Alexis Sanchez

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There are many examples of players who have shrugged off the poverty of formative years to become household names but Chile forward Alexis Sanchez can point to a background that was about as tough as they come.

Born in Tocopilla in Chile's northern mining region, a grim port city dominated by a gigantic power plant and a saltpeter processing facility, Alexis barely knew his father and was raised by a mother who scraped a living as a cleaner at her son's school.

His talent shone through from an early age, earning him the nickname 'El Nino Maravilla' (Boy Wonder), and he quickly realised soccer offered a way out that would also allow him to help his mother and family.

Blessed with exceptional pace and ball control, Alexis is at his best when running at defenders down the right, either cutting inside to shoot or darting to the byline and sending over dangerous crosses.

He believes he developed as a player during his first appearance at the World Cup finals in South Africa and is not short on confidence ahead of the latest edition in Brazil.