Switzerland's Xherdan Shaqiri (No.23) is challenged during the World Cup round-of-16 match against Argentina at Itaquerao Stadium in Sao Paulo, Brazil on July 1. Photo: IC

One of the joys of tournament soccer is the players who come from nowhere to plant themselves as household names, and this World Cup has been no different in that respect.

In a world that has 24-hour soccer coverage and almost nowhere to hide, it's an old-fashioned pleasure to stumble across new players, whether they are ­diamonds in the rough or already cut, polished and in the shop window.

Xherdan Shaqiri falls firmly into the latter category, but the Swiss dynamo is so far back in the midfield pecking order at Bayern Munich that it's a wonder he hasn't chewed off his own feet waiting his turn. He played like a man who is tired of waiting and his hat trick against Honduras will have had more than one club thumbing the phone book looking for how to dial Bavaria.

Ecuador's Enner Valencia is on the verge of joining West Ham United from Mexican club side Pachuca after his ­impressive forays in Group E. The forward scored against Switzerland and bagged a brace in the Honduras game but it was his leap, akin to a Salmon with dreams of the NBA, that really captured the public imagination.

There aren't too many people who would have thought that denying the hosts would have increased their ­popularity but Mexico goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa is in that minority of one. The ­former AJ Ajaccio stopper shut out Neymar and the rest pretty much single-­handedly in the goalless Group A draw in Fortaleza. He went viral for his exploits and that is sure to mean a ­big-money move.

Another keeper who captured hearts was Costa Rica custodian Keylor Navas. The Tico's No.1 was many people's No.1 for his solo show against a Greek team that threw everything they had at him. The Levante sticksman was the star of a side that impressed everyone and has been linked with a number of major clubs.

Divock Origi, the 19-year-old who scored Belgium's winner against ­Russia and made it easy for manager Marc Wilmots to drop Romelu Lukaku, is about to make that move to a major club. Liverpool are expected to unveil the striker this week after a World Cup that led to him going from an unknown in his own squad to a starter for the Reds.

These are just five of the players who shone but there are many more bargains to be had for clubs willing to take a chance.