournament's second-best player. Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, Gerd Müller and Fritz Walter were awarded the Bronze Ball in 1982, 1970 and 1954 respectively.
TFW you're finally heading to your first #WorldCup