The World Cup 2010 Awards

The “Hotter Than Pokemon” Award

Keisuke Honda. An American recall by the Japanese automaker this spring did irrevocable damage to the Honda name, but people can’t seem to get enough of its namesake in football boots. The man with the golden left foot was the engine behind Japan’s qualification for the second round and scored an exquisite free kick against Denmark.

The “Welcome Back From the Grave” Award

Juan Sebastian Veron. After playing like a goat in the Premier League, he skulked back home to Argentina where he has managed to revive his career with Estudiantes. Diego Maradona rewarded him by including him in his World Cup squad and even naming him in the starting XI early in the tournament. We must admit, it was a little emotional to see La Brujita pulling the strings from the midfield again.

The “If You Put Lipstick on a Pig, It’s Still a Pig” Award

Patrice Evra. The writing was on the wall when France took the field for its opening match against Uruguay – and none other than Patrice Evra was wearing the captain’s armband. This is the same guy who picked a fight with a Chelsea groundskeeper. It should have come as no surprise, then, when Evra was caught on tape in a training ground tussle at the nadir of the French squad’s mutiny against their coach.

The “Stop Kissing His Arse As If He’s God. Actually, He’s Not Half Bad” Award

Lionel Messi. Sure, the diminutive Argentine has yet to score a goal – but he’s done just about everything else. He’s perhaps the one global star who has lived up to the hype during this tournament. And unlike Rooney, he’s been able to do so while other teams have double- and triple-marked him.

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