World Cup Round Up: Four Players to Watch in 2014

This year, 32 national soccer teams will compete for the 2014 World Cup in front of some of the most avid soccer fans in the world throughout Brazil. The amount of individual talent on each team is fantastic and will be the key deciding factor in many games in the upcoming tournament. Look out for these players to be making an impact in big games this year.

Jozy Altidore

As one of the younger members of the US National Team, we're looking for Altidore to add energy into a team of veterans. Altidore had a career high 8 goals (including one hat trick) in international play last year, and if he can bring that momentum into the World Cup, the US could possibly make it through the group of death. The USA opens against Ghana, which on paper, is the least challenging of the group. This should give Jozy the opportunity to find his rhythm.

Lionel Messi

Messi is a goal scoring machine and captain of the Argentina national team. To beat Argentina, you have to stop Messi, and you can be sure to see every team employ their best defensive players and tactics to minimize his impact. Still, Messi is known for his incredible dribbling and ability to penetrate defenses, so the world will be sure to see some spectacular play out of him.

Manuel Neuer

Neuer is one the most (if not the most) talented goalkeepers in soccer today and will pose a challenging last line of defense to anyone that has to face him. Germany is a favorite for many in this year's tournament, provided they don’t have any slip-ups in their challenging group stage, and Neuer is a crucial piece to their squad.

Neymar

Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior is the standout offensive player on Brazil, and it’s difficult to say he won't be the most watched player in the 2014 World Cup. As a star player on the host country’s national team, he will have enormous pressure on his shoulders but as a member of FC Barcelona, it's nothing he's not used to. It will be difficult to face a player of his caliber on his home turf with the entire country behind him.

MMAR Medical provides injury solutions for a variety of sports including soccer braces for supporting knees and ankles during the game. Visit our store for our complete selection.

Best Knee Braces for Soccer Players

Knee injuries are one of the most common types of soccer injuries. From cartilage tears to ACL sprains, knees get beat up on the soccer field. This possibility for injury can scare a lot of athletes away from soccer, but these injuries don't have to be as common as they are.

Fortunately, there are a wide variety of knee braces for soccer players that offer the support you need to prevent injuries from happening in the first place and that can help accelerate the healing of injuries that have already happened.

To prevent fatigue and injuries from sports activities, a knee sleeve is a great option. The New Options Knee Sleeve with Oval Anterior Pad and Patella Cutout is an excellent choice for soccer players looking to stabilize their joints and play more comfortably. This sleeve’s mild compression, padding and therapeutic warmth can help soccer players stay on the field for longer without risking these vital joints.

For players facing mild injuries, it's important to look for a soccer knee brace that gives a little more support in order to speed up your body's natural healing processes. Ossur's Rebound knee braces are made especially for this situation. This brace has a number of features that make it one of the best knee braces for soccer, including breathable fabric, patella support and dual lower cruciate straps for better control.

When players have an injury to the ACL, PCL, LCL or MCL, they'll need a brace with a lot more support. For this, one of the best options is the Breg Fusion XT Knee Brace with AirTech Innovation. This brace combines a high-strength frame design with aircraft-grade aluminum to give you stability without added weight. The brace is great because it stays engaged whether you’re running, cutting or just standing in the huddle.

After a player undergoes a knee surgery, knee braces can help speed up your knee's healing and prevent further damage as you work on recovering. In addition, a good post-operative knee brace can help minimize the pain that comes after knee surgery. Breg's T-Scope Knee Brace is one of the best post-surgical braces available today. This lightweight brace features telescoping hinge bars that extend from 17" to 27" and has a convenient drop-lock style hinge to control the knee’s range of motion in 10 degree increments.

Have you injured your knee? Leave us a comment with your best advice for recovering from a knee injury!