World Cup 2014: Cristiano Ronaldo who? Hat trick hero Muller outshines world's best

Thomas Muller is quite possibly the most under rated footballer at the FIFA World Cup 2014.

While the entire world gushes over Messi, Ronaldo and Neymar, it was Muller who scored the first hat trick in Brazil.

The Raumdeuter now has eight goals for Germany in seven world cup games, and provided that much needed killer instinct up front that many thought the Germans lacked.

The 2010 World Cup golden boot winner showed his critics that he deserves his place over the record-chasing Miroslav Klose.

All determined sinew and lanky ball control, Thomas Muller is a very unglamorous modern day footballer. He recently signed a new contract with Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich and his club coach Pep Guardiola would be watching his performances with renewed interest, as he bids adieu to Mario Mandzukic.

The contrast with Ronaldo is glaring.

One looks manufactured immaculately by modern day cosmetics, health supplements and gym regimens; the other like a senior management executive from an insurance company.

Muller imposes his presence without being a brute, and has the uncanny knack of slipping under the radar of defences. His awareness of space, which he himself credits as his strongest attribute, often allows him a moment or two extra to take his shot.

With Kroos, Gotze, Ozil and Sami Khedira behind him Muller was allowed the freedom to do his thing. Portugal meanwhile played more like a bunch of individuals thrown together, than a team. Ronaldo missing-in-action for large parts of the match.

At the 85th minute Portugal won a free kick in what is termed 'Ronaldo territory'. The German wall lined up 10 yards out, this time without the referee having to use the magic spray to draw a line on the turf because the wall comprised of just a single brick- Phillip Lahm.

The world's most intelligent footballer squared up against the world's best and did what at most times a 5-man wall fails to do. Stop a Ronaldo free kick.

Lahm did not even flinch as CR7 drove his kick straight into him.

And that summed up the day. On the one hand was Thomas Muller, an uncannily intelligent goal scorer and on the other was Cristiano Ronaldo, a man who once again failed to justify the hype around him.