Hyundai has launched an award that recognises outstanding young players in their first Fifa World Cup, and selects the player with the biggest impact on the tournament, as voted for by the Fifa Technical Study Group.

With the 2014 Fifa World Cup Brazil well underway, the tournament’s youngest stars are battling it out for the Hyundai Young Player Award as the best young player at this year’s tournament, and now fans in the Middle East and Africa can also predict who will take home the prestigious prize, a statement said.

Many outstanding players are set to compete for the award, but only one will follow in the footsteps of the previous two Hyundai Young Player Award winners – Germany’s Lukas Podolski in 2006 and Thomas Muller in 2010. Having also won the Golden Boot at the 2010 in South Africa, Muller was the first player to score at hat-trick at this year’s tournament in Brazil.

While all candidates must be born on or after January 1, 1993 for this year’s tournament, the voting will also take into account criteria such as skill level, creativity, inspiration and tactical efficiency. The winner will be announced after the final match.

Discovering the next “rising star” has always been a favourite of football lovers around the world, and fans across the Middle East can get involved by predicting which player they think will be voted the best young player at this year’s Fifa World Cup.

Fans can participate in the ‘Hyundai Young Player Predictor’ which will open after the shortlisted candidates are officially announced on July 10 by Fifa. Participants need to make their prediction before the final whistle on July 13, and 30 lucky winners among those who predict correctly, will be chosen to receive prizes.

Predictions can be registered on the official 2014 Fifa World Cup Brazil website: fifa.com/worldcup/games/predict-best-young-player/index.html

Since Hyundai Motor signed the agreement in 1999 to sponsor Fifa competitions including the 2002 Fifa World Cup Korea/Japan, the company has successfully served as the official partner of 2002, 2006, 2010 Fifa World Cups as well as many other Fifa tournaments. In 2010, the company extended its strategic sponsorship agreement with Fifa to cover the 2018 and 2022 Fifa World Cups.

Through its successful sponsorship of international football, Hyundai Motor has significantly boosted brand awareness and brand image. – TradeArabia News Service