Johan Djourou better than Lionel Messi? So says FIFA's bizarre World Cup ranking system

The Swiss defender was on hand as France hammered five past them in the group stage but the FIFA-approved Castrol Index has in him in the top 10

Clive Brunskill

Swiss ease: Djourou's performances in Brazil have apparently put him in the top 10

Johan Djourou has had a better World Cup than Lionel Messi, according to a FIFA-approved ranking system.

The Castrol Index ranks players based on numerous variables and "uses the latest technology to objectively analyse player performance", and helps identify "which players truly deserve to grab all the headlines."

And when all the numbers are crunched the Swiss defender makes the top 10.

That's right, the same Swiss defender who was on hand as France hammered five past them in the group stage.

And Argentine Messi missed out on the top 10 altogether despite getting the man of the match award in all of the matches he has played.

Brazilian defender David Luiz has apparently been the best player at the tournament so far with his goal, penalty and crucial block against Chile seeing him top the pile.

Colombian superstar James Rodriguez is second, showing that the index isn't completely bonkers, while Karim Benzema's three goals have earned him third place.

Dutchman Arjen Robben is fourth ahead of Belgian defender Jan Vertonghen who in turn edges out home hero Neymar into sixth.

Another Selecao favourite, Thiago Silva, is the seventh-ranked player while Ivan Perisic's impressive group stage for Croatia earns him eighth.

Djourou comes in ninth while four-goal Thomas Muller is tenth.

If, like us, you have no clue as to what the Castrol Index is and how it works FIFA have produced this handy video.