Germany striker Lukas Podolski has been named the Best Young Player in the World Cup, FIFA announced on their official website on Friday. "I'm very honoured. Of course this is a big motivation for myself to keep on improving in my career and to play a even better World Cup in four years' time even though I had hoped to take a different trophy home," Podolski said. Podolski beat off competition from Argentina's Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal, Spanish Cesc Fabregas, Luis Valencia of Ecuador and Switzerland's Tranquillo Barnetta. The 21-year-old striker, who joined German giants Bayern Munich from Cologne, produced a fine form during the World Cup, netting three goals to help Germany qualify to the tournament's semis. Hosts Germany will face Portugal on Saturday in the World Cup third place play-off, following a 2-0 defeat to Italy in the semi-final.
